Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/214

 202 Southern Historical Society Papers.

divisions now traversed the same ground which we had fought so desperately on six days since, and as but a portion of the dead of that day's contest had been buried, the stench which arose from them was so sickening and terrible that many of the men and officers became deathly sick from it. The appear- ance of the dead who had been exposed to the sun so long, was horrible in the extreme as we marched past and over them, a sight never to be forgotten by those who Avitnessed it.

"At 4:10 A. ISI, Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to the assault, their troops in line of brigades. My artillery was posted in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops in front.

"As soon as our lines came within range we were received with a most destructive fire of musketry and artillery from the enemy, who was snugly fixed in heavy intrenchments protected by abatis. Our men gallantly rushed on until they came to the edge of this abatis, which was so heavy and firm that they could not penetrate it under the fire, and our lines stood at that point delivering their fire until 10 o'clock, wdien we were withdrawn, it being found impracticable to carry the position and our losses were heavy in this assault in killed and wounded. The Sixth Corps attacked at the same time with us on our right, with the same result."

General Francis C. Barlow, page 369 of Records, says, "At- tacked the enemy's left May i8th."

General John R. Brooke, of Barlow's division of Hancock's Corps, page 411 of Records, says, "At 4:10 A. M., moved for- ward in support of Second and Third Brigades, which were ordered to attack the enemy. Occupied the position taken on the 1 2th. and remained there. No fighting done by my brigade, though exposed to a heavy artillery fire throughout the day, losing heavily in officers and men. The assault made on our part of the line was not successful."

Major-General John Gibbon, of Hancock's Corps, pages 431 and 432 of Records, says. "At daylight on the i8th, the division was in position at the breastworks taken on the 12th. ready for