up
earthworks for siege purposes. During the next ten days it was remarkable
to see how the fortifications appeared. They sprung into existence as if
by magic. The 9th Army Corps was the second from the Appomattox River;
Hancock with his corps being on our right. And thus we came into position
in front of Cemetery Hill. As we lay there about four hundred feet from
the crest of the ridge, there was a little to our left a slight
elevation, a little knoll. On this prominence the Confederates located a
six-gun battery, which was known as Elliott's salient. It was this battery
that was destined later to be undermined and blown up.

Two nearly parallel lines of intrenchments were laid out for the infantry,
varying from 150 to 300 yards apart. At first most of the work had to be
done at night under the cover of darkness. But later on after the works
were under way and we had got our bearings we could plan to work during
the day. The top of the intrenchments were finished in such a way as to
cover one's head when firing. We were furnished with bags. These we filled
with dirt and piled up on top in such a way as to make loopholes through
which to fire. Fortifications for the artillery had also to be built. They
were located on the more elevated parts of the field and on a line with,
or to the rear of, the second line of intrenchments of the infantry. It
was soon arranged so the troops in the two lines alternated each other,
each taking his turn for three days in the front line and then having
three days in the second line. But in the matter of danger the difference
was slight. The lines were so near together and both so near the
Confederate works, the men in either were within easy range of the
enemies' sharpshooters. The men in the second line, however, had some
advantages. They could have a little covering over their heads to keep off
the blazing rays of the sun. They could also take off their accoutrements
and unloosen their clothes at night and so get a little better rest. While
in the front line no covering as a protection against the sun could be
used. One must keep his accoutrements on, and his musket, if he laid it
down, must be within his reach.

In addition to the regular intrenchments for the infantry and forts for
the artillery, there were, just to the rear of the first line of
breastworks, passages connecting the different intrenchments and
batteries. These were about six feet deep and eight or ten feet wide; they