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Page 28
At this juncture Sheridan, in command of the Federal cavalry, was cut
loose from the Union army and sent whirling with irresistible speed
and momentum entirely around the rear of the Confederate army,
destroying railroads, cutting communication, burning trains and
liberating prisoners, as far as the very suburbs of Richmond.
The main divisions of the Union army came into position before
Spottsylvania. Hancock had the right wing, and upon his left rested
Warren. Sedgwick's corps was next in order, while Burnside held the
left. Just as the commanders were forming their lines and some men at
a Union battery seemed to shrink from the Confederate sharpshooters,
Sedgwick went forward to encourage them, saying, "Men, they couldn't
hit an elephant at that distance." But the next instant he himself
fell dead! His command of the Sixth Corps was transferred to General
Wright.
It now remained for Hancock on the extreme right to attack the
Confederate left. This was done by Barlow's division, but without
success. This attack and repulse was the real beginning of the battle
of Spottsylvania. The Confederates in front were strongly intrenched,
but near the northernmost point of their works what was thought to be
a weak point in the line was discovered. This point was what is known
as a _salient_. The position, however, was in the thick woods, or was
at any rate concealed by the woods and ravines in front.
As soon as the position was discovered and its nature known, a large
part of Wright's corps was sent against it. The attack was successful.
The line was carried, and about a thousand men captured in the
assault. But the reinforcements were not up promptly, and the
assailants were driven back. A second assault ended in the same way.
This fighting was on the evening of the tenth of May. The battle
continued into the night, and the event hung dubious.
On the eleventh there was a heavy rain, but during that day General
Grant, who placed great confidence in General Hancock and his corps,
moved that brilliant officer to the point of attack before the
_salient_. With the early light on the morning of the twelfth, Hancock
sprang forward to the assault. So sudden and powerful was the charge
that one-half of the distance had been traversed before the enemy knew
what was coming. Then the storm burst wildly. The yell arose from one
side, and the cheer from the other. Hancock's men in great force and
with invincible courage sprang upon the breast-works, clubbed their
guns, or went over bayonet foremost. They were met on the other side
in like manner. The melee that ensued was perhaps the most dreadful
hand-to-hand conflict of the war. The impetus of the Union attack was
irresistible. Great numbers were killed on both sides, and the
Confederates were overpowered.
General Edward Johnson and his division of about four thousand men
were captured in the angle. General Stuart was also taken. He and
Hancock had been friends in their student days at West Point. The
story goes that Hancock, recognizing his prisoner, said, "How are
you, Stuart?" and offered his hand. The hot Confederate answered, "I
am _General_ Stuart of the Confederate army, and under the
circumstances I decline to take your hand." Hancock answered, "Under
any other circumstances I should not have offered it!"
But there was no time for bantering. The very earth round about was in
the chaos of roaring battle. Hancock had taken twenty guns with their
horses, and about thirty battle flags. It was a tremendous capture, if
he could hold his ground. No officer of the Union army ever showed to
better advantage. The world may well forgive the touch of vanity and
bluster in the undaunted Hancock, as he sent this despatch to Grant:
"I have used up Johnson and am going into Hill." He found, however,
that he should have terrible work even to keep the gain that he had
made.
Lee no sooner perceived what was done than he threw heavy masses upon
the position to retake it from the captors. Hancock was now on the
wrong side of the angle! The Confederates came on during the day in
five successive charges, the like of which for valor was hardly ever
witnessed. The contested ground was literally piled with dead. There
was hand-to-hand fighting. Men bayoneted each other through the
crevices of the logs that had been piled up for defences. The storm
of battle swept back and forth until the salient gained that name of
"Death Angle" by which it will ever be known. The place became then
and there the bloodiest spot that ever was washed with human life in
America. The bushes and trees round about were literally shot away. At
one point an oak tree, more than eighteen inches in diameter, was
completely eaten off at the man-level by the bullet storm that beat
against it. That tree in its fall crushed several men of a South
Carolina regiment who still stood and fought in the death harvest that
was going on.
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