Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[347] protection. When the sap reached the axis of the ridge upon which the road was located, a saproller was used, and the sap carried steadily on, without important interruption, to within fifteen feet of the rebel ditch. The enemy's pickets, at night, seemed to watch its progress with great interest, but attempted no serious disturbance. The work was generally suspended during the day, except for widening and finishing the approaches and communications. The situation of the sharpshooters, on the different ridges, was the best protection for the working-parties.

From the right of the place of arms, at the ‘Lone Tree,’ a half parallel was constructed to the foot of the hill in front. This was a very laborious piece of side-cutting, but allowed the construction of a parapet on the brow of the hill, and within eighty yards of the enemy's work, from which Grant's sharpshooters were able to give the rebels serious annoyance.

Ransom's brigade, in McArthur's division, was on the left of Blair. Being camped in a ravine, the brigade was compelled to employ its entire strength, for several days, in clearing out a road down the ravine, to the hill just in front of the enemy's line, and in the construction of batteries on the right and left of the ravine. Ransom's works were well built, the entrance to the main advance being by a broad, well-constructed, and completely defiladed road, through the ravines. The trenches themselves were well located in the hillside, which here was very steep and difficult of ascent. The obstructions of fallen timber were removed, and roads or heads of sap constructed up the slope. The road or parallel continued around the foot of the hill, so as to allow