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

While at this point Corporal Hodgkins, of Co. K, was sent to the rear by Captain Hume, on a perilous trip with a message. Buckling his belt tightly about him, he leaped from the trench and ran for the next line of works, while a shower of leaden hail from the enemy fell about him. After resting a while, he ran to the next line, receiving another shower of bullets. After making several such runs, he reached the woods, delivered the message and returned to the trench under a heavy fire from the rebels, without a scratch.

For this and other soldierly conduct he was promoted to be First Sergeant and recommended for a First Lieutenant's commission, which he received on his release from Andersonville, six months later.

The 6th of June was spent in comparative quiet. All the men were greatly fatigued, having long been deprived of sleep and rest and being turned out every night for firing. The videttes of the regiment in front were connected with another line of works during the day. The men were then within speaking distance of the rebels and there was much conversation between them. Firing began on the left during the evening and the enemy evidently believed that an attack was to be made on their centre for they opened with musketry all along the line, keeping it up for some time. The Union battery opened up on them eventually and compelled them to stop.

On the 7th a truce was entered into for the purpose of burying the dead, killed in the charge of four days previous. Firing ceased and both Yanks and Rebs met, shook hands, exchanged papers, tobacco, coffee, sugar, etc. The evening and night were spent quietly and on the following day the regiment received 11 recruits.

The truce was kept up until the morning of the 9th, when firing was resumed with spirit, the regiment losing six men wounded. On the 10th it lost two men by the enemy's sharpshooters. On the 11th the regiment kept up a galling and continuous fire on the enemy who were unable to return it.

During the day about 100 recruits joined the regiment and were placed in the rear line under charge of Lieut. McGinnis. For the next few days he had a ‘circus’ with his ‘Army of all ’