best troops, he mercilessly sacrificed the
latter to hold it. The Second Corps was reinforced by the Sixth,
under Major-General Horatio G. Wright, the successor of Sedgwick.
The most deadly fighting occurred, and the dead and wounded of both
sides were greater, for the space covered, than anywhere in the
war, if not in all history. Wheaton's brigade of the Sixth Corps
fought in the "dead angle"; and the 126th Ohio of the Second Brigade,
Third Division, was detached and ordered to assault it. In making
the assault it lost every fourth man.(15) The whole of the Second
Brigade fought with conspicuous gallantry at Spotsylvania.

The enemy retired to a shorter line during the night. From the
13th to the 17th, both armies being intrenched, nothing decisive
transpired, through there were frequent fierce conflicts. The
Union sick and wounded were sent to the rear _via_ Fredericksburg
and Acquia Creek, and supplies were brought forward.(16)

General Grant, the morning of the 11th, wrote Halleck:

"We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result
to this time is much in our favor. But our losses have been heavy,
as well as those of the enemy. We have lost to this time, eleven
general officers, killed, wounded, and missing, and probably 20,000
men. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken
over 4000 prisoners in battle, while he has taken but few except
stragglers. I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons
for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, _and propose to
fight it out on this line if it takes all summer_."(17)

The italics are mine, to emphasize the origin of the most frequently
quoted phrase of General Grant.

The Union Army was moving by its left flank on the 19th, when Ewell
attempted to turn its right flank and get possession of the
Fredericksburg road, but he met a new division under General R. O.
Tyler, later, two divisions of the Second Corps, and Ferrero's
division of colored troops (twelve companies, 2000 strong, recently
from the defences of Washington), and was handsomely beaten back.

The 9th New York Heavy Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
William H. Seward, son of Secretary Seward, joined the Second
Brigade at North Anna River, the 26th of May.(18)

The army, by the 26th, had crossed the North Anna at various fords,
and by the 28th it was across the Pamunkey at Hanoverton and Hundley
Fords, sharp engagements ensuing constantly.