The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-10-30
AT SPOTTSYLvANIA.
INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM THE
DIARY OF GEN. BuTTERFlELD.

A Quiet March in the Night-A Single
Shot From the Enemy-The Long
Roii''-A Surprise and n Capture--The
Losses OF One Brigade.
Gen. f. w. Butterfield had very COM
plete and interesting diary Of the operations
of portion OF Gen. Hancocks corps the
Second in that memorable campaign under
Gen. Grant toward Richmond. It is a faith
full record, written down every day-some-
times after desperate battle, while yet on
the bloody field; sone times after long and
weary marches. 1t is "A record of almost one
continuous, bloody battle of flfty-one days
duration, the corps being under the enemys
fire every day Of the fifty-one excepting two.
Following we give extracts which are of
thrilling interest:
May 1.-THE two armies have been growl-
ing at each other all day, the lines being only
seventy-five or eighty yards apart, but con-
cealed in thick, second growth timber. re-
ceived orders from Cen Hancock TO place a
six-gun battery in position, on the front line
of battle. l selected dense growth of small
pines, where we could work without being
observed by the enemy. Got the battery in
trenched and dragged the guns in by hand.
Sharpshooter busy all along the line, with
heavy cannonadlng ON our right
May 12-At 12 o'clock last night we left
our position and marched around to the ex-
treme left. After dumping our lnapsacks
and everything that would make the least
noise, we quietly and slowly marched through
thick woods, brush and weeds until an order
came along the line in low tone to "halt;
make no noise; be as quiet as possible" The
corps numbered then nearly, if not quite,
$1,000 men, and so quiet were they during the
march that one would scarcely have thought
that there was more than one regiment in
motion Every soldier knew that there was
fun ahead for the morning, and that TO make
the fun more interesting il was absolutely
necessary TO keep perfectly still, in order to
give us Che advantage, and we always liked
TO have the advantage in fight where our
lives were at stake, and we all knew they
would be in few hours.
Gen. Carroll commanded the First brigade
OF the Third division of the Second corps. AS
soon as our men were brought to a halt, and
just as Gen. Carroll and staff had dismounted,
Gen. Hancock and staff rode up, and they,
too, dismounted. Our men were all in posi-
ton. The moon had gone down and the stars
were shining brightly, All put in the time as
best they could waiting for the signal at break
of day. Some tried to Sleep some were crack
but all spoke in voice scarcely above a
whisper.
AT THE DAWN OF DAY.
When the first streak of light appeared In
the eastern horizon Gen. Hancock, who was
wide awake as to what was about to trans
pire, asked one of his staff officers for the
time. On being told that II was 3:45, he told
Gen. Carroll that he better have his men fall
In, and at the same time sent word to other
commanders to do the same Our horses
stood ready, having stood saddled all night.
we mounted and Ten. Carroll, in rather a
stentorlan voice, forgetting himself for the
moment, called out TO his men: Fall imp
zen. hancock spoke up quickly and said:
'flease don't INFORM the enemy that we are
coming, Zen. Carroll" Soon the men were
In Line, and the order was given to move for
ward as slowly ana silently as possible.
Inc lines OF sklrmishers We're fifteen PAGES
In front OF us. Slowly, steadily, but firmly,
we moved on, each soldier carrying eighty
rounds OF ammunition. Occasionally an Off
Ger could be heard TO calculate In low but
empnatic voice; STEADY there, boys; not so
iasti keep quiet" Finally the suspense is
broken, single shot is fired The enemy's
outpost has discovered one OF our skirmishers
through the gray morning light, and has fired
-" n'... "''A iSoi eoseo III hos haSUe. Our skir-
mish line haits for a moment. Our first line
OF battle comes up with and joins them An
other and another shot Is fired, and then the
line OF battle Is ordered to move forward
double quick Then several OF the enemy's
outposts are gobbied in; great confusion is
heard IN our immediate front; the "long roll"
is being beaten; the bugle is sounding "to
armsF IN the enemys camp.
OVER THE LINE OF BREAsTwoRKs
But it is too late The boys in blue have
been ordered to charge with fixed bayonets
Over the first line of breastworks they scram-
bled, and are in the midst Of the enemy's
camp; they are right among their tents. The
surprise is most complete. Some of the enemy
are only half dressed; some not that but the
whole camp, some 1000 in all, are prisoners
of war, including Gen. Johnston one of Gen.
Early's division commanders. Many resisted
capture, only to be bayoneted or shot. Sow
hands
met Zen. Johnston he was DaRsino 0yar