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pursued by our army led. We recollect that, as we were rounding a curve in the road, about noon, a mulatto girl, perhaps seventeen years old, stood on a hummock waving her sun-bonnet in her hand, exclaiming: ‘I'se right glad to see you, gen'lamen; I'se right glad to see you,’—a picturesque sight, and one quite suggestive.
...
Some sleek and handsome saddle mules, that served for transportation of light baggage, were captured in this section.
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We recollect a phrase that used to be often upon the lips of some comrades at this time, and was uttered more than once upon the route from Spottsylvania to the North Anna, ‘Only five and a few,’ a reference to the expiration of the three years term of enlistment, in the coming fall.
Comrade David S. Morse, a man of large frame and great strength, having a vice-like grip, would occasionally forcibly remind one of the future event, by a healthy grasp of his arm, at the same time repeating the phrase.
This recollection of him is forced upon us at the time, interwoven with the memory of our approach to the North Anna.
He never in the flesh saw New England again; a bullet pierced his brain at Cold Harbor.
The inside track this time, as before, was held by the Confederates, and starting, as they seem to have, on the same day as the Union advance, they hastened to place themselves in an intrenched position beyond the North Anna.
On the 24th, the Sixth Corps crossed the difficult ford of that fiver above Lee's army, and placed itself upon the right of the Fifth; Gen. Warren had repulsed a violent attack, with great loss, the evening before; and Gen. Hancock, who had effected a crossing at Chesterfield Bridge, below, after some fighting, had taken position upon Warren's left.
An attempt of Gen. Burnside on the centre was repulsed.
It was not until this day that the Ninth Corps was formally united to Meade's command.
The enemy's position upon the North Anna was stronger than those at Wilderness or Spottsylvania; and Gen. Grant, realizing that the loss of life entailed in the dislodgement of the Confederates would be greatly disproportionate to the temporary advantage that might be gained, withdrew on the night of the 26th to
Boston. Press of Deland and Barta, 1886.
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