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[109] McCartney, Hexamer, and Walcott, held the plain in front of the crossing. Howe's Second Division was on our right in front of Marye's Hill. On the right of Howe was the light division, consisting of the Fifth Wisconsin, Sixth Maine, Thirty-first and Forty-third New York, and Sixty-First Pennsylvania, commanded by Col. Burnham, and on the extreme right of the corps was Gen. Newton's Third Division. Finally Gibbon's division of the First Corps crossed from Falmouth and established itself on the right of Newton.

The force occupying the heights was said to be as strong as that which repulsed the divisions of French, Hancock, and Humphreys in December. And it is said that General Barksdale, commanding it, was confident that he could repulse any attack which our corps commander could make. The direct assault in front, which began after an unsuccessful attempt to turn the Confederate left, was commenced at ten o'clock, A. M., by the Seventh Massachusetts, and two regiments of Eustis's brigade. On the right and left of this force were respectively Shaler's and Spear's brigades, and the light division. The latter was to capture the ‘stone-wall at the base of the hill.’ The forward movement of all these was made simultaneously under a terrible fire from the Confederates. Spear's brigade was nearly extinguished; its brave leader was killed. The Seventh Massachusetts, advancing through a rocky ravine, swept by the enemy's artillery, twice wavered, each time rallied and pushed on over the Confederate works, reaching the crest of the hill at the same moment as the light division, which on the left of the road had swept through a storm of shot and shell, over the stone-wall. Now there is a conflict for the guns upon the crest. The enemy is completely overpowered. The Sixth Maine, of the light division, having lost six captains and its major and a proportionate number of brave privates, was the first to plant its colors upon the Confederate works.

Early, in retreating, moved south, leaving open to the Federals the plank road to Chancellorsville. Along this road our division, in advance, made an unimpeded march of four miles to Salem Church, where shells from Confederate guns gave us notice of their presence. Bartlett's brigade was formed in line of battle, with the Sixteenth New York holding the skirmish line in front, the Twenty-seventh New York on the right, the Ninety-sixth

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