st
Monterey Hill and carried it, capturing a number of prisoners. Ward's
Corps at once advanced against the main line of the enemy, and after a
bloody contest carried it, capturing a great many prisoners, a number of
pieces of artillery, and many stands of colors. The enemy was now driven
out of his entire line of works and fell back to a second line at the
base of Harpan Hills, holding his line of retreat by way of Franktown.
Night closed in and stopped again the play of death. Our forces were
now in possession of sixteen pieces of artillery, with many officers and
1,200 prisoners, not including wounded. Our troops bivouacked on their
line of battle in order to be ready for any movement in the morning.

"Ward's Corps at six in the morning moved south from Nashua, striking
the enemy and driving him some five miles, to Overton's Hill, where
he had thrown up works and was making a stand. Gen. Sleman now moved
rapidly to Gen. Ward's left. Scovens remained in his position of the
last night. Wellston moved to the enemy's rear and drew up his line
across one of the Franktown roads.

"About two o'clock one brigade of Ward's Corps, supported by Sleman's
division, assaulted Overton's Hill, which was the enemy's center. One of
Sleman's brigades was composed of colored troops. The ground over which
they had to assault was open. The enemy re-enforced his center. The
assault was made, but received by the enemy with a terrible shower of
grape, canister and musketry. Our forces moved steadily on, not wavering
in the least, until they had nearly reached the crest of the hill, when
the reserves of the enemy arose from behind their works and opened one
of the most destructive fires ever witnessed, causing our troops to
first halt and then fall back, leaving many dead and wounded, both black
and white indiscriminately, in the abatis and on the field.

"Gen. Ward immediately re-formed his command, and all the forces of
the army moved simultaneously against the enemy's works, carrying every
position, breaking the lines in many places, and driving him in utter
rout from his position, capturing all his artillery and thousands of
prisoners, among whom were many officers, including four Generals. Ward
and Wellston pursued the fleeing enemy until by capture and other means
Head's army was entirely destroyed and wiped out of existence as an
organization. It appeared no more in the history of the great rebellion.
Thus were destroyed all the form