erry, all
the time. Our battery went in park, for the rest of the day, close to the
railroad. General McClellan passed through in a special train. Rain all
night.

_Thursday, February 27._--The battery was loaded on cars in the morning.
The baggage teams, and the drivers with the battery-horses, went on the
turnpike road, through Jefferson City, Petersville, Knoxville, and
Weavertown, and arrived at Sandy Hook by nightfall. The cannoniers, coming
by railroad, made a raid on a number of express boxes, after which,
eatables and all sorts of liquors being plenty, all night, the happiness
of the men reached such a degree, as to make it impossible to post a
guard,--Novel and Drape being the happiest men in the sixth detachment,
while Jim Lewes hallooed for Billy Knight all the time. The night was
extremely windy and cold.

_Friday, February 28._--The battery crossed the Potomac to Harper's Ferry
on a pontoon bridge. We occupy one of the government buildings on the
hill.

_Saturday, March 1._--Remained in our quarters up to

_Friday, March 7._--Left Harper's Ferry. Detached to General Gorman's
brigade. Marched till within a mile of Charlestown, Virginia, and went in
camp to the left of the road, close to the First Minnesota, Colonel Sully.

_Saturday, March 8._--Remained in camp near Charlestown, and received new
Sibly tents to-day.

_Monday, March 10._--Marched through Charlestown, and thence to
Berryville. On this occasion, something happened that wants mentioning.
When leaving Poolesville, Captain J. A. Tompkins ordered the men to carry
the knapsacks on the back. This is contrary to regulations. It created a
great deal of dissatisfaction. The lot of a soldier is hard enough,
without irritating him unreasonably. But, honor to the lamented hero,
General Sedgwick, who, riding by our battery, at Charlestown, peremptorily
ordered Captain Tompkins to have no more knapsacks carried by any of his
men. An engagement was anticipated. Rebels were seen beyond Ripton. By one
and a-half o'clock, our left section unlimbered, and fired two shells
towards Berryville. Van Allen's, and the Eighth Michigan cavalry, drove
the rebel cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, out of the town. Our
battery followed closely--Gorman's brigade in our rear. The stars and bars
were lowered from the church steeple, and a substitute furnished in the
shape of the colors of the First Minnesota. The pieces of the battery were
brought in separate position