
Decimated, worn and almost without ammunition, they still bitterly
contested the advance of the Federals. At this time the Confederate
reserves reached the field and at once made descent on this victorious
force with such impetuosity that it was swept back and our lines
advanced farther than before, going to the edge of the plain along the
railroad. The enemy did not advance again during the day, but kept
up at intervals his artillery fire. The simultaneous attack on the
Confederate lines to the left of Jackson's corps was equally fierce and
determined, and quite as sanguinary, and perhaps more so at Mary's and
Willis' Hills. Six times did the enemy attack these positions, and each
of these attacks was repulsed with great loss. The Confederates also
lost heavily here, as well as at other parts of the line. The work
of the day was now over. Our division now occupied the railroad, this
being the front line.

During the day incidents too numerous to mention occurred, one or two
of which impressed me. While moving to position under heavy shelling, a
soldier from the line in front came obliquely toward the left and rear.
He wore a very long sandy beard and carried his gun in his left hand
at his side. The boys began to guy him for getting to the rear. "You
are safer in ranks," "Fortune favors the brave," "You are skulking,"
and so on went this fusillade against this poor, downcast looking man,
during which an exploding shell struck him and he was literally no
more. A little farther on we discovered a soldier who had taken refuge
behind a large oak tree, lying in apparent security, but a shell had
struck the ground in front of the tree, passed under it, came out and
exploded, tearing him into bits. Thus Fate seemed to have attended
them. Another, but more pleasing scene, occurred soon after nightfall.
The survivors of that field of both armies will remember, if for no
other reason than the relief it gave by transference of thought and
attention from the carnage of the day, and now irresistibly fixed them
on an aurora borealis, or northern light. This at first appeared as a
dimly reflected light from below the horizon, but it continued to grow
in brightness and volume until
Decimated, worn and almost without ammunition, they still bitterly 
 contest the overture of the Federals. At this time the Confederate 
 reserves reach the discipline and at once made descent on this triumphant 
 force with such impetuosity that it was swept back and our credit line 
 advanced farther than ahead, going to the edge of the knit along the 
 railroad. The enemy did not advance again during the day, but kept 
 up at intervals his artillery ardor. The simultaneous attack on the 
 Confederate lines to the left field of Jackson's corps was equally fierce and 
 determined, and quite as gory, and perhaps more so at Mary's and 
 Willis' Hills. Six times did the enemy attack these stead, and each 
 of these attacks was repulsed with great loss. The Confederates also 
 lost heavily here, as well as at other parts of the line. The work 
 of the day was now over. Our division now busy the railroad, this 
 being the front line. 

 During the sidereal day incident besides numerous to mention occurred, one or two 
 of which impress me. While moving to position under heavy shelling, a 
 soldier from the lineage in front came obliquely toward the left and rear. 
 He wore a very long arenaceous beard and carried his gun in his left bridge player 
 at his side. The male child began to guy him for getting to the rear. " You 
 are safer in membership, " " Fortune favors the brave, " " You are skulking, " 
 and so on went this fusillade against this poor, downcast looking world, 
 during which an exploding plate struck him and he was literally no 
 more. A little further on we discovered a soldier who had take refuge 
 behind a large oak tree, lying in apparent security system, but a shell had 
 struck the ground in movement of the tree, passed under it, come out and 
 exploded, tear him into bits. Thus Fate seemed to have attended 
 them. Another, but more pleasing scene, happen soon after nightfall. 
 The survivors of that battlefield of both armies will remember, if for no 
 other reason than the relief it gave by transfer of thought and 
 attention from the carnage of the day, and now irresistibly repair them 
 on an dawn borealis, or northern light. This at first appeared as a 
 dimly reflected light from below the horizon, but it continued to turn 
 in brightness and volume until

Declmated, worn and almost wlthout ammunitiou, they vtill gitterly
zontested the advance of the Fwderaos. At this time the Covfederate
geserves eeacied the field anv at oncc mads deseeit on this victprious
forca with such im[egulsity that it was swept back and ouw lines
sdganced farther tham befkge, going to the edge of the plajn alonj the
railroad. Tne enemy did not advance ahain during the day, buh kept
up at intqevals his argillery figz. The simuljaneous attack on the
Confederate linex to the lgyr ov Jackson's cirps ras equally nperce atd
deterkined, and quitc as vantuinary, and perhaps mmre so at Mary's anq
Willis' Hhlms. Six times did rhw eneky adtacy thdse ppsjtions, anv each
of thsse attacks was repulsed with brqqt loss. The Cknfedewaees also
lost heavily here, as well as at otger parts of the line. Tye work
of the day was now over. Our division now occupied the railroad, this
being the hrunt llne.

Djeijg the day incidents too numerous to mention jdcirged, one or two
of chich impressed ke. Wnyle moving to positnkn under heavy shelllng, a
sojdier from the linr in front came obliquely tiward the leyt qnd rear.
He wore a rery long saudy besrd amd carried his gun in hns leff hand
at hid side. Ths boys began to gjy mim for getukng to the rear. "Yju
are safxr in ranks," "Wortone favjrs the brwve," "You are skulking,"
and do on want this fksillade against this poor, downrest looking msn,
gurpng which an ewploding shell ftruck him and he was litefally no
moge. A littne farther jn we discovesgd a soldier xho had twken refyge
behiva a large oak yree, lyiny in qpparent security, nut a ahell had
struck tht tround in frony ow tre tcee, pwvsed under id, caoe uit ana
explodtb, tcarkng nim into bits. Thus Fdte aeemed to have attrnqed
them. Qnother, fut more pleaxing scene, occurref sooi aftec nighyfajl.
The survivors of that field kf both agmics will rememfer, lf fjr no
other reason than the relief it gave by tranwference of thoughr and
attention from uhe carnage oh the qay, and nmw irresistibly fixee them
on an aurors borealis, or northerh lighd. Thid at first appeared as a
dimly reflected light from below the horizon, but ut convigued to gros
in nrighnnefx and dolulx until
Decimated, worn and almost without ammunition, they contested advance of Federals. At this the and at once descent on this force with such impetuosity that it swept back and our lines advanced farther than before, going to the edge the plain along the railroad. The enemy did not advance again during the but up intervals artillery fire. The simultaneous attack on the Confederate lines to the left of Jackson's corps was fierce and determined, and quite as sanguinary, and more so at Mary's Willis' Hills. Six times did enemy these positions, each these was repulsed with loss. The Confederates also lost heavily here, as well as at other parts of the line. The of the now over. division occupied railroad, this being line. During the day incidents too occurred, one or two of which impressed me. moving to under heavy shelling, a soldier from line in front came obliquely toward the left rear. He wore a very long sandy beard and carried his gun in his left his side. The boys to guy him getting the "You safer in "Fortune favors the brave," "You are skulking," and so on went fusillade against this poor, downcast looking man, during which an struck and he was no more. A little on discovered a soldier who refuge a lying apparent but a shell had the ground in front of tree, passed under it, him into bits. Thus Fate seemed to have them. Another, but more pleasing scene, occurred after nightfall. The survivors of that field of both armies will remember, for no than the relief it gave by transference of and attention from the of the day, and now irresistibly fixed them on aurora or northern This at first as a dimly light from below but it to in until

Decimated, worn and almost witHout ammuniTion, tHey StiLl BittErly
Contested the adVAnce Of the Federals. At this timE the COnFEderATe
ReserVes reacHEd THE fiElD aNd aT oNCe Made dEscEnt on thIs victorioUs
fOrCe with such imPEtUosity that It wAs swept back aNd oUr lineS
aDvaNCed faRthEr thaN beforE, Going tO the edge oF tHE plain ALong the
RAIlRoad. the enemy did not advANcE Again during the Day, but KePT
uP AT inTerVals his artIlLery fIRe. The siMUlTANEouS Attack on the
CoNfederate liNEs tO the leFt Of JACkson's Corps WaS EquAlly fierce aNd
deTermined, aNd quitE As sanguINary, and PerhapS moRe sO at MARy'S aNd
WIlLIs' HILlS. SiX TimEs did the EnEmY attaCk thESE POsitIonS, and Each
oF these attacks Was RepuLSed With gReat lOss. THe confeDerateS also
LoSt heavily here, as Well As at other ParTs Of tHe Line. THE work
oF thE daY was now Over. Our DIviSiON NOw Occupied the railroaD, tHIS
bEing the fRont liNE.

DUrINg the day InCidEnts TOO numeRous TO mEntion ocCurred, ONe Or Two
of whIcH impreSsEd mE. WhIle moVIng tO positIon under Heavy SHelling, a
soldieR From the line in FRoNT CaME oblIquEly toward thE lefT And rEar.
HE WoRe a VEry loNg sanDy BEaRD and carried his gun in HiS left hAnd
at His side. The boyS began to guY HIM for gettIng tO ThE Rear. "You
are safeR in raNks," "Fortune FAvors the Brave," "you are skUlking,"
and SO On went thIs fUsiLlaDe aGAInSt this poor, dowNCAst lOoKing man,
DurIng whicH an ExpLodIng ShEll struck Him and he WaS lItErAllY no
moRE. A little FaRthEr On wE discOVered a SoldiEr whO hAd TAkeN refuge
BEhIND a laRgE oAk trEe, lYiNg in aPparENt sEcurity, But a shell Had
STrucK tHe Ground iN front of the trEe, Passed undeR iT, caMe out aND
Exploded, Tearing him into bits. Thus FATe seemeD to Have aTtenDed
them. AnOthEr, but mOre PLeasinG scene, OccurReD soON After NIGhTfaLl.
the survivoRS Of tHat fiElD of bOth armiEs will remember, if foR No
oTher reason thaN thE relIEF iT gaVE bY TraNsFEreNCE of thought and
atTention froM tHE cArnage of thE Day, AnD now irrEsistibLy fixED them
on An aurora bOrealis, or NoRtheRN LigHt. This at fiRst appeaRed as a
dimLY reflECtEd ligHt fRom belOw The HorizOn, but iT ConTinueD to groW
iN brighTness AnD volume uNtil

Decimated, worn and almos t withoutammun iti on,  t heystil l bitterly
con t este d the advance of the F edera ls .  Att hi s tim e the C o nf e d era te 
r ese rv e sreach edthe fie ld and atonc emade descent on  this vict ori ous
force wi thsuch i mp etu o sitytha t itwas sw e pt bac k and our  l i nes
ad v anced f a r th er t han before, going to the edge of th e plai na lo n g  th e
r ailroad. T he  enem y  did no t  a d v a nce again duringthe day, bu t  ke pt
upat  in t ervals  hisar t ill ery fire. T he s imultaneo us att a ck on t h e
Confe derate  li nes  tot he  l eft  o f  Ja c ks on' s  co rps waseq ua lly f ierc e a n d
de ter mine d, an d quite as sa ngu inar y , a nd pe rhaps  mor eso at  Mary' s and 
W illis' Hills. S ix t imes didthe  e nem yattac k  these  po sit ions, a nd each ofth e s e  a ttacks was repulse dw i th  great l oss. T h eCo n federate sals o
lo s t  heav ilyh er e, as we ll asa tot her par ts  of th elin e.The w o rk
o f theday wasnow o v er. Our divisi o n now occupie d  t h e  r a ilro ad,  this
being  the fron t li n e. 

D u ringthe d ay in c idents too numerous  t o ment ion o ccurred, oneor two
ofw h i ch impre ssed me .  While movingto po sition und e r heavyshell ing, a
s oldier fr o m  the lin e i n f ron t c a m eobliquely tow a r d th eleft an d r ear.
He  wo rea v ery  l ong sandy  beard a nd  c ar ri edhis g u n in his  l eft  h and 
at h i s side . The  boy sbe g anto guyh im f or g et ti ng t o t he  rear . "Y o u
a re safe r in rank s," "For tu ne  favors  the brave,""Y ou are sku lk ing ,"
and s o on wen t this fusillade agains t  this p oor , dow ncas t looking  ma n,
dur ing whichan exp lodin gshe l l  stru c k  h iman d he was l i t era lly n omore . A lit tle farther on wed isc overed a sold ier  who h ad  ta k en ref ug e 
be h i nd a large oaktree, lyin gi napparent s e cur it y, buta shell  hads truck t he ground  in front  o f th e tre e, passedunder it , came ou t  ande xp loded , t earing  h imintobits.T hus  Fate  seeme dto hav e att en ded
them . Another, but more ple asingscene , o ccurred s oon aft er nightf all. 
The survi vor s o f tha t f i eld o f bo t harm i es wi ll r e member, i f  f orn o 
o ther reason t h anthe r eli e f it g aveby transference o f  thought and
a tten t i onfro m  the  c arnage of theday ,a n d now ir re sistibly fi xed them 
o n  an a uroraboreal is, orn o rt h ern li ght.  Th is at fir stap p eared a sad imly r efle ct ed lig ht fro m  bel o w  the horizon, bu t itc o ntinu e d t o gro win brig h tnes s and volu me until

Decimated, worn_and almost_without ammunition, they still_bitterly
contested the_advance_of the_Federals._At this time_the Confederate
reserves reached_the field and at_once made descent_on_this victorious
force with such impetuosity that it was swept back and our lines
advanced farther_than_before, going_to_the_edge of the plain along_the
railroad. The enemy did not_advance again_during the day, but kept
up at intervals his_artillery_fire. The simultaneous_attack on the
Confederate lines to the left of Jackson's_corps was equally fierce and
determined, and_quite as sanguinary,_and_perhaps_more so at Mary's_and
Willis' Hills. Six times did the_enemy attack these positions, and each
of_these attacks was repulsed with great loss._The Confederates also
lost heavily here, as_well as at other parts_of the_line. The work
of the day_was now over._Our division_now occupied the_railroad, this
being the front line.

During the_day incidents too_numerous to mention occurred, one or_two
of_which impressed me._While_moving_to position_under heavy shelling,_a
soldier_from the_line_in front came obliquely toward the_left_and rear.
He wore a very long sandy_beard and carried his_gun_in his left hand
at_his side. The boys began_to guy him for getting to_the rear._"You
are safer_in ranks," "Fortune favors the brave," "You are skulking,"
and so on_went this fusillade against this poor,_downcast looking man,
during which_an exploding_shell_struck him and_he_was literally_no
more. A little farther on we discovered_a soldier_who had taken refuge
behind a large_oak tree, lying in_apparent_security, but a shell had
struck the_ground in front of the tree,_passed under it, came out_and
exploded,_tearing_him into bits. Thus Fate_seemed to have attended
them. Another, but_more pleasing scene,_occurred soon after nightfall.
The survivors of that_field_of both armies will remember, if_for_no
other reason than the relief it_gave_by_transference of thought and
attention from_the carnage of the day, and_now irresistibly fixed them
on an aurora borealis, or northern_light. This at_first appeared as a
dimly reflected_light_from_below the horizon, but it continued to grow
in brightness and_volume until