rtified
before daybreak. Heavy skirmishing, and some firing of artillery, was kept
up all day. A heavy shower fell in the evening. Our horses were
unharnessed and sent to the rear of the woods. At ten o'clock in the night
our corps received orders to leave. We marched all night.

_Thursday, May 12._--Battle of Spottsylvania Court House. Great assault of
Hancock's corps, supported by the Sixth. Near daybreak we arrived on the
extreme left of our army. The infantry, was already formed in line, ready
for an impetuous onset. General Hancock and his division commanders rode
up in front of the lines harranguing the troops. The long line advanced
suddenly, soon disappearing in the fog that hung over the ground. After a
short but desperate engagement, the works were carried, and two Generals,
Stewart and Johnson, eighteen pieces of artillery, seven colors, and three
thousand men, captured. Our battery changed position three times while in
action. When in the second position, our horses were unhitched to carry
the captured rebel artillery to the rear. Our third position was close to
the line of works taken from the enemy. We were hotly engaged for two
hours. The rebels concentrated all their forces towards this point. Our
ammunition giving away, we were compelled to withdraw. The musketry fire
was so severe that, had we remained a few minutes longer, we would
undoubtedly have lost half of our men. Battery C, Fifth Regulars, occupied
our position afterwards, but had to leave, and abandon two guns. The
battle raged all day, and the loss of both armies was very heavy. Our army
took eight thousand prisoners. During the day, our battery returned to the
position held first, remaining there the rest of the day and night.

_Friday, May 13._--Near Spottsylvania Court House. Skirmishing continued.
Our battery changed position twice in the afternoon, going in park at
last, unhitched and unharnessed. According to an official announcement to
the army we captured two generals, eight thousand men, eighteen guns, and
twenty-seven colors from the rebels. Our loss since we entered the
Wilderness is estimated at forty thousand men in all. The rebels held
their position all day, making the line of works taken yesterday, very
uncomfortable. Picket-firing was kept up all night. One of our battery, by
the name of Hoyle, a recruit, was shot in the foot while going near to the
outer line.

_Saturday, May 14._--The rebels are falling back. General Sheri