“We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result to this time is much in our favor. Our losses have been heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over five thousand prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but few except stragglers. I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.”
On Wednesday, the 11th, the fighting of the day consisted of sharp skirmishing, which at no time emerged into a battle. During the afternoon a refreshing rainstorm visited the thirsty earth—the first rain which had fallen during the campaign. It was indeed welcome, cooling the atmosphere and laying the dust which had, together with the excessive heat, almost stifled the soldiers.
Upon the following day, the 12th, the battle was again resumed with great violence. A dense fog succeeded the rain of the previous day, veiling the earth in mist, through which the armies could with difficulty distinguish each other. The first movement was made by the Second corps, which moved up to the enemy’s lines at the dawn of day. The first line was formed by the divisions of General Birney and General Barlow; and the second line by the divisions of Generals Gibbon and Mott. General Barlow’s division, moving in battalions, advanced boldly across the rugged and woody space separating the two armies; and soon with a loud cheer rushed forward upon the enemy’s intrenchments. With louder and more exultant cries the brave fellows leaped over the intrenchments, and dashed upon the astonished enemy, compelling their surrender in a body. An entire division of the rebels was completely surrounded, and officers and men obliged to surrender. Three thousand prisoners—including two general officers—General Edward Johnson, and J. H. Stewart—were captured. Immediately after this very brilliant feat General Hancock dispatched the following report: “I have captured from thirty to forty guns. I have finished up Johnson, and am now going into Early.”
The next assault was made upon the second line of rebel rifle-pits, which were taken possession of after a long and desperate resistance. Immediately following this the whole line became engaged. Like all great battles, the scene was one of appalling grandeur. Hour after hour passes by, but no one takes any note of time—the roar of battle—with all the varied cries, shrill and hoarse, shrieks and groans—is all that is heard; and the clouds of smoke, the flash of fire, and the reeling and falling of the dead and wounded is all that is seen. At times, while the shrill and appalling battle cry which leads on each assault of the columns is silent, the stifled groans of the wounded are heard, and trains of litter bearers and ambulances follow each other, bearing away the wounded.
The entire line had moved up to assist the brave Second corps (General Hancock), which, up to this time, had borne the whole brunt of the fighting. The Ninth corps, now rushing into the extreme left, joined its weight to that point. The Sixth corps had advanced against Ewell’s troops, and General Warren’s corps had moved up on the extreme right. All were now hotly engaged, and pressed the enemy severely. The rebels soon made a desperate effort to regain the lost works, but the charge was nobly met by the Second and Ninth corps, and, after a furious and bloody battle of three hours, the enemy was forced to fall back.
During this time the Union right and centre had charged the enemy’s position with all the gallantry inseparable from such thoroughly brave men, but without success; the rebels were found to be, for the time at least, impregnable behind their powerful works, in force strong enough to hold their ground against twice the number of the Unionists; besides which every avenue of approach was guarded by most formidable artillery.
After a temporary lull in the fight, about midday, General Meade made an effort to turn the enemy’s right; and crowded his troops down toward his own left, still keeping up a severe artillery and infantry fire. At this time the rain again began to fall, and continued to become heavier during the whole afternoon, till night. But the battle, instead of slackening, became, if possible, still more terrible. The enemy rapidly concentrated on the right, charged the Unionists, and again the ground was fought over with desperation. Night at length closed one of the most dreadful contests on record, after a duration of fourteen hours, and darkness settled down upon the wet, gloomy, blood-stained battle-field.
The first decided and important success of this series of movements was that of General Hancock, on the morning of the 12th, which secured an advance of a mile to the line at that point.
The courage, skill, and determined bravery exhibited upon the part of all the troops engaged is deserving of the very highest commendation; and so admirably did every division, brigade, and regiment behave, that it is not possible to name any in particular as more highly deserving of praise than the rest. The loss in killed and wounded numbered ten thousand men; that of the enemy was estimated as being equally severe. About three thousand prisoners were captured.
Upon the next day—Friday the 13th—it was discovered that the enemy had fallen into a new position of defence, and had withdrawn his main force on the left. The rain still fell heavily, so that the roads were rendered very difficult. Artillery firing, and occasionally brisk skirmishing, were kept up from time to time throughout the day, between small bodies of the troops.