Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/334

 330 Southern Historical Society Papers.

situation of affairs, to whom I represented the impracticability of a farther advance. A short time after I received orders direct from the corps commander to withdraw, which was done successfully under cover of the woods."

General L. A. Grant of Wright's corps, page 696 of Record, says: "At daylight on the morning of the i8th, both corps charged the enemy's position. This brigade was formed in two lines of battle, the old regiments in front and the Eleventh regiment con- stituting the second line. Three brigades, each formed in one line of battle, were in our front. An advance of about half a mile was made under a heavy artillery fire. This brigade (constituting the fourth and fifth lines) came up on the first line in advance and halted. No farther advance was made, and the troops in our front retired. After holding the front line for some time, the whole command was ordered to retire, which was done in good or- der. Our loss, though not so heavy as in other engagements, was considerable, principally from artillery."

General D. D. Bidwell, of Getty's division, Wright's corps, page 720 of Records, says: "On the evening of the lyth (May 1864), we moved to the position in front of the angle, where on the morning of the i8th the division was formed in four lines of a brigade each. We were in the third line, and it getting light the advance was made without awaiting for the Third division to com- plete their formation. Upon advancing the Second corps gave way on our left, and the two front lines obliquing to the left, brought us in the front line, and the Third division failing to ad- vance exposed us to an artillery fire, which took us in reverse, on the flank (and) in front. The line on our left halting, our line was halted, where we remained until withdrawn by orders. In this engagement our loss was heavy and most from artillery."

General A. E. Burnside, pages 910 and 911 of Records, says: "On the morning of the i8th (May, 1864), a general attack was made on the enemy's line, and after two or three charges by the divisions of General Crittenden and Potter, which resulted in con- siderable loss, it was concluded that it could not be carried by assault. Some ground, however was gained which commanded parts of their line. This attack was well supported by the artillery, particularly by the batteries of General Wilcox's division."

General J. H. Ledlie, of Burnside's corps, pages 917 and 918, of Records, says: "On the i8th of May (1864), I received orders