John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[154] hand. He then determined to make a rapid movement to the left, and before the Rebel commander could gain knowledge of his intentions, seize Fredericksburg and the heights in its rear, with the design of pushing operations against Richmond, from that point as a base. In this project, however, he was negative by General-in-Chief Halleck, and compelled to go forward in his recent line of retreat, if at all. Accordingly, at 6 o'clock on the morning of Monday, October 19th, we left our camp at Fairfax Station, and again took up our march towards the foe, proceeding along the line of railroad, thus having an excellent opportunity to observe how faithfully the enemy had executed the work of destruction on their return. That night we camped at Bristow Station, and the next morning crossed the battlefield where Warren had had his hardest fighting. We counted, in passing, fifteen rude headboards over the graves of soldiers belonging to the Seventh, Fifteenth, and Twenty-sixth North Carolina regiments. Then there were other graves unmarked, and the stench from the carcasses of dead horses that lay putrefying was sickening. Our march this day ended at Greenwich, which we had occupied just one week before.

Wednesday morning, at 7, we were again under way, but at 11 A. M. went into camp at Catlett Station. While here we moved camp twice, and were inspected by Capt. Randolph on the 23d, and Capt. Sleeper on the 25th. The weather being quite cool, we made ourselves as. comfortable as possible by stockading our tents and building fireplaces.

At this station (October 27th), Lieut. Thos. R. Armitage was detached for duty in Battery K, Fourth Regiment, U. S. Regulars.

On the 30th, line of march was again resumed