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

[346] seemed to stand in mute admiration of these instruments of destruction. Sometimes a single shell could be seen climbing the sky from a Rebel mortar, and ere it had reached its destination, as many as half a dozen from Union batteries were chasing each other through the air as if anxious to be first in resenting such temerity; for in this arm of the service, as in the artillery, our army was vastly the superior. It should be stated, however, that the enemy could not afford to be as prodigal of their ammunition as the Unionists, had the guns not been wanting, for the beginning of the end was at hand, and they were finding themselves somewhat crippled in this respect.

These evening fusillades rarely resulted in injuring any one on our side, and were a ‘feature’ of our experience here. So harmless were they considered, and at the same time so brilliant to view, that officials frequently came on from Washington to witness then. No less a person than President Lincoln himself was present at one of them. They were expensive displays to the government, and served no practical purpose, so far as known, except to assure the enemy from time to time that our works were still occupied in force.

We have said these fusillades rarely did any damage. They nevertheless often succeeded in enlisting our warm personal interest, for the Tenth Battery was several times the mark of their particular attentions. At such times we would watch the shells closely as they mounted the sky. If they veered to the right or left from a vertical in their ascent, we cared nothing for them. If they rose perpendicularly, our interest increased. If they soon began to descend, we then knew they would fall short; but if they continued climbing until