nd Geddis,
but the enemy, having the cover of the chaparral, were able to inflict
great damage on our forces.

"Silent, learning that our forces could not dislodge the enemy, sent
a force from Warner's left to relieve the troops who were so hotly
engaged. Accordingly one division under Gen. Walworth and one brigade
under Roberts were sent through the woods to the sound of battle. But
they could not see fifty yards before them on account of the underbrush.
The roar of the battle was like a continuous peal of thunder. Gen.
Walworth tried to penetrate the thick woods to relieve his comrades, but
did not arrive until nightfall.

"Sedgewear had now taken position on the right of Warner, and both of
their corps had been engaged during the afternoon. Sherlin had struck
the rebel cavalry near Ford's House and driven them back. He now held
the country to the left of Hanscom on the road to Spottsyl-vania. The
night had closed in and the two armies rested facing each other. The
killed, wounded and dying were strewn between the lines like leaves.

"Gen. Meador and others came to Silent's Headquarters that night. One
corps in each army had not been engaged during the day, and so the
battle had but fairly commenced. Silent gave orders to assault the enemy
the next morning at five o'clock. Longpath on the side of the enemy,
who had not been engaged during the day, was moving that night to the
support of Hiller, evidently intending to crush our left. Geddis was
ordered to remain with Hanscom; Walworth was to assault Hiller's left,
while Hanscom made a front attack. Broomfield was to move to the gap
between Walworth and Warner's left. But Laws was preparing also for an
attack, and made his assault on our right a little before Hanscom made
the attack contemplated by Silent.

"The battle commenced by Ewelling assailing Wight. The fighting became
furious along Sedgewear's entire front and over and along Warner's
line. Burns and Motley, of Hanscom's Corps, advanced upon the enemy and
assaulted him with very great energy. Walworth now assaulted where he
was directed. The contest was a desperate one. The smoke rose through
the woods like a dense cloud. The artillery was brought to where it
could be used, and from both sides it belched forth its iron hail and
sounded as if the earth was breaking into a thousand fragments. The
musketry rattled and showered the leaden missiles of death in every
direction. The yells and shrieks of the wounded