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is an inlet called Poquosin River.
This indentation, which has a nearly southern trend, is flanked upon the east by a headland called Ship Point.
In this bay and off this peninsula we anchored on the 27th of April.
The shores of the bay are low and flat, the adjacent waters are comparatively shallow.
There were no wharves or piers built out upon the soft marl of the flats.
Our debarkation was effected upon the following day by means of scows or coal hulks, a series of which were moored broadside to broadside from the shore to deep water, thus forming a roadway from ship to shore.
When our carriages and camp equipage had been landed, our horses having previously been led ashore, we harnessed up and moved into camp upon the gray plain hard by.
Yorktown, the first objective point of McClellan's expedition, which had preceded us some three weeks from Alexandria and had landed at Fortress Monroe, lay to the northwest of our camp, across Warwick Creek, which runs abreast of the town nearly across the peninsula.
On the west side of this stream, occupying a line eleven miles long, strongly entrenched, was Gen. Magruder, having under his command a force variously stated, from 5,000 to 13,000 men.
McClellan reached the vicinity of the east bank of this stream April 4, 1862.
He seems to have employed the succeeding thirty days in planting breaching batteries, and in placing in position heavy guns which had been ordered from Washington.
His force must have been 100,000 strong, for 58,000 preceded him to Fortress Monroe, and as many more soon followed.
When he was ready to open fire, May 4, it was found Magruder had retired.
The division commanded by Gen. Wm. B. Franklin, during the brief period after our arrival at Ship Point, had not moved out to take position in the line of the besieging force.
Our battery had been occupied much as an artillery company in camp is wont to be: there were battery drills at stated times, there were the inevitable fatigue and police duty, the care of the horses, and the moments of absolute idleness.
The drivers will well remember daily threading the mazes of the swamp thickets, distributing by three pairs and four, to find pools for watering the horses.
A facetious comrade relates, that, being at the rear of the column of pairs of horses in charge of the officer of the day, he found, on reaching the watering-place, some distance from the
Boston. Press of Deland and Barta, 1886.
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