Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-06-26
HISTORI BLOODY ANGLE



and in Hanesk's Second army. corps,
on that cana through the Wilder
ness throua ne battles until the
second ch Spotsylvania court
house NAV s At General Hancock S
orders 7 hadetailed 100 men, a captain
aps lieenant, to serve at his head
irizzling, dark night.
The secoa arN corps drew out ST
lentlv frn its position and began its
march the left at about 9 p. M. It
was a n hit long to be remembered. It
was so ,rk that only few items could
be discmed at close quarters. Eyes
were stined to catch sight of all OBJ
iects tc.he right toward the enemy.
Ears vre sensitive to all sounds and
imagiation had full sway. About
o'cloe in the morning as we were
dravng steadily around the base of a
hio ELL, suddenly there came tearing
dow, that hill a force with clanking
iro. that sounded like the rushing force
.,t a troop Of cavalry. 1t came straight
for the brigade which with my regiment
was leading. The I26th regiment,
without command, Immediately faced
nv the rear rank and brought down
their guns to a charge bayonet. The
enemy's charging force went toward
the rear Of the brigade, when to my as
constituent the two or three regiments
in the rear of my own broke and fed
precipitately from the hill In a min
ute or two you could hear the words
oHalt, Haltw given in whisper, and
whispered out as sharply as was dared
TO be given under our strict orders.
Then there was low half-smother-
inc convulsing snickering that it 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 on that had
become frightened, and, with chains
fiving had torn down the hillside.
At about o'clock one column was
halted, moved to the right and placed
in position. The troops were massed In
close columns in divisions. General
Nelson A. Miles commanded brigade
of Rarlow'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 preliIninaries we lay down
upon our arms to await the great charge
upon the "bloody angle" at Spottsyl-
vania Courthouse. Before 4 O'Clock a.
m. we were in line of battle, awaiting
the order of forward. 1t was a 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
pickets, and few shots were fired. Soon
the reserves were struck and a volley
came from them, but on we went. In
few minutes the works were reached
and the charge made. The enemy was
All along that line of
works cannons frowned, but not 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 Cen
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 a few
pieces of the artillery a 81 ort distar &c
"a the rear.
In getting possession of these works
our troops partially lost their organiza-
ion. TIE lines then rushed forward
and captured the second line of the en-
smy's works. The prisoners went pour
ng to the rear General Lee brought up
fresh troops and attacked our advanced
position. Our organization having been
argely broken it 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
inc and springing over the works first
,arried stand was made. Here was
lone the desperate fighting Of the
,loody angle. The enemy made des-