Grant's ‘on to Richmond.’
General Grant commenced his ‘on to Richmond’ by crossing the Rapidan river, May 4, 1864, the terrible battles of the Wilderness, or Parker's Store, taking place on the 5th and 6th of May. Grant being worsted, he commenced his slide around, or flanking policy, only to find General Lee boldly confronting him on the heights at Spotsylvania, on the evening of Sunday, the 8th, after a tortuous march through the Wilderness, which was on fire, and burned up to the road on both sides, and in very warm weather, too. It had been evident that preparations were being made for a tremendous conflict, and it came. In the meantime, the famous horseshoe and other earthworks were created, and a sortie was made by the enemy on the evening of the 10th, on a portion of our works, a little to the left of the toe of the horse-shoe, and it was carried, but speedily retaken, with considerable loss on both sides. On that day and the next, the 11th, our brigade, or division, was used as a supporting division, consequently we occupied a position in the rear. On the morning of the 12th, we were moved up to the front line, a little to the left of the toe of the horse-shoe, the latter being a thicket. Our position, a small open field, connected with another field a little farther to the rear by a narrow strip of land, like an isthmus. We were doubled upon, or supported, the Louisiana Brigade. I said to one of the Louisiana Tigers, ‘What's the matter here? You've had us waked up before day and brought out of our shelter into the rain.’ He replied: ‘We will have the Yankees over here directly to take breakfast with us.’