General Grant, in supreme command of the Union Armies, assembled a force of 100,000 men at Culpepper, Virginia, in preparation for an advance southward. It was his purpose to move by his left flank toward Richmond in order to force the Confederate commander, General Lee, with 60,000 men, to give battle or abandon this capitol. While the main forces of the Union Army engaged Lee on the front, a second Union force of 36,000 men under General Butler was to advance up the south bank of the James River and cut Lee off from the south. Grant planned to bring Lee to decisive battle somewhere between the Rapidan-Rappahannock line and Richmond.

On May 4, 1864, Grant crossed the Rapidan River and engaged the Confederate forces in the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864). The battle was indecisive; Lee, showing great defensive skill and aided by the rugged terrain of the Wilderness, held the Union frontal attacks.

Grant then sought to flank the Confederate right flank, but again Lee managed to contain the Union forces at Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-12, 1864). It was at this time that Lee sent his famous message to General Halleck: ''I propose to fight it out along this line if it takes all summer.'' (May 11, 1864)

Grant continued his movement toward the left in an effort to envelop the Confederate Armies. At this time he called on the well-drilled troops garrisoned around Washington to reinforce his army. On May 15, 1864 the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, acting as infantry, moved out of their entrenchments and proceeded south to join the army. They were assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Second Corps. The regiment went into battle on May 19, 1864 at Harris's Farm.

Saturday, May 7, 1864. ... News of a terrible battle that is going on in the Army of the Union [Potomac] [Note 15]. How earnestly the eyes of a gratified country are looking to the Army for a good victory, and how sure the soldiers are of doing them justice...

Tuesday, May 10, 1864. Got excused from guard and went to Ft. Craig for Emery, and we went over to the city... Had a very good time. I shall not go again until I am discharged. Sent in my card to Sen. Wilson asking him for a McClellan report [Note 16]. He sent me out one all done up...

Thursday, May 12, 1864. Rained, not much fatigue in the forenoon. Drilled in the afternoon in a heavy rain. It is great, I think. Got our guns as wet as can be... Page is on picket. I am sorry, but suppose he is good for it... Studied surveying in the hills; like it first rate. Good news from the Army.

Saturday, May 14, 1864. Orders for us to move. I am on guard as usual. Everybody is packed up. I got excused and went down to Ft. Craig and packed up my things, marked them for James and left them in charge of Sergt. Hayes. Wrote to Caroline. Page and I read letters. Saw Lieut. Doce in the eve. We are going now into rough usage, I guess, but let it come. But if we go, I should like to return.

Sunday, May 15, 1864. ... We left the fort at 12, took the boat at A[lexandria] at 4, ran down to the mouth of the creek and anchored until morning. It rained as hard as it could until we got to A[lexandria] and we got as wet as we could. Rather disagreeable...

Monday, May 16, 1864. Landed at Potomac Creek, marched up on a high hill and pitched our tents. I slept first rate with Page. We got some potatoes and pork and made quite a good supper... Dow is A.A.G., and I am a high private. Some of the boys wrote home, but I did not. This is a rough life, and one that I do not like, but I shall stand it like a man.

Wednesday, May 18, 1864. Slept on the ground, don't know where it was. Did not sleep with Page and felt very cold. Started early in the morning for Hancock's right [Note 17]. Stopped in the valley until about 10. Two shells came over among us, and we started for the left. Saw lots of wounded and the Drs [doctors] cutting them up. Saw one corpse lying in the road. It looks mighty rough. Rained in the afternoon. Pitched camp and stopped all night; kept dry. I expect an awful battle [was fought?] today. We were in hearing of it all day.

Thursday, May 19, 1864. Struck our tents about noon, marched on quick time down a hill, then countermarched, lay on a hill, then went down, and our battalion went after the Rebs. The fire was awful. I was taking Boardman to the rear. I had to leave him, and I saw the Rebs behind me. I surrendered. They did not fire after [me?]. I got a horse to ride, and the provost guard took me. I could not wish to be better treated. I slept rough but was truly thankful for my treatment. Sold my coffee for Conf. [Confederate] scrip.

Friday, May 20, 1864. Slept on some rails - tough. The guard took me to the prisoner's camp. Slept all day. At night I was very much gratified upon the arrival of Rowe & Handy, and we stayed up most all night. Rather small rations, but the Rebs gave us as good as they can. I will be glad when this cruel war is over, but it must be fought to the bitter end. Saw Gen'l Lee. We are treated with great kindness by our captors. I am glad if our time is well spent, both to ourselves, our country, and our God.

Saturday, May 21, 1864. No rations all day. Marched all day, started early, did not rest or have anything to eat. It was indeed truly painful. Got to a little brook, piled down on the ground for the night. It was 7 miles from Beaver Dam, and such is the life of a prisoner in the hands of the Rebels, but ''while there is life there is hope.'' Here we are, Sunday morning, & how good some beans would go, such as we had last Sunday. But the time is not far distant, I hope and trust, when we can reap the rewards of life.

Sunday, May 22, 1864. Started on our journey early in the morning without anything to eat. They did not march us very hard. Got down to the railroad about 3 o'clock; there we waited a long time. The guards were everlastingly kind to me. The station was on the V.C.R.R. [Note 18], 45 miles from R[ichmond]. Went to Gordonsville; got here about 11 o'clock. Turned in an old barn, got 1 pint of meal and 2 oz. of pork, all we have had since Friday morning and after marching 35 [miles] and riding 40 miles.

Monday, May 23, 1864. Left Gordonsville [Virginia]... Rode on a platform car to Lynchburg [Virginia]... it was tough, but we stood it. The most we had to eat was cinders from the engine. We got in Lynchburg, marched about 1 mile to camp and turned in with the blue canopy of Heaven for our shelter... We passed the Blue Ridge. It is a beautiful country, but not well cultivated. I shall be glad when we get to our journey's end where we can get something to eat.

Tuesday, May 24, 1864. Stopped at the camp all day... Got some rations. I ate quite hearty for a prisoner, and I felt like a new man altogether. I never knew what it was to be hungry before. I was so weak I could hardly stand. Oh, how good a good meal would taste, such as I could get at home, but I must not dote on such things now...

Wednesday, May 25, 1864. Stopped as usual at the prisoner's camp. This is sure mighty dull. I sleep all day. The boys wrote home by flag of truce... Some more prisoners arrived. I hope they start us for Ga [Georgia] today. Don't I wish I could see Page and Dow? Don't I wish I could stop in some of our New England farmhouses and get a cup of milk? But never mind, I am looking forth with strong anticipation for our time of exchange; then it will be like new Heaven for me and my comrades.

Thursday, May 26, 1864. Just one week today since I was taken prisoner. A strange, eventful week it has been, too... How strange a position we are in here. We are deprived of every solitary comfort of life, except thinking. That, no man can deprive us of. How glad [we shall be] when we are released.

Friday, May 27, 1864. Slept, or lay, very cold last night... Started about 6 o'clock from Lynchburg for Danville [Virginia], packed in some box cars. It is about 150 miles, and it took us 24 hours... What a painful night we passed! No sleep, no place to lie down nor scarcely to stand. No rations, and I think that Jordan is a hard road to travel.

Saturday, May 28, 1864. Arrived in Danville, went to the prison [a tobacco warehouse]... About 5 o'clock we got a splendid ration of boiled ham and corn cake just from the oven. It was beautiful, and I ate heartily and felt like a new man altogether. Got another ration at night..., and started in the cars for Georgia. Danville is quite a town for the sunny South. I wish we could have stayed here one night and got rested.

Sunday, May 29, 1864. After riding all night and until 10 o'clock the next day in a little box car, with 66 of us in it, with no sleep or chance to sleep, we got to Greensboro, N.C., a distance of 48 miles. We came over a new military road. Then we got packed as thick as ever in a hog car - all manure. Where they will take us I do not know, but they say, ''It is good enough for Yanks.'' ... We arrived at Charlotte [North Carolina]. We rode at a very swift pace, but not too fast to suit me, for I want to get to my place of destination.

Monday, May 30, 1864. Arrived at Charlotte, N.C. about daybreak... We stopped until the next morning; then we started on the box cars for Augusta [Georgia]. We slept quite well; got some leaves and put our blankets over us. Such is the life of a prisoner of war. How I wish I was in Boston with Dow, both free men! But never mind, we shall enjoy ourselves so much the better when we do get home. I do think we shall be exchanged by the 4th of July. If not, may the Powers help us!

Tuesday, May 31, 1864. After riding all day ... we arrived at Columbia, S.C., where we were kept in the cars until morning... Today is the last day of May, making our time of enlistment very short, but I am very much afraid that our time will not expire then. But how I do long for the time to come when we can once more be men and not beasts. But it is for our Country, and we must be willing to sacrifice the personal for the general good.

Wednesday, June 1, 1864. ... Started about 1 o'clock for Augusta. Met with an accident; two cars ran off the track. The men jumped off, and one of our men was killed, one had both legs broken, and many others wounded. We got to Augusta about daybreak...

Thursday, June 2, 1864. After staying in Augusta until 3 P.M. ... off we went for Americus, our destination. We were almost starved when I got 6 good loaves of soft bread for a silver half... After getting all of that in us we felt once more something like ourselves. We had a good car and a good place in it and rode very well. I should like to hear from Dow and be released from durance.