Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/217

 Spotsylvania Courthouse. 205

first was protected by fair works, and the rapid descent of the knoll from the rear to Cooper's afforded excellent shelter for the limbers. The enemy had 20 pieces behind their lines, in front and to their right of the Courthouse. At the time the Second Corps advanced on the right the batteries on both sides opened. The engagement was brisk for near three-quarters of an hour, and the practice on both sides was very accurate. Fire . was kept up at intervals during the day without any express object, and with no perceptible result, except the silencing of the enemy's guns."

General George W. Getty, of Wright's Corps, page 679 of Records, says, "On the night of the 17th, (May. 1864), the division moved back to the angle, and having formed in columns of brigades in the following order from front to rear, Wheaton's (First), Edward's (Fourth), Bidwell's (Third), and Grant's (Second), in conjunction with the Second Corps and the re- mainder of the Sixth, made an attack at daylight on the enemy's position on the right and front of the angle. The attack was not successful, and the division was withdrawn."

Gen. Frank Wheaton, of Wright's Corps, pages 685 and 686 of Record, says, "Remained in the camp until May 17 (1864), when at 8 130 P. M., the brigade moved with the rest of the division to the extreme right of the army opposite the angle, mentioned May 12, and the scene of the obstinate fighting of, that day, and formed at 3:30 A. M, May 18, on the right of the Second Corps. At 4:30 A. M.. in conjunction with the Second Corps, on the left, we moved forward to assault the enemy's position, a quarter mile beyond his works vacated the 13th. The advance was conducted in good order, notwithstand- ing the many natural and artificial obstacles in the vicinity of the enemy's old line of pits, until we arrived within 300 yards of their new position, when they suddenly opened with canister and musketry. The brigade line extended from left to right in the following order: One Hundred and Second Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Ninety- eighth Pennsylvania \''olunteers. Sixty-second New York Vol-