Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[168] A. Peale & Co., on Washington street, and the flames, communicating to the adjoining buildings, consumed nearly the whole block. No shell had fallen in that part of the town, and the fire originated from incendiarism. Supplies were held by speculators in the buildings.

Tuesday, June 2.--A large concourse of people had gathered on Washington street to witness the scene of conflagration during the night. The mortars were also engaged in their usual employment of shelling the city. As the day advanced, the sun grew excessively hot, and the firing from the mortars became feeble and slow. The day was rather more quiet than any previous twenty-four hours for the last two weeks. At night the mortars again resumed their work, and threw a shell at first every ten minutes, and afterward one in every thirty minutes, which was kept up throughout the entire night.

Wednesday, June 3.--This morning was another spell of rest and quietness, and the usual annoyance of artillery firing on the lines was dispensed with. With the exception of the continued shelling from the mortars, there was no interruption of the prevailing quiet.

Thursday, June 4.--Active artillery firing along the lines announced that the contending forces were again at work. The sharp-shooters also were engaged at an early hour. As the day advanced the artillery firing extended all along the lines, and toward night a brisk skirmish occurred to the right of the centre. The cannonading was kept up all night.

Friday June 5.--Some firing with small arms and light artillery was heard soon in the morning. A gunboat came down and exchanged a few shots with Major Hoadley's battery, and then retired beyond the range. The batteries on the lines continued busy all day, and never ceased until nine o'clock at night. No mortar-shells were thrown all day, and the silence could not be accounted for.

Saturday, June 6.--Early in the morning the artillery was again busy on the line, and it was also ascertained that a battery had been erected on the peninsula, and the guns opened on the city early in the morning. There was no indication of the presence of any mortars on the opposite shore. A good deal of cannonading was heard all along the lines, and continued all day.

Sunday, June 7.--The morning opened quietly after a boisterous night. About nine o'clock the mortars again commenced shelling the city, and the hopes that these nuisances had been removed were thus dispelled. The old style of mortar firing was again resumed, and the shells were thrown at intervals varying from one to fifteen minutes. On the lines there was continual firing, but not very heavy nor rapid. Toward night the business in gunpowder became more active, both on the lines and from the mortars.

Monday, June 8.--The mortars were still playing upon the city, and an occasional cannon was heard on the lines. The day was neither very quiet <*>or very boisterous. Toward the close of the day there was more activity displayed. Heavy musketry was heard in the night, occasioned by a skirmish between the pickets. The mortars kept busy all night.

Tuesday, June 9.--Heavy shelling and artillery firing being the order of the day, it can scarcely be said that one day differs much from another. The never-ceasing popping of musketry greets the ear from morning till night, and from night till morning. In the night there was always more energy manifested,. both on the line and by the mortars, than in daytime.

Wednesday, June 10.--This morning opened with a terrible rain, drenching the earth, washing in caves, and deluging all the low lands with a great flood. The pelting rain, the rolling thunder, the roaring of shells, the crash of the mortars and the sharp bang of field artillery rendered the scene truly terrific. The rain continued at intervals all day, and firing also continued until night. The mortars kept up their work till next morning.

Thursday, June 11.--The weather is still threatening more rain. The mortars are still en. gaged in shelling the city. They have changed the range to the lower portion of the city, and keep sending in about the usual number of shells. Along the line there was considerable artillery and musketry, and in the night the discharge of ammunition appeared to be unusually heavy.

Friday, June 12.--About daylight there was heavy cannonading on the line, but no small arms were heard. As the day advanced the mortar firing and cannonading became general, and continued till night. The distinguishing feature of the fighting now is the heavy artillery--ten-inch columbiads and ten-inch mortars being constantly engaged along the lines. The shelling continued all night.

Saturday, June 13.--Early in the morning there was very heavy firing along the lines, and the town was under a terrible cross-fire for about two hours, and the air was filled with shells and missiles of all kinds. After this heavy spell ceased, the firing became more moderate, but continued all day, and the mortars also kept pouring in their shells. The people are getting familiar with mortar-shells, and pay but little attention to them. After night the shelling became more active, both on the lines and by the mortars.

Sunday, June 14.--Sunday morning opened with a continuation of the artillery and mortar practice. One mortar was engaging the upper water-battery, and another was shelling the city. The Federal sharp-shooters on the peninsula came down to the bank of the river, and commenced firing their small arms, The shelling was directed more to the front of the city than before. At night the shelling became more furious, and the water-batteries were employed in shelling the woods opposite. A number of incendiary shells were thrown in the night, but failed II igniting any thing.

Monday, June 15.--Another boisterous morning opened upon us. The mortars had succeeded in obtaining a position during the night previous, from which they got a cross-fire with shells upon