Then leaving the Mechanicsville pike, they turned to the left, passing through a grove of pines. About 4:00 P. M. the Provisional Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery was met and a mighty shout of joy from each regiment echoed throughout the woods as the "Second Heavy" men shook hands with the "boys" of its offspring - the "Provisionals".
Some of the men had a good time shaking hands in a jolly manner, while others were saddened at the news of the loss of dear comrades with whom they had parted alive and happy a short month before, but were now sleeping the sleep that knows no waking on the fields of Spotsylvania, North Anna, the Wilderness, and other places made sacred by their heroic deeds of valor.
The regiment marched on until near midnight over some of McClellan's corduroy roads. They were in the best of spirits from having met the "Provisional boys". The regiment, weary and sore from a day's march of over twenty miles, bivouacked in a clump of woods until daylight.
A. A. Gibson, Colonel of the Second Pennsylvania Vol. Artillery, sent the following message to General S. Williams.
I have arrived at General Warren's headquarters with my command, 6,350 men, who have had no rations or forage since yesterday. By General Warren's advice, I shall camp near Woody's tonight, and request to be furnished with rations at that point if possible. I have a pontoon train and 150 wagons, containing nothing but a little baggage.
After a night's rest, the regiment again "fell in" about 5:00 A. M. on June 5th, and at about 9:00 A. M. Colonel Gibson reported with his troops to Gen. S. Williams.
Footsore, weary, hungry and straggling, the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, without rations or water, pitched tents immediately after assignment, and rations were soon thereafter served the men, but water was scarce and very bad at that. Quartermaster Melcher and Surgeon Griswold, who were left in Washington to fix up matters pertaining to their office, rejoined the regiment on its arrival at Cold Harbor. In the map above, see the red oval.