n the line
that the salient had not been recaptured. General Sanders
moved his brigade, consisting of the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth,
Eleventh and Fourteenth Alabama Regiments, to the left and
occupied the ravine. There was no shade or water in this
ravine, while the men were exposed nearly four hours to a
scorching sun. The heat was almost beyond human endurance.
Strong men fainted and were carried to the rear. The waves
of hot air at times were almost suffocating. For the first
and only time the men were told what was expected of them.
General Saunders explained the situation to the officers of
the regiments. Each captain spoke to his men, urging them to
retake the salient, or Petersburg and Richmond must be
evacuated. The men were ordered to fix their bayonets
securely, to trail arms--not to fire, not to yell, but to
move quietly up the side of the ravine, and then, every man
run for his life to the breastworks. They were told that
Generals Lee, Beauregard, Hill, Mahone, Hoke and every
general officer of the army would watch them as they moved
forward.

"At 1:30 P. M. the firing had almost ceased and the
Federals, overcome with heat, did not expect an attack.
Saunders formed his brigade and moved quietly up the side of
the ravine. Hardly a word was spoken, for the Alabamians
expected to die or retake that salient. The eye of General
Lee was fixed on them. When they caught sight of the works
their old feelings came back to them and yell they must.
With the fury of a whirlwind they rushed upon the line they
had been ordered to take. The movement was so unexpected and
so quickly executed that only one shell was thrown into the
brigade. The works gained, they found the enemy on the other
side. It was stated that Lee, speaking to Beauregard, said:
'Splendid!' Beauregard spoke with enthusiasm of the
brilliant charge.

"In an instant the Federal army was aroused, and batteries
opened along the whole line, while the infantry fire was a
continuous roar. Only a breastwork divided Wilcox's Brigade
from the Federals. A moment was required for Saunders to
reform, and his brigade mounted the inner line and forced
the enemy backwards to the outer line and the crater. The
crater was full of white and negro soldiers. The
Confederate