, undoubtedly belonging to some
confederate officers. Some picket firing during the night.

_Thursday, July 18._--Advance at daylight. A part of the Union army, Gen.
Tyler's troops, engaged. This conflict the rebels call battle of Bull Run.
While the contest was raging, our division halted two miles to the left of
Fairfax Court House, at a place called Germantown. We could plainly hear
the distant booming of artillery, and were impatiently waiting for the
order, "forward." Towards four o'clock P. M., we advanced again;
preparations were made to get in action; sponge buckets filled with water,
and equipments distributed among the cannoniers. But when we approached
Centreville, intelligence came that our troops got worsted and the contest
was given up. Our division went to camp within a mile and a half of
Centreville. Strong picket lines were drawn up.

_Friday, July 19._--Camp near Centreville. The troops remained quiet all
day. Fresh beef as rations.

_Saturday, July 20._--Quiet during the day. About six o'clock in the
evening the army got ready to advance; but after council of war was held
by the chief commanders, they concluded to wait till the next day.

_Sunday, July 21._--Battle of Manassas Plains. This battle will always
occupy a prominent place in the memory of every man of the battery. They
all expected to find a disorganized mob, that would disperse at our mere
appearance; while, to the general surprise, they not only were better
disciplined, but also better officered than our troops. We started by two
o'clock in the morning, but proceeded very slowly. Passed Centreville
before break-of-day. When the sun rose in all its glory, illuminating the
splendid scenery of the Blue Ridge mountains, though no sun of Austerlitz
to us, we crossed the bridge over the Cub Run. By this time, the report
of the 30-pounder Parrott gun belonging to Schenck's command, who had met
the enemy, was heard. Our division turned off to the right, and marched
some miles through dense woodland, to the Warrenton road. Towards ten
o'clock, nothing could be seen of the enemy yet, and the belief found
circulation that the enemy had fallen back. Experience proved that, had we
remained at Centreville, the rebel army would undoubtedly have attacked
us; but hearing of our advance they only had to lay in ambush, ready to
receive us. At the aforesaid time, the Second Rhode Island infantry
deployed as skirmishers. We advanced steadily, till arriving