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Chapter 16 Spottsylvania General R.H.Anderson was placed in command of Longstreet’s Corps and General Mahone in command of Anderson’s Division.The undergrowth was on fire in many places, which communicated to the trees and man.Wounded soldiers of both Armies were burned who might otherwise have recovered. Later in the afternoon another attack was made on Hancock’s line at the Brock Road, but did not succeed in driving it from the entrenchments. The Artillery of the 3rd Corps did not take a very active part in that battle, owing to the woods and undergrowth, but Poague’s Battalion performed good service in one of the few clear spaces. Captain Richard Walke had reported for duty and was serving as Inspector and Aide-de-Camp. He and I accompanied Colonel Walker and were generally at his side unless temporarily absent on some duty.When one of us went off on some duty, on the return, he would take place on the left of the other, thus it was the turn of the one on the right to go for the next duty. Captain Walke was a very valuable addition to the Artillery Staff and a very agreeable tent mate. The Armies remained quiet on May 7th. On the next day the 3rd Corps followed the 1st Corps,which had moved to Spottsylvania Court House. Our command bivouacked at Shady Grove Church and early on the 9th arrived at the Court House and took position in front of the Court House buildings, that was the right of the Army. General A. P. Hill was taken sick and General Early was placed in command of the 3rd Corps. His home was very near that of Mr. Dillard.They had been opposing candidates at the election for members of the Convention .The General was a pronounced Union man.Mr.Dillard was a Secessionist .The General was elected.As soon, however, as War was de- 70 Chapter 16 cided upon by theVirginia Convention, General Early threw himself into the movement with all his spirit and kept up his antagonism to the end of his life.Mr.Dillard was not a soldier, had passed the age and was not fit for military duty. I was standing near the camp fire of General Mahone,where were General Early and some of his staff,I believe it was on the 11th, when he saw me and remarked,“I hear you have married a young lady from my County.” I replied that it was true. It was easy to recognize General Mahone’s Headquarter’s wagon,for one always saw that a cow accompanied it.That General was a confirmed dyspeptic and a good supply of milk was necessary. The fighting at Spottsylvania was done mainly on the left wing and center. Some Infantry of the 3rd Corps was sent from time to time to reinforce the left wing.When Hancock made an attack on the extreme left Captain Grandy’s Battery was engaged. Hancock forced that wing back and crossed the River Po, but did not remain long in that advanced position, separated as he was by that river from the rest of the Federal Army.During his forward movement, Grandy’s Battery was compelled to retire rapidly.One of my friends,Theodore A.Rogers,of Norfolk, fell from the seat of the limber of a gun and a wheel passed over his right leg, crushing it. He rolled himself out of the road and remained there some hours.After Hancock’s force retired he was taken to a Hospital.That accident was most unfortunate. He suffered more or less the rest of his life and he was past fifty years of age, when it was found necessary to amputate the leg. But he was courageous and bore his sufferings manfully, and up to 1910, when he died, was an active and useful citizen of Norfolk. On the 12th the enemy assaulted a salient angle in the line on the left center and captured from us a large part of Johnson’s Division of the 2nd Corps and several Batteries of Artillery.The fighting at that point lasted all day, but the enemy made but little progress. On our wing Mahone’s Brigade was advanced,and made an attack on the flank of the attacking force.When that movement was going on I was sent with an order to our Batteries posted along the line, to aid the movement as much as possible...

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