-day's
march was one of the most disagreeable ever made, being very hot, and so
dusty as to make all the trees look white. Plenty of dead horses and mules
on the road. Arrived at the Chickahominy river at midnight. All the
artillery crossed over the large pontoon bridge, of ninety-seven boats,
during the night.

_Monday, August 18._--The infantry crossed since daybreak, followed by the
cavalry and horse artillery. One gunboat is close to the bridge. The
rebels showed themselves, without molesting our rear-guard. One of our
batteries opened on them. By ten o'clock we resumed our march. Our corps
went to camp in the afternoon.

_Tuesday, August 19._--March through Williamsburg. Some dismounted guns,
from the battle in May, were still standing in the streets. We passed Fort
Magruder, and went to camp two miles from the latter.

_Wednesday, August 20._--Marched at six o'clock A. M., and went to camp a
mile from Yorktown.

_Thursday, August 21._--Tedious march through Yorktown, Howard's Mills,
over Shipping Point to Hampton Roads, where we arrived by five o'clock P.
M., having marched twenty-two miles to-day. The infantry has gone to
Newport News.

_Friday, August 22._--Hampton Roads. Heavy rain.

_Saturday, August 23._--Hampton Roads. Troops are continuously shipped.

_Sunday, August 24._--Hampton Roads. Heavy rain. Kirby's and our battery
marched to the landing. Both batteries were loaded on board the
ferry-boat Jefferson. Men and horses remained ashore for the night.

_Tuesday, August 26._--Hampton Roads. Men and horses were shipped on board
the schooners Buena Vista and Clara Belle. The schooners were taken by
tug-boat to Fortress Monroe, waiting for further orders. At six o'clock P.
M., the steamer "Forrest City," having the Second United States cavalry on
board, attached our schooner in tow, and started for Alexandria. In
consideration of having the troops rested from their tedious marching
across the Peninsula, contrabands were engaged by the government to load
the vessels. An overseer of such a working party reported to our battery.
But Lieutenant J. Hassard suggested that he would rather have the men of
the battery do the work, as they had not done anything lately. I owe it to
the members of Battery A, to mention those facts.

_Wednesday, August 27._--In sight of Aquia Creek. Received orders to
proceed to Alexandria the next morning.

_Thursday, August 28._--Left Aquia Creek at four o'clock A. M. Passed