Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/514

506 Weldon railroad with the line of breastworks to support Hill, who is to attack the enemy's force at Reams' station (Sheridan and the Sixth corps). That force, however, has disappeared in the night, and our troops returned to their positions.

July 2—Field still on the line, preferingpreferring [sic] not to be relieved.

July 3, 4, 5, 6, 7—All pass without change or incident.

July 8—We made in the afternoon something of a Chinese demonstration in the way of shooting and artillery firing to ascertain the enemy's strength.

July 9—No change.

July 10—Kershaw moves out on the railroad at night to cover the movement of some railroad trains laden with corn.

July 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16—Are passed without change or incident.

July 17—General Anderson makes a personal reconnoissance for an assault. At night two men desert from Law's brigade.

July 18—Further reconnoissance and preparation, in the course of which the desertions of the previous night are learned. The contemplated attack is in consequence abandoned.

July 19, 20, 21, 22—No change. Usual shelling and picket firing.

July 23—Kershaw moves at 6.30 A. M. for Chaffin's Bluff.

July 24, 25, 26—Affairs unchanged.

July 27—At 1.30 o'clock P. M., we received orders to move our headquarters to the north side of James river. Heth's division moved over. We arrived at Chaffin's at 8.30 P. M. Before our arrival four guns of the Rockbridge artillery, on the left of Kershaw, had been captured by the enemy.

July 28—In the morning we move with four brigades—Conner's, Lane's, Kershaw's and Wofford's—to dislodge the enemy from the Long Bridge road. The three first become engaged near Whitlock's and Darby's house, capturing one piece of artillery and about seventy-five prisoners, but without gaining the Long Bridge road. Our loss is about two hundred and fifty in killed, wounded and missing. At night the troops are returned to their positions about Fussell's mill. W. H. F. Lee's cavalry arrived at night on the north side of the James.

July 29—Nothing done in the morning. In the afternoon Kershaw and Conner move down to Darby's to occupy, with skirmishers, the junction of the Long Bridge and Darbytown roads. Field's division is sent to us from the south side and arrives at Tussell'sFussell's [sic] mill about sundown. He came to Rice's turnout by rail. Fitz. Lee's division of cavalry is also sent to the north side.