Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/219

 Spotsylvania Courthouse. 207

on the first line in the advance and halted. Xo farther ad- vance 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 order. Our loss, though not so heavy as in other engagements, was considerable, principally from artillery."

General D. D. Bidwell, of Getty's division, ^^^right's CorpS; page 720 of Records, says. "On the evening of the 17th (May, 1864), we moved to the position in front of the angle, where on the evening 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 waiting for the Third division to complete 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 advance 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 The line on our left halting, our line was halted where we remained until withdrawn by orders.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 Avas heavy and most from artillery."

General A. E. Burnsid'e, pages 910 and 911 of Records, says. "On the morning of the 18th (May, 1864), a general attack was made on the enemy's line, and after two or three charges by the divisions of Generals Crittenden and Potter, which resulted in considerable loss, it was concluded that it could not be car- ried 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 \Yi\- cox'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 to advance upon and feel the enemy's position. I pushed forward my brigade, composed of the Fourth and Tenth U. S. Infantrv, Thirty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fiftv-ninth IMassachusetts Volunteers, which moved up in admirable style, and reached the abatis in front of them, and it being impossible