assault. Again they penetrated the pine recesses, again emerged in front of the enemy's breastworks, and again broke them in many places, only to be forced into retreat. Generals Stevenson and Rice were killed, and the losses were heavy on both sides. This assault was made before Upton withdrew, and it was designed to help him to save what he had gained. On the extreme left Burnside had pushed his Ninth Corps. well up on the Confederate right, and had in reality turned it. But he had thus isolated himself from the other corps, and was forced to contract his lines, thus losing what might have been a grand opportunity to demoralize the enemy's flank.

When the shades of the 10th of May, 1864, settled on that ghastly field, there was little room for congratulation over successes by either of the armies. True, Lee was in his breastworks, but they had been broken again and again. He had made no offensive movement, had not even overwhelmed Barlow, when only two brigades with a deep stream to cross were exposed to his whole left wing. Grant's confidence remained unshaken. He knew the full meaning of Lee's caution, and felt that it was a confession of his inability to cope with the Federal forces in an open field. He was more than ever convinced of the bravery and sterling qualities of his trusted officers and their commands. Nothing could have exceeded the gallantry, persistency and impetuosity of their repeated charges, and but for the drawback of Mott's failure to come to time, and Burnside's tardiness in pushing his advantage on the left, Upton's splendid conquest would have been sustained, and both Warren and Hancock would have swept the Confederate breastworks in their last assault.

On the morning of May 11th Grant sent the celebrated dispatch to Halleck which gave the country the assurance that there was a master in the field south of the Rapidan. It ran: "We have now ended the sixth day of very hard

fighting. The result to this time is much in our favor, but our losses have been heavy as well as those of the enemy. We have lost to this time eleven general officers, and probably twenty thousand men killed, wounded and missing. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over four thousand prisoners, while he has taken from us but few, except a few stragglers. I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer. I am satisfied that the enemy is very shaky, and are only kept up to the mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers, and by keeping them entrenched in every position they take."

And fight it out he did, against obstacles which to almost any other general would have seemed insurmountable. There came in on this day inspiriting news from Butler, to the effect that he had cut the communications south of Petersburg and had defeated Hill at that place. "General Grant will not be troubled with any further reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's forces." But what if Lee should fall back rapidly and strike an overwhelming blow at Butler? To keep him everlastingly engaged was Grant's first preventive. Second, Sheridan must, by this time, have greatly interfered with the possibility of such a disaster. Yes, for word came at a later hour that the cavalry had destroyed ten miles of the Virginia Central Railroad, with cars, engines, telegraph wires, a million and a half of rations, and nearly all the medical stores of Lee's command.

The 11th was spent in reconnoitering. Lee's right swung off so as to conform to the direction of the Ny. Hancock was ordered to move his corps, as soon as night came on, to the rear of Warren and Wright and over to the left, so as to join Burnside in a morning attack on the angle in Lee's right. Burnside was notified and urged to be ready. Warren and

Wright were to keep their corps as close to the enemy as possible, so as to take advantage of any weakening of his lines in their front.

Hancock formed with Barlow's and Birney's divisions in front, the latter supported by Mott's, with Gibbon's in reserve. The front was a steep and thickly wooded slope, with a clearing about the angle in Lee's line. The direction had to be taken by the compass. At 4.35 on the morning of the 12th the order to advance was given. Barlow's columns marched solidly over the enemy's pickets without firing a shot. Birney's made way with more difficulty through marsh and wood, but kept well up. Once through these difficult approaches. the two columns pushed at quick time up the slope, and when half way up, burst into tremendous cheers. Then taking the double quick without orders, they rolled like an avalanche over the breastworks, tearing away the abattis, engaging in fierce combat with bayonet and clubbed musket, and finally establishing themselves within the fortified lines. Barlow and Birney entered simultaneously. They captured thirty field guns, four thousand prisoners, including two generals, Johnson and Stewart, several thousand stand of arms, and upwards of thirty colors. The Confederate surprise was complete. Their broken columns fled, pursued by the Federals toward Spottsylvania, till checked by an inner line of entrenchments. Hancock quickly apprised Grant of his success. This was at 5.45 A. M.

Grant immediately sent the news to Burnside and urged haste. That officer was on the move as early as Hancock, with Potter's division in front, supported by Crittenden, and with Wilcox in reserve. Potter had forced the fighting up to the Confederate lines, beyond the angle, and had carried a portion, but could not hold them. By 6.15 Burnside reported that he had made a connection with the Second Corps on the left face of the angle. Hancock, from the other face, sent for

reinforcements. But Grant had anticipated him by ordering the Sixth to his support. Now Johnson was brought a prisoner to Grant. While talking with him, word came from Hancock, "I have finished up Johnson and am now going for Early." Soon another came, "Have taken three thousand prisoners and turned the enemy's guns on themselves." An entire division had been captured, including the famous "Stonewall" brigade.

Again Grant urged Burnside to push so as to keep up connection with Hancock. And when informed that he (Burnside) had lost connection with Hancock, Grant hastily pencilled the reply: "Push the enemy; that's the best way to