CHAPTER VII.

T

HE morning of the 28th, found the Regiment on the beautiful and historic Rappahannock. Here it was greeted by every demonstration of joy and welcome by the loyal blacks upon the grand old plantations that lined its banks. Port Royal was reached on the 29th, and the Regiment disembarked and went into bivouac near the town. The time consumed at Port Royal was employed in getting together the necessary supplies, supply trains, etc., in order to march towards Cold Harbor. On the 31st, at 9. a. m., the march was resumed, but before leaving Port Royal we destroyed by fire all surplus clothing, baggage, etc., and after a hard march over a rough country, Bowling Green was reached at 9 a. m., June 1st. The atmosphere was very hot, the roads very sandy and dusty. After the first day's march, the sun's effect began to tell on the men and they began to unload, throwing away such articles of clothing as they thought they would not need, soon the road was littered with all kinds of clothing, such as overcoats, blankets, caps, coats, blouses, pants and under clothing. Moseby's and White's band of Guerrillas were constantly on the flank of the regiment, two Rebel scouts being captured on the way.

At II a. m., the march was resumed and after a very tedious tramp the Mattapony River was reached. The bridge being burned another was constructed, and the 187th passed to the south side. The ground being unfavorable, the Regiment recrossed the river under command of Major George W. Merrick and went into camp in a strong position.

THE FIRST ALARM.

About midnight a solitary picket shot was heard, and then another and another, until the picket was almost generally engaged in firing at some supposed enemy. The regiment was

soon aroused from its slumber and formed in line of battle ready for the foe. No Rebels appearing and quiet being restored on the picket line it soon sank into much needed sleep.

Continuing the march on the 2nd, at 12 m. it halted beside a beautiful stream, and dinner over, the boys obeyed the injunction, namely: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," by bathing in its pure and refreshing waters to their heart's content.

UNDER SKIRMISH FIRE.

During the afternoon the 187th moved forward, with Company B, Captain D. Z. Seip, thrown out as skirmishers, Lieutenant S. I. Adams in advance, pushed up the stream for about a mile, when a band of Rebels were espied in the distance. Brisk firing began between the two forces, resulting in the retiring of the enemy.

A number of negroes were captured and much valuable information was obtained from them. At 3 p. m., the Regiment reached the skirmish line, and then with Companies A and B as skirmishers, the march was continued.

The skirmishers experienced many hardships in passing through thickets, over streams, etc. Finally, in a drenching rain it went into camp on the slope of a large hill for the night, lulled to sleep by the artillery salvoes from the field of Cold Harbor.

During the night the 187th was joined by some 8,000 troops, consisting of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, a Regiment of stragglers, deserters, etc., under command of Colonel Gregory; Captain John B. Eaton's Battery of Light Artillery, the Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, dismounted, and a pontoon train in charge of Captain Henderson, all under command of Colonel Gibson, of the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.

On the 3rd, the column of infantry, cavalry and artillery. moved on and reached Beulah Church, a large brick edifice erected in 1846, and situated in a grand old forest of oaks, etc.

After dinner and a short halt in this beautiful place, the march was resumed, passing Elliottsville during the afternoon,

moving in the direction of the Pawmunky River, reaching there and bivouacing at nightfall.

REBEL DEMONSTRATION,

The enemy having made some demonstrations on the rear and flank of the Regiment, a part of Company B, under Captain Seip, was thrown out as pickets along the road just traversed, to guard against any sudden attack in that direction.

At 5 a. m., on the 4th, the pickets were recalled and the column crossed the river on a pontoon bridge about 12 m. and went into camp.

WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

After marching seventy miles in less than five days and crossing three rivers and building one bridge, the 187th, in the midst of a heavy storm, stacked arms within the battle beaten ranks of Meade's Army at Cold Harbor, on the evening of the 4th, while the thundering of the guns all night long welcomed it into the stern realities of war,

CHAPTER VIII.

▪HROUGH rain and mud all day Sunday, the 5th, it marched

and countermarched about thirty miles along the lines of

the army, when at 5 p. m. it reached a point on the Mechanicsville road, near Shady Grove Church, on the Chickahominy River, and in support of the Fifth Corps.

UNDER FIRE AT COLD HARBOR.

Heavy picket firing ran along the lines of the opposing forces until 10 p. m., when the Rebels made a fierce attack on Warren's men, the Regiment responded to the command, "Fall in" promptly, and soon stood to arms in support of the Fifth Corps, and after a half hour's desperate fighting the Union line stood intact, and the Rebels were repulsed at all points.

About II p. m., the enemy made another determined fight to break the Fifth Corps line, but only to meet with the same disastrous defeat. Rebel bullets fell plentifully in the ranks of the 187th, but fortunately it suffered no loss. On the cessation of the fighting the Regiment, with the Fifth Corps, moved to the left center, and early on the 6th was in reserve.

This day the 187th was incorporated with the First Brigade, First Division of the Fifth Corps. The other Regiments of the Brigade were as follows: 143rd, 149th and the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers; the 187th taking the place of the Fourth Delaware, the Brigade was thenceforth known as the "Keystone," commanded by Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, he succeeding General Bragg. General Charles C. Griffin commanding the Division, and General G. K. Warren the Corps.

Early on the 7th, the Corps moved to the extreme left of the Army, on the north bank of the Chickahominy and began entrenching its position, and here, for the next six days, it was exposed to a murderous fire from the Rebel batteries and pickets.

On the 7th the Brigade was located about a mile from the