Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/56

 50 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Longstreet's column came up, and the leading brigade was formed under fire and thrown upon the victorious Federals. Here is said to have occurred the thrilling incident of General Lee's offering to head this brigade in person, and their refusing to advance unless he would remain behind. Others of Longstreet's brigades were put in as fast as they came up, and in a short time all of the lost ground was regained from the enemy, and in turn his left flank attacked and a heavy loss inflicted upon him. Our brigade was not hotly engaged the balance of this day, and no very serious fighting was done by any part of the opposing armies the next day, and on the 8th we started for Spotsylvania to put ourselves in Grant's front and intercept his march towards Richmond. At one time during the fighting on the 5th our regiment lay down behind a line of dead Federals so thick as to form a partial breasts orks, showing how stubbornly they had fought and how severely they had suffered. It was a novel experience, and seems ghastly enough in the retrospect.

SPOTSYLVANIA.

There was more or less fighting along the line during the 8th and 9th of May, in which our brigade took no part. On the roth Heth's Division was sent to General Early on the extreme Confederate left, and attacked Barlow's Division of Hancock's Corps, which had crossed to the south side of the Potomac, menacing Lee's left flank, and drove it back to the north side. Hancock had his artillery strung along on the hills north of the Potomac, so as to protect the crossing of his men and to prevent our crossing after them. We could not, therefore, follow up the advantage gained. During this fight the woods in rear of the Federals took fire and they had to retreat and we to advance through the burning forest. It was a hot time, literally, and many of the Federal dead and wounded were consumed. Heth's Division took no active part in the severe fight- ing of the next two days, but was moved about from point to point as our lines were threatened by the enemy's repeated assaults. It was thus hurried in hot haste to the salient lost after desperate fight- ing on the 1 2th by Johnson's Division; but Hancock's men pouring through the gap had already been driven back by other troops and the line reestablished when we got there. After several days manoeu- vring and skirmishing without serious fighting, Grant gave it up and began his next flank movement on the 2oth.