Chapter6
- Communicating with Burnside -- Grant attacks the enemy's center -- how a famous message was despatched -- news from the other armies -- preparing to attack the “angle” -- an eventful morning at headquarters -- two distinguished prisoners -- how the “angle” was captured -- scenes at the “bloody angle”
At half-past 10 on the morning of May 10 the general-in-chief called me to where he was standing in front of his tent, spoke in much detail of what he wanted Burnside to accomplish, and directed me to go to that officer, explain to him fully the situation and the wishes of the commander, and remain with him on the left during the rest of the day. As I was mounting the general added: “I had started to write a note to Burnside; just wait a moment, and I'll finish it, and you can deliver it to him.” He stepped into his tent, and returned in a few minutes and handed me the note. I set out at once at a gallop toward our left. There were two roads by which Burnside could be reached. One was a circuitous route some distance in rear of our lines; the other was much shorter, but under the enemy's fire for quite a distance. The latter was chosen on account of the time which would thereby be saved. When the exposed part of the road was reached, I adopted the method to which aides so often resorted when they had
