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Both armies intrenched, and two formidable lines of earthworks sprang into existence.
For twelve days Grant repeatedly and vainly assaulted at different points his opponent's position.
The small army in gray stood as immovable as the mountains.
Twice Grant assailed on the 8th of May, five times on the 10th, and on the 12th, when he succeeded in carrying a salient.
On the 18th and 19th he attacked again.
Grant lost eighteen thousand three hundred and ninety-nine men, making forty thousand 1 in the two weeks of overland travel, or in numbers equal to two thirds of Lee's whole army.
The “hammering” process was costly, but might ultimately succeed as long as General Lee lost one man to his three, because the Federal reservoir of human supply was so much greater.
Here the Union commander lost one of his best and bravest corps commanders-John Sedgwick, of the Sixth Corps.
On the 11th, while walking along a portion of his line, a ball from the gun of a Confederate sharpshooter pierced his cheek under the left eye. A soldier in front of him a moment before dodged to the ground as he heard the shrill whistle of a bullet.
Sedgwick touched him gently with his foot, telling him to get up, he was ashamed of him, and remarked, “They could not hit an elephant at this distance.”
The man rose, saluted, and said, “General, I dodged a shell once, and if I hadn't it would have taken my head off.”
Sedgwick laughed and told him to go to his place in line, and was immediately afterward killed.
He had two mourners-his friend and his foe. With Lee and others who had served with him before the war he was a great favorite; he was so true, so faithful in all of life's relations.
In his death the Army of the Potomac lost an arm. General Horatio G. Wright succeeded to the command of his corps.
The Union assault of the 12th was partially successful.
There was a salient on Ewell's works, and its Vshape was enwrapped by the Federals.
Hancock's corps was brought from Grant's right during the stormy night before and massed twelve hundred yards from the
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