Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-06-02
rived, and none but artillery fighting was
ho n duripor fha dav Fl tN

rived, and none but artillery fighting was
had during the day.
On the 9th, the enemy again assaulted
Longstreet, but were again repulsed. On
the 10th, The same attempt was made with
a like result. Heavy frequent fighting
was had day and night during all that
time.
Grants tactics is to form his line of bat
tie, fortify, arrange his artillery, support
ed in thezs fortifcations by reserved
corps, and then hurl his whole force in
heavy columns on the weakest part of our
line. So you may imagine the carnage
that follows his advance and repuise--
Howitzers pouring grape and canister,
rife guns plunging through serried ranks,
and the unerring rife In the hands OF cool
and veteran troops keeping up continu-
Gus roar, where every bullet tells, and you
can barely imagine the frightful execution.
I never saw as many dead and wound
ed men, as lay piled in front of every place
he has assaulted. Each day he has as-
saulted, but tie 18th inst. saw the severest
fighting OF this campaign.
The assaults of the 11th had been fee
BILE, and though his cannon belched forth
it's accustomed amount of shot and she'll,
and .sharpshooting was of the liveliest kind,
yet we all felt that the next day would
prove in manner decisive. An impor-
tant move was evidently on hand, and 1t
proved to be on our weakest and most IL
ly constructed position. Our line here
formed in Y with the sharp point to the
enemy. A feeble assault on the 18th at
the opp,s of the line had prove it. John
stons Division, consisting of four Virginia
and one Louisiana Brigade, defended this
centre.
| At early dawn, a signal gun was fred
by the enemy, and with regular Con :
federate yell they rushed on aud carried
, this point. I never shall forget what
there saw. The woods and fields were
thick with refugees, confused and panic
stricken, and even the presence and ex-
ertions Of our noble chief and our corps
commander, tailec to rally them. could
see the panic taking effect in the troops
that were on the right and left OF the
broken column, and / began to fear the
day was lost However, Pegram's bri-
gade on the right and Daniels brigade on
the left, notwithstanding tho flank tire to
which they we're exposed, held their posi-
tions. Brig. Gen. Johnston's brigade was
| quickly rushed in, but in vain, tor soon
! they too We're seen falling back in dlsor-
der, having lost very heavily. Ram
t6cufc OTl2aue was III PoSItiOI W VIC AoAs
of Daniels. It was moved out of It's breast.
works, and faced fronting the position the
enemy had taken. As soon 40 formed,
| it was moved forward, and with q rush
and a yell, it pushed boldly on the conf
dent foe without firing gun. 1t receiv'
ed volsey after volley, but nothing deter
| red, it rushed boldly on, and soon the foe
| was retreating, and the reserved breast.
works ours. They then halted and re-
formed, and after firing volley, charged
for the advanced bIeastworks, behind
which the enemy were seen in masses,
and pouring deadly volleys into onr ranks.
But 40 We reared the breastworks, thoss in
front broke and run, and the worksz were
|again ours. The brigade was not foil
enough to cover the space the enemy oc-
cupied, and even after The works were re>
tgaiped heavy faux fire was poured in
to them from the right, while column af-
ter column advanced in front only to be
/ jrepulsed. At one time their masses reach
| ed Within few steps of the works, and
they even captured some Of the men on the
textremei right, butstheir line recoiled nn-
der our steady fire. The brigade thus
fought for two, hours J, before reinforce
ments were sent them. These reinforce-
Inasnts maved to the right, and re- establish,
led our broken lin8, and thoagh repeated
/ efforts were made TO retake the works they
tailed, and after q twenty hours fight Of
/ lnnsketry, they finally gave up. the under
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