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At one o'clock the regiment moved at a quick pace from the field, to the right and front, under the enemy's fire and became the front line.
The leaves and underbrush were on fire and the men, in order to lie down, had to beat out the flames with their caps.
They were immediately engaged with the enemy's sharpshooters, continuing so for two hours and then charge the enemy's works, but were unsuccessful, the fire of the enemy being too terrific.
Taking advantage of the slightly projecting crest of a hill, the regiment re-formed and at 6 P. M. charged the breastworks, but were again repulsed with a loss of five killed and 18 wounded.
During the night the regiment threw up works in the first line of battle within 150 yards of the enemy's rifle pits.
At 11.45 P. M. of the following day, (11th) the regiment was ordered to abandon its slight works and form with the brigade in a field in the rear.
Making its way back through the scrub oak to the road, the regiment reformed and a night march was begun to a position in front of Spottsylvania.
At 3 A. M. a long halt was made and the men were ordered to lie down in line of battle and rest.
The night was very dark and a heavy mist had followed the rain.
After an hour's rest a faint cheering was heard in the distance which grew louder and louder.
‘Fall in’ was ordered and the march in line through the forest was resumed in silence.
The mud was deep, the little streams swollen and the undergrowth thick, but at daylight the regiment found itself in a field at Spottsylvania, in front of a line of Confederate rifle pits.
The fog rolled slowly away and the Division was formed in line of battle, close to the rifle pits.
The line extended over a knoll at the left and along the woods on the right.
The Nineteenth Massachusetts being the guiding regiment or battalion of direction of the Division, preparatory to the desperate charge of the Confederate position at ‘The Angle’ which General Hancock had decided to attempt.
This Angle was afterward called the ‘Bloody Angle.’
When everything was in readiness the men were cautioned to be careful in firing at first as some skirmishers were out in front.
Then came the order to move forward.
As the line entered the
Salem Press. Co., Salem, Ma., 1906.
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