Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-06-27
HISTORIC BLOODY ANGLE
BY CAPT. WINFIELD pco1 N.

was captain of the One Hundred
and Twenty-sixth New York regiment
and In Hancock's Second army corps,
on that campaign through the Wilder.
ness through all the battles until the
second charge at Spotsylvania court
house May 18th. At General Hancock's
orders had detailed 100 men, captain
and lieutenant, to serve at his head.
quarters.
1t was still, driEzling, dark night.
The second army corps drew out ST.
lently from its position and began its
march to the left at about d. m. l.,
was night long to be remembered. Ii
was so dark that only few items could
be discerned at close quarters. Ewes
were strained to catch sight OF all OBJ
jects to the right toward the enemy.
Ears were sensitive to all sounds and
imagination had full sway. About
O'Clock in the morning as we swere
drawing steadily around the base of
high aill. suddenly there came tearing
down that hill force with clanking
iron that sounded like the rushing force
of troop of cavalry. 1t came straight
for the brigade which with my regiment
| was leading. The I26th regiment,
without command, Immediately faced
by the rear rank and brought down
their guns to charge bayonet The
enemy's 5charging force went toward
the rear of the brigade, when 10 my as
constituent the two or three regiments
In the rear of my own broke and fled
Precipitately from the hill. In a min
ute or two you could hear the words
"Haltl Halt" given In whisper, and
whispered out al sharply as was dared
to be given under our strict orders.
Then there was low halfsmothef-
ing convulsing suickering that ii was
next to impossible to repress. These
fleeing regiments Immediately took
their place in line, and the brigade was
on its march again. That dreadful cav
airy charge proved to be three or four
loose mules, with harness or that had
become frightened, and, with chains
flying had torn down the hillside.
AT about O'clock one column was
halted, moved to the right ard placed
in position. The troops were massed In
close columns in divisions. General
Nelson A. Miles commanded n brigade
Of Barlow's division, and his was placed
in the front line. The Third Brigade,
same division, TO which my regiments
belonged, waa placed in the second line
in the rear of his. A double line of
skirmishers were placed in front.
With some preliminaries we lay down
upon Cur arms to await the great charge
upon the "bloody angle" at Spottsyi-
vania Courthouse. Before 1 O'Clock a.
m. we were in line of battle, awaiting
the order of forward. II was dark,
foggy morning and we were compelled
to wait for half hour longer than we
had expected before the charge could be
made. Forward" was finally the com
mand and as silently as possible we
moved to the front. 1t was not long
before the skirmish line met the enemy's
pickets, and a few shots were fired. Soon
the reserves were struck and a volIey
came from them, but on we went In
few minutes the works were reached
and the charge made The enemy was
unPrepared. All along that line of
works cannons frowned, but not a shot
from one of them was fired The works
we struck were held by two brigades of
General Johnson's division. One of
the brigades was commanded by Gen.
eral Stuart. These troops were taken
by surprise. They made but little
resistance. Some of the men had their
shoes off, and others were demoralized
by the suddenness of the attack. Nearly
all were taken prisoners with all the
artillery. A few fled and dragged few
pieces of the artillery a 81 ort distance
to the rear.
In getting possession of these works
our troops partially lost their organiza-
ton. TIE lines then rushed forward
and captured the second line of the en-.
emy's works. The prisoners went pour
Ing to the rear. General Lee brought up
fresh troops and attacked our advanced |
position. Our organization having been
aIgeiy broken 1t was impossible to hold
his second line against the. well-organ.
zed and impetuous attack of Lees
orces, We were forced back TO the first