Waitt, Ernest Linden, History of the Nineteenth regiment, Massachusetts volunteer infantry , 1861-1865

Sabbath, May 8th. ‘Our troops were moving toward Spottsylvania Court House. Being out in picket about noon we were drawn in and started after as rear guard. Arriving at Todd's Tavern, we saw a great many of the wounded of the Fifth Corps being brought in, as they had been fighting all the morning. While on the march we had considerable fun at the expense of some stragglers. One of the men cried out ‘Close up and serve your country.’ Another ‘advance in line’ and many more funny jokes were cracked at their expense. The Sixth Corps charged the rebel works near here today and captured them. It has been a very hot day and, as the summer is advancing, I threw away my woolen blanket, not caring to be encumbered with unnecessary articles.’

At 8 A. M. on the 8th the regiment moved with the brigade as the rear guard, the army having passed to the left toward Spottsylvania during the night. At 3 P. M. halted near Todd's Tavern and remained there until 10 A. M. of the following day, when, going back a short distance, formed line of battle in an open field on the edge of a belt of woods where the regiment threw up a defence of rails, but abandoned them later and moved two miles to the right where a line of battle was again formed in an open field in the rear of a rail fence, guarding the flank and rear of the column against sudden attack by way of the Catharpin Road. There was a brisk fire between the skirmishers, which lasted some time.

Here the regiment remained until 4 P. M. and then moved forward, southward, and crossed the Po Creek, halting in line of battle on the crest of a hill on the south side and rested for the night. At daybreak the regiment moved forward and occupied the woods in its front, and lay in line of battle until 10 A. M. It then re-crossed the Po (left in front) and marched to the left one and a half miles and massed for a short time in a dense thicket.

The Nineteenth then advanced into an open field immediately in the rear of the hill, where it lay behind a fence much exposed to the enemy's fire and lost three men (among them Garfield, of Co. K). This field was hemmed in by woods on either side, shutting out the wind and making the heat harder to bear. Rations were issued here, consisting of hard tack, pork and fresh beef. Many broke open the beef bones and used the marrow for butter, spreading it on the crackers and putting a sprinkling of salt in it; not a very healthful dish for a hot day.