There was more or less fighting along the line during the 8th and 9th of May, in which our brigade took no part.
On the 10th
Heth's Division was sent to
General Early on the extreme Confederate left, and attacked
Barlow's Division of
Hancock's Corps, which had crossed to the south side of the
Potomac, menacing
Lee's left flank, and drove it back to the north side.
Hancock had his artillery strung along on the hills north of the
Potomac, so as to protect the crossing of his men and to prevent our crossing after them.
We could not, therefore, follow up the advantage gained.
During this fight the woods in rear of the
Federals took fire and they had to retreat and we to advance through the burning forest.
It was a hot time, literally, and many of the
Federal dead and wounded were consumed.
Heth's Division took no active part in the severe fighting of the next two days, but was moved about from point to point as our lines were threatened by the enemy's repeated assaults.
It was thus hurried in hot haste to the salient lost after desperate fighting on the 12th by
Johnson's Division; but
Hancock's men pouring through the gap had already been driven back by other troops and the line reestablished when we got there.
After several days manoeuvring and skirmishing without serious fighting,
Grant gave it up and began his next flank movement on the 20th.
