The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-01
THE BLOODY ANGLE"


Ono Of the Most Desperate Engage
ments in the War.
I had been anxious to participate 10 the
scenes occurring az the "angIe," and
now got permission to 60 there and lock
after some new movements which had
been ordered. Lee made five assaults in
ell, that day, in series OF desperate
and even reckless attempts to retaks his
main line OF earthworkg; but each time
his men were hurled back detected, and
he had to content himself in the end
with throwing up new line farther In
his rear.
The battle near the "argle" was prob
ally tho most desperate engagement In
the history OF modern warfare, aud pre-
tented features which were absolutely ap-
palling. 1t was chiefly a savage hand-to-
hand fight across the breustwc4ks. Rank
after rank was riddled by shot and smell
and bayonet-thrusis, aud finally sank, q
mass OF torn and ruiiliated ccrpses; then
fresh troops rusbel riadly forwaro TO re-
place the dead, and SO the mnrderous
work went on. Guns we're run up close
TO the parapet, and doubla charges Of can
lister played their part iG the bloody
work. The fence rails and logs ~ the
breast WORKS were shattered into spl.nters,
and trees over loot and q half I'm diam
eter wsre cut completely in two by tue
incessant musketry tre. A section Of the
trunk of a stout oak tree thus severed vas
siterward sent to Washington, where 1t
is still on exhibition st the National
Museum. We had not only shot down an
army but also a forest.
The opposing flags were In places
thrust against each other, and muskets
were fired with muzzle against muzzie.
Skulls were crushed with clubteo mus
kets, and men stabbed to doath with
swords aud bayonets thrust between the
logs in the parapst which separated the
com mbatsnts. Wild cheers, savage yells.
and frantic shrieks rose above the sig hing
OF the wind ana the pattering OF the rain,
and formed demoniacal accompaniment
TO the looming OF the guns ss they hurled
their missiles of death into the conterd-
ing ranks. Even the darkness of night
and the pitiless storm failed to stop the
fierce contest, and the deadly strife did
not cease till efter midnight. Our troops
had been under ire for 20 hours, tut
they still held the position which they
had so dearly purchased. My duties car
Iied me again to the spot the next day,
and the appalling sight presented was
narrowing in the extreme. Our own
killed were scattered over large space
hos Ia - n, iIa tn Of 10
captured breastworks the enemy's dead,
vastly more numerous than our own, were
piled upon each other, in some places
four layers ueep, exhibiting every ghastly
phase OF mutiletion. Below the mass OF
ast-decayiDg corps es, the convulsive
twi,ching of limbs and the writning OF
bodies showed that there were wounded
men still alive and struggling to extri-
cate themselves from their horrid on-
tom mbment. Every relief possible was
afforded, but IN too many cases 1t came
too late. The place was well named the
"Bloody Angle"
the results OF the battle are best sum
in-cbisf sent to Washing ton. AT $3.50
p. M, May II, he wrote to Halleck ss
follows: "Ine eighth day of battle closes
leaving between three and four Thousand
prisoners in our hands for the days
work, including two general officers, and
over thirty pieces of artillery. The enemy
are obstinate and seem to have found the
last ditch. We have lost no organization,
not even that OF company, whilst We
have destroyed and captured one division
(Johnson's) one brigade (Doles's) and
one regiment entire Of the enemy" The
Confederstes had suffered greatly in
general officers. Two had peeu killed,
four seriously wounded, and two cap
tured. Our loss in killed, wounded, and
missing was less than seven thousand;
that OF the enemy between nine and ten
thousand as nearly as could re ascer-
taiued. --"CampaigDing with Grant," by
General Horace Porter, in the January
Century.