Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[258] the regiment repulsed the foe. The attempt was renewed, but we were then better prepared, and our infantry and artillery beat them back with loss. Our left was then assailed by Gartrell's force, when the same result followed. After an action lasting about three hours the enemy called back his troops, with a loss which we estimated at one hundred; ours was about eighty. That day a detachment from the Coast Division landed at Mackay's Point across the Tullifinny, marched up, and took post opposite Gregory's plantation, where it intrenched. Gregory's was made the landing-place on Devaux's Neck for all our supplies and stores.

So near were the troops to the railroad that the rumbling of trains and whistling of locomotives could be heard. The position was in an open space surrounded by woods, the main body well intrenched, with pickets in the forest confronted by those of the enemy. Our attempts to reach the railroad on the Neck having failed, the purpose now was to destroy or command it with artillery. It was also important to keep as many of the foe in our front and from Sherman's as possible, for the coming of the Western army was daily looked for. No 'change occurred in the position of the Fifty-fourth from that first taken up until 6 P. M. on the 8th, when, carrying boards for intrenching, it moved to slightly higher ground in rear of the right of our line, and worked all night by reliefs.

Brig.-Gen. B. H. Robertson on the 8th assumed command of the enemy in our front, comprising some fifty-five hundred effectives.

It was determined to cut an opening through the woods before our right, to better cannonade the railroad. Accordingly, on the 9th, Colonel Silliman led forward with