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[534] to correct it; but before this could be done, the enemy broke through this picket-line with heavy fire in column of fours, left in front. Warren's flank was now turned, and the Confederates, in rear of Crawford's line, swept rapidly down to Warren's left. Great confusion was produced by the men on the front line hastily retiring and masking the fire of those on the second line; so that the whole of Crawford's division was compelled to fall back, as was also the right of Ayres'. Twenty-five hundred prisoners fell into the hands of the enemy, and among them General J. Hays, one of Warren's brigade commanders. The troops, however, still clung to their vantage-ground on the railroad.

In the midst of the action, the commands of Wilcox and White of the Ninth Corps (about two thousand in all), opportunely came up; whereupon, Warren, his own lines being reformed, pushed forward and regained the ground lost. The enemy, in great confusion, rapidly fell back to his intrenchments, after a success which, though brilliant in itself, totally failed to accomplish the designed object.

Being satisfied that the position which he held was one that the enemy would make renewed efforts to regain, Warren made dispositions of his lines favorable for artillery defence, and then awaited attack. He was not mistaken in this anticipation; for, on the morning of the 21st, the Confederates opened with some thirty pieces of artillery, crossing their fire at right angles over Warren's position. After an hour's practice of this nature they advanced to attack in front, and at the same time endeavored, with a turning force, to reach the left flank. The attack in front was, however, easily repulsed, and Warren having previously disposed his left flank en échelon, the turning force suddenly met a severe fire, under which it fell back in great disorder-five hundred being taken prisoners.1 The day's work was a clear

1 This turning movement was made by a South Carolina brigade under General Haygood, and the incidents of the attack are thus given by General Warren: ‘General Haygood's brigade struck a part of our line where the troops were in écelon; they found themselves almost surrounded, and every one, thinking they had surrendered, ceased firing. Troops immediately advanced to bring them in, when their officers commenced firing, and Captain Daly, provost-marshal of the Fourth Division, was shot by General Haygood. In the mixed condition of our men and the enemy, our line could not fire, and many of the enemy escaped.’—Warren: Report of Operations on the Weldon Railroad.

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Gouverneur K. Warren (8)
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