Terrible as had been the fighting of the previous days, it did but serve as a prelude to that of Tuesday, the 10th. The belligerents still occupied substantially the same positions which they had held upon the previous day. The Union army faced the rebels in a crescent-shaped line, extending, from end to end, about six miles. The enemy was protected by a line of forest and underbrush along his whole centre; and at other points by strong breastworks. At an early hour preparations were made for the grand assault, but the attack did not take place until a late hour in the afternoon. From time to time severe skirmishing occurred between the combatants, becoming with every hour more severe, till at last it merged into a general and most desperate engagement. General Grant had given orders for the decisive attack upon the enemy to be made precisely at five o’clock. As the hour drew near the anxiety and excitement became intense. At that time the enemy were discovered in force upon the right flank, and immediate preparations to meet this onslaught became necessary, which delayed the preconcerted attack. General Grant, however, was equal to that emergency, and the enemy was met and held in check. The assault upon the rebel lines was then fixed for half past six o’clock; and the enormous columns of the whole army rapidly gathered together for the coming struggle. At the precise time a discharge burst at the same instant from the mouths of twelve signal guns, and put the whole mass of men in motion. Cheer after cheer burst from the patriot ranks as they swept resistlessly onward, which was answered back by savage yells from the defiant foe.
The enemy were driven into their intrenchments in gallant style, and Upton’s brigade of Wright’s division, Sixth corps, got into the rebel rifle-pits, capturing twelve guns and about one thousand prisoners.
Not being supported by other portions of the line, who were unable to gain the tier of works in their front, this brigade was forced to evacuate its advanced position, leaving the captured guns after spiking them, but bringing off all the prisoners.
The enemy suffered heavy losses during the fight, from shells falling into their works, and the destructive infantry fire, which was delivered with remarkable precision.
In writing of this battle a correspondent of the daily press speaks in the following language:
“The woods between the contending armies were all on fire from shells, and the wind blowing strong to the northward, gave the enemy a decided advantage over our troops, who were stifled and blinded by the heat and smoke. Numbers of the wounded of both sides must have been burned to death by the devouring element.
“At dusk the scene was one of awful sublimity. A battery of thirty-two-pounders posted on the right of the Spottsylvania road, kept up an incessant fire until half-past eight, when quiet was restored.”
The National loss in this most terrible battle was estimated at ten thousand men; the rebel loss was not less severe. The loss in Federal officers was very heavy. Among the killed were Brigadier-Generals Stevenson and Rice.
The enemy’s position was, unquestionably, very strong; but the favorable results of the fighting were all on the Union side. It was at this time that General Grant sent to Major-General Dix his celebrated dispatch, couched in the following words: