Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-23
New Series-Vol. %. No. II

the other direction, but not Confedcr-
ate was withdrawn from Hancocks
front. Wright was charged again and
again with the bayonet, and before noon
his. line had breastwork of dead
bodies. He did not attempt to advance
-he was glad to hold his own. Three
| separate, times the Confederate lines
charged right into him with the oayonet.
and each time men fought hand to hand,
using the bayonet, knives, fist, clubs.
and fighting to kill. The gray and the
blue died on the same spot-died, in
some instances, clutching each other.
At one time Wright was pressed so
hard that Hancock sent him -Brookes's
brigade, which had just been served
with fifty rounds of ammunition. 1t
rushed for the front with yell, and in
ten minutes had lost 10 men. When
its ammunition Was expended the bri- -
gade did not number two full regiments. iU
When the fight around the Horseshoe
waxed hottest a section of the United
States artillery rushed up and unlimber-
ed with pistol shot of the Confederate
lines. Before the second discharge of -
the pieces twelve of the artilIerists
were shot down. In ten minutes horses p.
and med were SO nearly wiped out that, Z.
the pieces wero run back by hand.
Standing on the knoll in front of and
little to the right of the Lendrum e.
House, and one can look down upon the
Horseshoe From this knoll dug thirty
eight bullets by using the spade, twice. p.
1t is mine of lead, a magazine, of bull
lets. Every bullet which passed over.
the heads of the Federals at the salient
struck this post. 1t was covered with
grass on the morning of the iight-rich,
green grasses. After the battle it was a
burned and blistered spOt-on which the
eye could not detect a living blade of
grass. Death had taken broom of fire
in his hand and swept itciean. i4et4 30
As night came down men were fight
ing just where men fought when day
light came. Regiments had fired 200
rounds of ammunition per man. The
dead were front, behind, right, and left.
Blood stood in pools-blood made paste
of the red and sticky soils The FEEDER
ais had carried the Horseshoe and held it
out that was all-all but the sacrifice of
dead. The Confederates could not re-
take it but they had checkmated Grant.
The coming of night did not stop that q
terrible fighting. Darkness seemed to
add fuel to the flames. Fresh troops
were pushed in, new positions taken,
and the darkness was rent and torn with
sheets of flame which revealed the
smallest limbs in the tree tops. All
around that Horseshoe was bubbling
seething, roaring hell of hate and mnr-
der. In that baleful glare men did not
look like men. Some had thrown away
hats and coats; some had torn off their
shirts; Others had the wild, fierce look
of tiger hunted to cover. Midnight
alone broughta II cessation, and men who
had scarcely eaten mOuthful for two
days, or closed their eyes for forty
hours, dropped to the ground among the
dead, and were asleep in a moment.
In the morning it was discovered that
Lee had shortened and strengthened his
lines, leaving the Horseshoe to the Fed
erals, and leaving them more dead men
than had ever before been seen on such
limited space. 1t was his weak spot.
Grant had struck it, but WHARF was the
gain? Grant lad captured it and held
it, but where was the gain? Stretched
across his path was line of earthwOrkS
hidden behind them an army deter
mined to check him. He raved up and
down that hne-he struck again and
again, adding to the heaps of dead, add
ing to the wounded, but being hurled
back at every point. He could not drive
Lee from his path in the bloody Wilder
ness, but he could flank him. He could
not drive Lee from his path at Spottsyl-
vania, and he marched by the flank to
grapple him at Cold Harbor.
M. QUAD.