Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[792] works. Russell's brigade on the right of the railroad, and on the left that of Bartlett, commanded by Colonel Upton, are each deploying in two lines. The first line, composed of the Sixth Maine and the Fifth Wisconsin on the right, and of the Fifth Maine and the One-hundred-and-twenty-first New York on the left, is slowly advancing, and crosses the first ditch, driving back the skirmishers who cover Hays' front. The Federal artillery overwhelms with projectiles the enemy's positions, and, although it cannot see the bridge, it renders its passage very dangerous. The Confederate batteries on the right bank cannot reach it, and Green's four guns alone answer effectively.

About four o'clock Hoke crosses the river. Hays places him on his left, behind the breastwork which extends upward to the bank. His own brigade occupies the two works on the right and the remainder of the defenses. He has kept as a reserve the Ninth Louisiana. His force consists of nearly two thousand two hundred men. Early soon after brings forward Gordon's and Pegram's brigades, and, leaving them on the right bank, goes to examine Hays' position. He finds it badly prepared for the defence. But Lee, who has just arrived, does not believe the Federals daring enough to attack it, and a garrison of two brigades seems to him sufficient. Wishing neither to reinforce nor recall it, he endeavors to place the artillery on the right bank so as to flank Hays' front. But the Union skirmishers, who have already reached the opposite bank above and below, do not allow him to do so, and he soon stops a useless fire.

The afternoon is thus spent. Russell's brigade has passed beyond the dry ditch, and on the right closely presses Hoke's positions. On the left Upton has halted at about sixty yards from the works occupied by Hays' brigade. Along the line the Confederates confine themselves to defending their works. Their artillery exchanges a few shots with Sedgwick's, but with little damage on either side. Russell, always on his skirmish-line, has studied the enemy's position, and proposes to his commander to assault it as soon as night has come. If the Federals can break into it by surprise and engage its defenders muzzle to muzzle, the batteries on the right bank cannot, in the darkness, fire on them, and the enemy will lose his best positions.