Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/338

 332 Southern Historical Society Papers.

slope toward the level of our feet ; two rods more and we were out of the covered way. There was an abrupt ascent, then a small area of rough, uneven ground, then a ditch seven feet deep and quite as wide, while beyond all rose a perpendicular earthwork, not less than twelve feet above the ditch, built in the form of a retreating angle. There was not sufficient ground to allow a regiment to deploy to advantage; as fast as they were unmasked from the cut the com- panies rushed with a shout up the ascent, across the intervening ground, and into the ditch. From the parapet of the Rebel works came a continued flash of rifles, not in volleys, but in an irregular burst, which never ceased while the attack lasted.

The Rebels were entirely protected behind their defences — hardly a head was to be seen above the parapet. The open space before the work was strewn with soldiers in blue, dead, dying, and severely wounded ; they lay among the bushes on the hillside, and covered the bottom of that awful ditch, yawning like a grave, at the foot of the work.

For a whole hour there was a continued repetition of this scene; a yell, a rush, shouts, musket shots, cries and groans.

The ditch was at last filled with the living and the dead ; the former striving within six yards of the muzzles of the Rebel rifles to climb the face of the earthwork, and contmually dropping back with bullet holes perforated clear through their bodies.

The hand-grenades, upon which much reliance had been placed, exploded harmlessly against the face of the work. Wounded men were killed while trying to crawl beyond the range of the fire, or lay helpless under it unable to hazard the attempt.

The contracted space before the ditch was swept with rifle balls and buckshot ; every repetition of the assault was met by the same murderous discharge, covering the ground thickly with its victims, and adding to the horror of the scene

The close of the first hour, when the east was reddening with sun- rise, found the regiments scattered and broken up in hopeless con- fusion.

Charge after charge had been made and repulsed ; the ditch was an obstacle which could not be overcome, and most of those who reached it unhurt, were shot down in the attempt to return.

Of my own regiment, one-third was placed hors de combat ; three ofificers, including the colonel, were mortally wounded, and four others severely hurt, and other regiments suffered proportionately.

Our losses, in killed and wounded, were not less than twelve hun-