Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/212

 200 Southern Historical Society Papers.

on Thursday last. We have as yet no news of the result. War- ren's guns opened a heavy fire upon the Rebel lines at the Courthouse at 4:30, and Hancock and Wright made their at- tack this morning in good style, forced the first and second lines of Rebel rifiepits, and for a time were confident that at last they had struck the lair of the enemy, but advancing through the forest each corps presently found itself confronted by heavy interior works, protected, especially in Hancock's line of advance by impassible abatis. Barlow's division of Hancock's corps attempted in vain to charge through this obstacle, and held their ground before it for an hour or more under a galling fire of canister. The difficulty of storming the Rebel intrenched camp on that side being evidently of the most extreme char- acter, and both corps having artfully, but unsuccessfully, sought for a weak point where they might break through. Grant at 9 o'clock ordered the attack to cease.

"Warren maintained a vigorous artillery duel with the Rebel batteries around the Courthouse until 11 o'clock, when both parties ceased firing. Our losses by the morning's work are reckoned by General Meade at 500 killed and wounded."

Medical Director McParlin, page 232 of Records, says, "On the morning of the iSth the Second Corps moved to the right aijd attacked the enemy's works ; 552 wounded were the result, and the character of the wounds were unusually severe, a large proportion being caused by shell and canister."

Major-General Hancock, page 337, says, "On the 17th, Tyler's division of heavy artillery, Brigadier-General R. O. Tyler com- manding, and the Corcoran Legion (infantry) joined the Second Corps, making in all a re-enforcement of 8,000 men. The Cor- coran Legion was assigned to Gibbon's division. I had received orders during the day to move my command to the works I had captured on the 12th, and to attack the enemy at daylight on the 1 8th, in the intrenchments he then held in front of that ]iosition. The Sixth Corps was directed to form on my right and assail the enemy's line at the same hour. Before daylight on the 1 8th, the troops were in the position designated and the