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Rebel rifle-pits and batteries, which were distant perhaps half a mile.
Close to us, on each side, were our batteries, firing as fast as they could, and the rebels were sending back shot, shell, and shrapnel as hard as possible.
Half a mile is no good with minie rifles; and, as soon as we attacked, the balls came tolerably numerous, cutting up little puffs of sand on the dry field.
I sat up straight on my horse, comme les autres, but I can't say it was pleasant, though it is a help to have others cool and brave.
It was as I expected--forty-five days of constant marching, assaulting and trenching are a poor preparation for a rush!
The men went in, but not with spirit; received by a withering fire, they sullenly fell back a few paces to a slight crest and lay down, as much as to say, “We can't assault but we won't run.”
The slopes covered with dead and wounded bore testimony that they were willing to give proof of courage even in circumstances that they deemed desperate.
Another attack at six resulted no better, save that the lines were at all points pressed close in on those of the enemy.
Birney, during the day, made a grand attack with no better success, on the right.
I returned after dark, feeling pretty sad. General Meade was much disappointed, but took it cheerfully as he does every matter which affects him personally.
The whole thing resulted just as I expected.
You cannot strike a full blow with a wounded hand.
June 19, 1864
It having been represented to General Meade that there were some wounded and a good many dead between the lines, he determined to send a flag to get a short armistice, as at Cool Arbor.
I was again selected, as the man having good clothes, to undertake the mission.
This time I determined to have a bugler, and so I did, and very spruce he 