Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

VW1N May. 1864, accom-,
0SDDElFJ plished with the
Corps" (Which Hancock commanded,
have been regarded as one of the most
brilliant feats Of that brilliant soldier ;
career, but without the substantial as
sistance of Gen Horatio u. Wright
grand old John Sedgwick's worthy sue
e,essor and the 9th Corps, defeat as
bitter as his victory was sweet would
have been recorded against the hero of
that day.
The storm which had set in early in the
afternoon of May IL the day following
Hancock general assault upon the Con-
federate righD continued with great Sc
verify. and but little rest was obtaine3
during the night. Soon after dark, how
ever, a remarkable change in the weather
took place. and it became raw and dis
agreeable: the men gathered in small
groups about halfdrowned fires, with
their tents stretched about their Shout
ders. while some hastily pitched the can
vas on the ground and sought shelter be
meath the rumpled and dripping lolds
Others rolled themselves up and lay close
to the simmering logs, eager to catch
few moments sleep. many trouchea
about. without any shelter whatever pre-
sentinS a pitiable sight.
Throughout. the day some diminishing and
sharpshooting had occurred. but this had
been of spasmodic character and had
elected no concern. About dusk the 6th
Corps moved to position on the right
and rear of the army. The stormy night
was favorable to Hancock's movement.
and at about 10 O'Clock he put his troops
in notion marching to a point on the
left OF the 9th Corps former position IN
the neighborhood of the Brown house,
massing his troops in that vicinity
Gen. Grants orders to Hancock were
to assault at daylight on the 18th in CO.
operation with Burnside commanding the
9th Corps on his left, while Wright and
Corps were held in readiness to as
sault on his right. The Confederate army
was composed of three corps-Longstree
(now r II. Anderson on the left. EWeii
in the center, and A. p. Hill (now under
Early on the right. The point TO be
assaulted was a salient of field works on
the Confederate center, afterward called
the Bloody Angle" 1t was held by Gen.
Edward Johnson's division. Here the
Confederate line broke off at an angle of
ninety degrees, the right parallel. about
the length of a small brigade being oc-
cupied by Gen. George H Stuarts regi-
ments. This point was considered to be
the key to Lees position.
Just as the day was breaking Barlows
and Burney's divisions of Hancocks
corps pressed forward upon the I'M
suspecting foe, and leaping the
conflict with the bewildered enemy,
in which guns were used as clubs. pos
sessed themselves of the Entertainments.
Over 5000 prisoners We're taken, includ-
ing Cen Johnson and Gen. Steuart.
Twenty Confederate cannon became the
permanent trophies of the day, twelve
of them belonging to Page and eight to
Cutshaw.
Upon reaching the second line of Lees
works held by Wilcox's division, who
by this time had become apprised of the
disaster TO their comrades, Hancock met
with stern resistance. as Lee in the mean
time had been hurrying troops to Ewell
from Hill on the right and Anderson on
the left, and these were sprung upon our
victorious lines with such an impetus
as to drive them hastily back toward the
left of the salient.
AS soon as the news of Hancocks good
and i'll success reached army headquar-
tiers, the 9Th Corps-Cpton's brigade be-
ing in advance-was ordered to move
with all possible haste 10 his support.
At a brisk pace we crossed a line of in
trenchments a short distance in our
front. and. passing through a strip of
timber, at once began to realize our near
ness to the foe. 1t was now about
O'clock. and the enemy, reinforced, were
making desperate efforts TO regain what
they had. lost. Our forces We're hastily
retiring at this point before the concen-
trated attack of the enemy. and these
with our wounded lined the road.
We pressed forward and soon cleared
the woods and reached an insidious fen.
covered with dense marsh grass. where
We lay down for a few moments await
ing orders. ! cannot imagine how any of
us survived the sharp fire that swept over
us at this point-a fire so keen that IL
split the blades of grass all about us,
the minies moaning in the furious con
cert as they picked out victims by the
score.
The rain was still falling in torrents
and held the country about in obscurty.
The command was soon given 10 my regt-
ment, the aath Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Capt. Macfarlan Commanding-it being
the advance of Cpton'S brigade-to rise
up whereupon. with hurrahs. we went
forward. cheered on by Col. Upton who
had led US safe through the Wilderness.
II was not long before we reached an
angle of works tthe famous Bloody An
gle'D constructed with great skill I'M
mediately in our front an abatis had been
arranged consisting of limbs and branches
interviewer into one another. forming
footlocks of the most dangerous charac-
ter. But there the works were. and over
some OF US went. many never to return.
!. x
~ this moment Lees strong line of
battle. hastily selected for the work Of
retrieving Ill fortune, appeared through
the rain mist and smoke. We received
their bolts. losing nearly 100 Of our gal
liant Doth.
Col Upton saw at once that this point
must be held al all hazards. for if Lee
should recover the angle he would be
enabled TO sweep back oar lines right and
left and the fruits of the mornings vic
tory would be lost. The order was at
once given US to lie down and commence
firing; the left OF our regiment rested
against the works. while the right slight
~ refused. rested upon an elevation in
front. And now began a desperate and
pertinacious struggle.
Under cover OF the Smoke-laden rain the
enemy was pushing large bodies Of troops
forward determined at all hazards to re
gain the lost ground. Could we hold ON
until the remainder of our brigade should
come TO our assistance? Regardless OF
the heavy volleys OF the enemy that were