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

[259] not far from the cross-roads, and lay there in the dust under a burning sun, not knowing what the next move was to be. Orders came at last, and moving to the front, we relieved Hexamer's New Jersey Battery from lunettes they had thrown up on the brow of a slight rise of land. In this position the muzzles of their guns were barely above the level of the plain in their front. While moving out un-

The old Tavern at Cold Harbor, 1896

der fire to give us the place, they lost three men and some horses. Nor did the enemy forget us as we unlimbered and got into place, though fortunately inflicting no injury. It became less interesting to them, however, when our guns opened, which they soon did; and not long after, their firing ceased. During the afternoon a shower came up, which was wonderfully refreshing; and heavy bodies of troops were moving from point to point, all signs betokening