Historic leaves, volume 6, April, 1907 - January, 1908

July 22. Moved at 7 p. m., and marched all night; halted at 3 a. m. in White Plain. Here we slept four hours, and at 7 a. m. —July 23—pushed on to Warrington, a distance of fifteen miles, and reached there that afternoon. For the first time we encamped in line of battle, as the enemy were not more than three or four miles away. Both armies, it must be remembered, were having a grand race for the Rappahannock river. At Warrington the nine-months' men above referred to left us, as their time was out, and we were put in another brigade, with the Thirteenth Massachusetts, Sixteenth Maine, Ninety-fourth New York, and One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania.

July 25. We moved early, and went fourteen miles that morning—four miles of it was out of our way—and six miles more that afternoon and evening. It rained hard all the way, and at 1 o'clock in the morning, July 26, we reached Bealton station. Here we lay down to sleep, with clothes wet through and our shoes in a wretched condition. At 10 a. m. we pushed on for Rappahannock station, only four miles away, through fields, etc., —a very rough route. The march consumed six hours. Here our brigade, with Buford's cavalry, picketed one bank of the river, and the Confederates the other.

We remained in this position until August 1, when we were ordered across the river, where we worked all that night building breastworks. The enemy did not attack us. August 4, while lying in our works, we witnessed part of a cavalry fight in which our side held their ground.

August 5. All quiet. To-day we were paid off to July 1.

August 8. Our brigade re-crossed the river, as a change had been made in the lines, and we remained at Rappahannock station more than a month. There was not much doing all this time, but preparations were going on for a general advance. At 6 a, m. on September 16, we crossed the river on pontoons to a point near Culpeper, C. H., twelve miles, where we could hear cannonading ahead of us every day.