John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[233] in much worse aspects many times afterwards, and were exposed to greater dangers, but never in their term of service did they suffer such an hour of soul-harrowing agony as that spent on the eminence overlooking the Po, back of Pritchett's house. We were marched from place to place during the afternoon, once going into battery on the right of the Fifth Corps, remaining, however, but a short time. The batteries could not seem to be used to advantage, and were finally ordered to the rear, where we parked near the ambulance train for the night.

It will be seen from the above narration, that the battle of the Po was participated in on the Union side by troops of the Second Corps only, and chiefly Barlow's division. But there was still severer fighting down the lines front of the Fifth Corps, for the possession of Laurel Hill. In the desperate and bloody but fruitless charges made to gain possession of it, the Second Corps lost very heavily on this same 10th of May. At 6 o'clock, a charge was made by two brigades of the Sixth Corps, one of which was Gen. Russell's, which did such glorious work at Rappahannock Station. They carried the first line of works, taking 900 prisoners and several guns; but, being unsupported, fell back after dark, leaving the guns on the field. We did not hear until the next day of the fall of that gallant soldier, Gen. Sedgwick. He was killed on the 9th, by a Rebel sharpshooter, while giving directions for strengthening the works in his front.

During the following day (Wednesday), comparative quiet reigned along the lines. The weather was warm and muggy, and the shower which came up in the afternoon, while very refreshing and much needed, was not without its disagreeable aspects to those having to make themselves comfortable on