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| The death-trap on telegraph road Here Sumner's right grand division of the Army of the Potomac exemplified an implicit obedience of orders more magnificent even than that of the “Six hundred” at Balaklava. Advancing along the Telegraph Road, seen at the right of the picture, the divisions of French and Hancock, already depleted by cruel artillery fire, charged up Marye's Heights, the eminence at the center of the picture. There a blinding flash of flame first disclosed the ambuscade in the sunken road. Ranged in ranks, first four and then six men deep, the Confederates kept up a continuous volleying against which no troops could stand. First the divisions of French and Hancock went down before it — then that of Howard. To the left the supporting divisions of Sturgis and Getty shared the efforts of their comrades with like result. Griffin's and Humphreys' divisions followed later — all to no avail. Six desperate charges were made upon Cobb's and Kershaw's troops. When darkness put an end to the slaughter, seven thousand Federal killed and wounded lay at the foot of Marye's Heights. |
