ut noon two divisions of
Warren's corps had a sharp combat with the head of Ewell's corps
on the pike, driving it back some distance when, being outflanked,
they were in turn forced back, losing two guns. Wadsworth's division
of this corps having been sent to the plank road was withdrawn to
a junction with Warren's other divisions. Warren suffered some
loss in prisoners taken from Crawford's division. Getty, on his
arrival on the plank road, found our cavalry being pressed back by
Hill's corps, but he deployed on each side of the road, and opening
fire on the enemy checked him. Getty was able to hold his position
until Hancock arrived about 2 P.M. Hancock, with his corps and
Getty's division, assailed the enemy furiously, and for a time
successfully, though meeting with stubborn resistance. General
Alexander Hays was killed in this action while repairing a break
in our line. The enemy moved troops from the turnpike to Hill's
relief, and Meade, seeing this, sent Wadsworth's division and
Baxter's brigade of the Fifth Corps to Hancock. Night came, and
the battle ceased on this part of the field before the reinforcements
arrived, both armies holding their positions.

The Sixth Corps (Getty's division absent with Hancock) with much
difficulty made its way through the dense low pine thicket, and
about 2 P.M. was in position, principally deployed, on the right
of the Fifth, Ricketts' division (Second Brigade absent) on the
left, and Wright on the right. Soon after the head of Burnside's
column reached Germanna Ford, my brigade moved to the battle-ground.
As we advanced, firing along the extended front soon told us where
serious work had begun. General Truman Seymour (of Olustee fame)
was assigned this day to command the brigade, but he did not promptly
join it. As we approached the battle, I was ordered by a staff
officer of Sedgwick to conduct the brigade to the right of that
part of the Sixth Corps already in line and partly engaged. This
order being executed, we became the extreme right of the army.
The other brigades of the Third Division being in position on the
left of the corps, I was not in touch with them, and reported to
General H. G. Wright, commanding the First Division.

Heavy firing already extended along the line of the Sixth Corps to
the left of us. The brigade, about 2 P.M., was put by me in position
in two lines, the 6th Maryland and 110th Ohio, from left to right,
in the front, and the 122d a