OR 87:875

September 2.--Enemy's cavalry at Berryville. It is proposed for Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee to surprise him. As it is about being executed it is abandoned, the enemy having retired toward Charlestown. Early gets up toward Stone Chapel and a small body of enemy's cavalry attack his rear.

September 3.--Move at 12 m. from Winchester for Berryville by the pike. Strike the enemy about four miles from Berryville and encounter the Eighth Corps, which, after a sharp engagement, we drive away. The Sixth Corps is meanwhile at Longmarsh Run, near Summit Point. General Humphreys wounded.

September 4.--Between 9 and 10 a.m. General Early arrives to aid us, and proposes to attack by his left. Agreed to and he starts to execute it. He accomplishes nothing, however, deeming the enemy's position too strong to be forced.

September 5.--Retire toward Winchester. Some skirmishing at the Opequon between Early's rear guard and the enemy's advance. Troops camp in same place on Berryville pike.

September 6.--Without change.

September 7.--A division of Yankee cavalry moves up as far as White Post and returns toward Berryville. Enemy's infantry reported crossing the Opequon and advancing. Our troops turned out to meet them. Enemy retire across the Opequon. Object of the movement supposed to be a reconnaissance.

September 8 to 14.--Without change.

September 15.--Move at sunrise with Kershaw and Cutshaw up the Valley pike and camp on North Fork of Shenandoah, opposite Buckton.

September 16.--Move at sunrise, cross North Fork at Buckton Ford, cross South Fork at McCoy's Ford, and encamp at Bentonville.

September 17.--Move at sunrise on the mud turnpike, from which we turned off four miles north of Luray and camped four miles from Luray on the Sperryville and Luray pike.

September 18.--Move at sunrise, cross Thornton's Gap, pass through Sperryville, Woodville, and camp two miles east of the latter.

September 19.--Move at sunrise and arrive at Culpeper in time to meet a Yankee raiding party (Sixteenth New York Cavalry), which is found to have passed down to Rapidan bridge and burnt it. We intercept the party on its return by Bryan's brigade near Pony Mountain.

September 20.--Move at 12 m. for Rapidan Station.

September 21 and 22.--At Rapidan Station awaiting the completion of the bridge.

September 23.--Bridge finished. Move to Gordonsville.

September 24.--Kershaw moves at sunrise to join Early via Swift Run Gap.

September 25 and 26.--We take up the march (headquarters) for Richmond, where we arrive on the 26th.

September 27.--Move from Richmond to Swift Run.

September 28.--General Anderson receives orders to move to north side and assume command.

September 29.--Move to north side early and find the enemy holding Fort Harrison, which he had taken by a coup de main. One battalion of reserve (150 men) were in the fort. Gregg had previously repulsed an attack near Four-Mile Run. In the afternoon Field arrives with Lawrs brigade just in time to aid Gregg's and Benning's brigades in repulsing a most violent assault on Fort Gilmer. Many negroes were killed in the ditch. General Lee arrives, and Bratton's and Anderson's brigades come over, making Field's full division. In the afternoon Colonel Montague, with four regiments of Pickett's troops, pushes up toward Fort Harrison.

September 30.--During last night Hoke came over with Kirkland's, Clingman's, and Colquitt's brigades and Scales'. After reconnaissance Fort Harrison is attacked by Law, Anderson, and Bratton, and Clingman and Colquirt. The attack is repulsed.

October 1.--Dispositions made for taking up a new line. A movement of the enemy to our left up the Darbytown and Williamsburg roads is discovered. Field, with Law's brigade and Montague's four regiments, is hurried off. On arriving at the point we find Moore's and Barton's brigades of reserves in the fortifications and the artillery at work. Montague is left on the New Market road, and Law is posted in the salient on the Darbytown road.

October 2.--Law and Montague are moved back to Chaffin's farm.

October 3 to 5.--No change of note.

October 6.--No change during the day. At night Field and Hoke are taken out of the trenches and sent to the vicinity of Curry's house, on the Darbytown road. Law's brigade was previously sent over to Gary.

October 7.--At sunrise we move down the Darbytown road with Field and Hoke. The former encounters Kautz's cavalry in the exterior trenches. With Anderson's and Bratton's brigades, and Gary and Law on the Charles City road, the cavalry is drawn off, leaving us nine pieces of artillery, ten caissons, and prisoners. Field's division is then thrown to the left on the outside of the exterior line and Hoke on the inside of it. After crossing a thick abatis and an almost impenetrable swamp, the enemy is found in position near the New Market road. Field at once attacks him, and Major Johnson has a spirited artillery combat. Field's attack fails. Hoke cannot get at the enemy out of his trenches and does not move. In the afternoon the troops arc, posted behind Cornelius Creek. General Gregg killed; Bratton wounded.

October 8 and 9.--Quiet and without change.

October 10.--Field and Hoke move down in front of Cornelius Creek and a line of rifle-pits formed. Gary puts two regiments on the left of Field.

October 11 and 12.--Quiet. Troops occupied in strengthening their defenses.

October 13.--Early in the morning Gary's pickets are driven in on the Charles City road. He has hastily to send for the mounted regiment he had on the Nine-Mile road. A force of the enemy presses Field's left and endeavors to turn it. The Texas and Law's brigades are thrown rapidly to the left of the Darbytown road, and the others moved up to it. Hoke closing in on Field. The day passes in efforts of the enemy to feel our lines or break through them. The enemy's cavalry on the Charles City road disappears, and by night everything is again quiet, the enemy having retired. Gary's two dismounted regiments were sent to him in the morning, two regiments of Bratton relieving them. At night Field has four brigades on left of Darbytown road and Bratton on the right of it, Hoke touching his right, and Colquitt's brigade, of his division, extending to New Market road.

October 14 to 18.--Are all without change of note.