THE EIGHTEENTH CORPS AT COLD HARBOR.

minutes to be of importance, and the troops marched without breakfast. On reaching the ferry I found myself in a broad valley surrounded by hills within artillery range, but could find nothing of the Fifth or Sixth corps. I at once drew back to occupy the hills behind me, and send Captain Francis U. Farquhar of the Engineers to General Grant to say that there must have been some mistake in my order, and asking that it be rectified. Uncertain as to the position of the enemy, I began the construction of a bridge across the Pamunkey River, and while so engaged a staff-officer arrived from General Grant to say that there had been a mistake in my order, and that it should have read Cold Harbor instead of New Castle ferry.

The command was therefore marched back to Old Church and thence to Cold Harbor. The day was intensely hot, the dust stifling, and the progress slow, as the head of the column was behind the trains of the Sixth Corps.

The ranks were consequently much thinned by the falling out of exhausted men. While we were on the march I received my first order from Meade, directing me to follow the Sixth Corps and form on its right at Cold Harbor.

There I was to hold the line from Bethesda Church to Cold Harbor and join with the Sixth Corps in an attack. The distance between the two points was over three miles, and my force of less than ten thousand men would not have filled the space. As I could not fulfill both requirements of the order, I decided to join in the attack, and at once began the formation of the lines of battle.

A hasty reconnaissance of the ground showed that the enemy were posted in a wood in front, which was to be reached by crossing a wide open field.

On the right two broad roads, leading from Mechanicsville and Shady Grove, united on an open plain which dominated the ground over which the attack was to be made. That point required a division to hold it, leaving only two divisions, numbering about six thousand men, for the assault.

While preparations were being made for the attack, a note was sent to General Meade to inform him that, having moved from White House before the arrival of transportation or supplies, I had no ammunition except that in the cartridge-boxes, and asking that a supply might be sent to me as a reserve.

About the same time General Wright, commanding the Sixth Corps, sent to say that the enemy were turning his left flank, and asking for reenforcement. Though entirely without support on my right, I sent two regiments from the right division.

The attack was begun about 4:30 p. M. by the advance of the divisions of Generals Brooks and Devens. Under a severe fire they crossed the open field, and, entering the wood, made their way through slashings and interlaced tree-tops, and carried the rifle-pits, capturing about 250 prisoners. The brigade on the extreme right of the assaulting line, under the young and gallant Colonel Guy V. Henry, carried the rifle-pits in the front, but found the position commanded by an earth-work on the right flank against which no fire could be brought to bear, and the brigade fell back into the edge of the clearing. Beyond the woods, in another open ond line of works, from which the troops r°received so heavy a fire that they fell back under