During the night of the 11th the enemy, under the cover of the dense woods, advanced without discovery, and massed a large force in Ewell's front at the point known as the "salient," which was occupied by Gen. Edward Johnson's division. On the next morning at daylight these troops vigorously attacked and overran this portion of our lines and captured most of the division, including its commander, who was quietly enjoying his breakfast.
General Lee at once hurried troops from our right and left, and made dispositions to dispute their further progress. As Harris' Mississippi brigade was coming up at double quick, Gen. Lee, already in a very exposed position, now joined them and started to the front with them. The minies were flying fast and thick, and shot and shell ploughing the ground and bursting in the air. As they neared the lines a round-shot struck immediately in front of the grand old chieftain, and caused him to halt and take breath. The officers and men now plead and insisted that he should retire from this exposed position. He, in his calm manner, his feelings exhibiting a purity and nobleness of heart never witnessed in any hero of ancient or modern time, replied: "If you will promise to drive those people from our works I will go back." The brigade quickly shouted the promise, and in a moment commenced the most terrific musketry-fire that took place during the war.
"From the side of the salient in the possession of the Federals, and the new line forming the base of the triangle occupied by the Confederates, poured forth, from continuous lines of hissing fire, an incessant hail of deadly missiles. No living man nor thing could stand within the doomed space embraced within those angry lines; even large trees were felled, their trunks cut in twain by the bullets of small arms. Never did the troops on either side display greater valor and determination. After several hand-to-hand conflicts, while we failed to dislodge the enemy, the assault which threatened such serious consequences was checked, and the result of the advantage to the enemy was limited to the possession of the narrow space of the salient and the capture of Johnson's division. The loss of this fine body of troops was seriously felt by Gen. Lee, and, though his army was sadly reduced by this and a week's incessant fighting, his lines, thus forcibly rectified, proved thereafter impregnable."
While this desperate attack was going on, our (Heth's) division and Mahone's were moved to the left near the Fredericksburg road, to make a feint and create a diversion. We leaped over our works, and formed inside of them, to make the movement, and bravely did the boys move off, although nothing is so demoralizing to troops as to leave breastworks to do battle inside of them. We attacked the enemy, and drove them from two lines into a third. Finding that they were getting re-enforcements, and in a fortified position, we were gradually withdrawn to our former position on the main lines.
Several days of comparative quiet now ensued, during which time Grant was refurnishing his decimated brigades with heavy re-enforcements from Washington. In his official report to the 39th Congress, he said: "The time from the 13th to the 18th was consumed in manœuvering and awaiting the arrival of re-enforcements."
After covering the entire front of our army with double lines, he still had a large reserve force with which to extend his flank and compel a corresponding move upon our part, in order to keep between him and Richmond.
On the 18th, Gen. Grant made his final and desperate attack, by hurling division after division against our lines. He commenced the attack in the morning, and soon the battle became continuous along the lines, and raged with the utmost fury and desperation. The cannon's shot and shell seemed winged with impetuous rage, and with hissing red flame bellowed through the air and over hill and plain, withering and blasting everything in their flight. War had now indeed stalked forth unmasked from his infernal den. In the smoke and carnage, Grant drove his troops mercilessly up to the slaughter, but it produced no impression, and the hopeless task was relinquished.
We had now completed twelve days of battle at Spottsylvania, and at no time, day or night, did the firing on the lines entirely cease.
CHAPTER XVI.
General Grant, giving up all hope of succeeding in his plans by direct assault, on the night of the 20th began a flank movement in the direction of Bowling Green, hoping thereby to interpose between our army and the long-coveted Richmond. On the 21st, Wright's corps began the initiative and moved southward.