thousand prisoners; they held the ground, but their valor had carried
them so far beyond their supports that it was deemed prudent to withdraw
them.

There was some fighting on the 11th. General Lee sent in a flag of truce
for a cessation of hostilities to bury the dead; but the request was not
acceded to by General Grant.

The early dawn of Thursday, the 12th, beholds the Second Corps in
motion,--not to flank the enemy, but moving, with fixed bayonets,
straight on towards his intrenchments. Barlow's and Birney's divisions
in columns of battalions, doubled on the centre, to give strength and
firmness, lead in the assault. They move silently through the
forest,--through the ravine in front of them,--up to their own
skirmish-line,--past it,--no longer marching, but running now, dashing
on with life and energy and enthusiasm thrilling every nerve. They sweep
away the Rebel picket-line as if it were a cobweb. On,--into the
intrenchments with a hurrah which startles the soldiers of both armies
from their morning slumbers. Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General
Stewart and three thousand men of Ewell's division are taken prisoners,
eighteen cannon and twenty-two standards captured.

It is the work of five minutes,--as sudden as the swoop of an eagle. The
uproar of the day began. The second line of the enemy's works was
assaulted; but, exasperated by their losses, the Rebels fought with
great stubbornness. The Ninth Corps was moved up from the left to
support the Second. Longstreet, on the other hand, was brought over to
help Ewell. The Fifth and Sixth became partially engaged. There were
charges and counter-charges. Positions were gained and lost. From
morning till night the contest raged on the right, in the centre, and on
the left, swaying to and fro over the undulations and through the
ravines. It was a battle of fourteen hours' duration,--in severity, in
unflinching determination, in obstinacy and persistency, not exceeded by
any during the war. Between forty and fifty pieces of artillery were at
one time in the hands of General Hancock; but, owing to the difficulties
of removal, and the efforts of the enemy, he could secure only eighteen.
During the day, Grant advanced his lines a mile towards the Court-House,
and repulsed Lee in all his counter-attacks.

By this success Lee was compelled on Thursday night to withdraw his
troops from the line he had held so tenaciously, and concentrate them in
a smaller semi-cir