Thursday, July 11. — Grand review before President Lincoln, Gens. Scott and Fremont. Salutes were fired.

Tuesday, July 9.—A sad accident occurred to-day. At section drill, through some unknown cause, a limber-chest of Lieut. Vaughan’s section, filled with cartridges, exploded, while the gunnner Morse, and privates Bourne and Freeman were mounted. They were thrown some twenty feet up in the air. Morse and Bourne died within the space of an hour. [...]

Thursday, July 4.—The day was duly celebrated in camp. Rhode Island furnished her troops with a good dinner. Prof. Sweet treated the multitude with a tight rope performance. The day passed off smoothly, with the exception of a strange display of authority by a few corporals, laboring under the idea that their dignity was injured [...]

Monday, June 24.—Grand review of the Rhode Island troops by President Lincoln and Gen. Scott. Marched in front of the White House and through the principal streets of Washington. From this time up to the 4th of July, nothing of importance occurred; everything went on quiet and pleasant; battery drills and manual of the piece [...]

Sunday, June 23.— The sanctity of the day was well observed throughout the camp and increased by an impressive sermon, preached by Bishop Clark. In the afternoon, passes were given to the men to visit the city. The day closed with a dress parade, President Lincoln and other functionaries being present.

Saturday, June 22.—Arrival at the National Capital. By daylight the cupola of the Capitol greeted our eyes, a reviving sight after three sleepless nights. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and Capt. Chas. H. Tompkins had a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of roast beef, soft bread and coffee. After unloading battery, we marched towards Camp Sprague, [...]

Friday, June 21.—Arrived at Harrisburg early in the morning. Coffee, bread and pies were given to us by inhabitants of that place. After a short halt, we resumed our journey, crossed the Susquehanna river, passed Little York, and arrived at Baltimore by eight o’clock in the evening. Our battery was immediately loaded on flats, drawn [...]

Thursday, June 20.—We steamed past Fort Schuyler, Hurl Gate, New York city, crossed the bay, and landed at Elizabethport, by ten o’clock A. M. After a delay of several hours at the railroad depot, the train started off. Much sympathy was displayed by the people of New Brunswick, Trenton, Easton and other places we passed [...]

Wednesday, June 19, 1861.—Embarkation of the Second Battery on the steamer Kill Von Kull, and of the Second Rhode Island Infantry, on the State of Maine. Early in the morning the tents were struck, everything packed up, order was given to mount, and by nine o’clock we commenced our march through Westminster street; from thence, [...]

Metropolitan Museum of Art Title: Duryea Zouaves, Fort Schuyler Adjuant Mess Artist: Stacy (American, active 1860s) Date: May 18, 1861 Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative Dimensions: 5 9/16 x 7 1/2 Classification: Photographs Credit Line: Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005 Accession Number: 2005.100.1231 Inscription: Inscribed in pencil on mount, verso TC: “Duryea Zouaves [...]

Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Pierce, USA Cols. John B. Magruder and D.H. Hill , CSA . The Union deployed 3,500 men, the Confederates 1,200. The Union lost 79 men, the Confederates 8. . On June 10, 1861, one of the first military engagements of the American Civil War took place at Big Bethel, Virginia. Confederate troops [...]

Ordnance Office, Washington, June 8, 1861. Hon . Simon Cameron, Secretary of War : Sir: Since the receipt of your letter of the 6th ultimo every attention possible on the part of this office has been given toward obtaining the necessary data for responding to the various questions therein. In ordinary times, and without the [...]

Comrades of Battery A:—The time for the fulfilment of my promise to you, has arrived. The days of our trials, hardships and sufferings are past, and it but remains to memorize the period during which we were battling for the sacred cause of the Union. Although we have not seen the closing contest of this [...]