and rendered it one long to be remembered, even by a careless observer.

On the morning of the eighteenth of May, an attack was made by the First and Second Divisions of the Second Corps, our division, the Third, being held in reserve. We occupied a portion of the line of works, and though under fire both of musketry and artillery, fortunately suffered no loss during the day.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE BATTLES OF FREDERICKSBURG PIKE, TAYLOR'S BRIDGE,

B

AND TOLOPOTOMY CREEK.

IRNEY'S Division, having been constantly

in the front since the commencement of the campaign, was relieved at midnight of May eighteenth, and at two o'clock, we marched

to the left and rear, where, at daylight, we were massed near the Anderson House, and ordered to pitch tents. We hailed with joy the prospect of a day of rest, undisturbed by the music of bullets and shells; and pitched our shelters in a beautiful clover field, took off our equipments, and listening to the distant roar of cannon from the front, devoted the day to sleep until five o'clock, P. M., when we were ordered to "fall in" at once, without knapsacks, and to leave our tents standing. Heavy and rapid firing had been heard during the afternoon on our right.

Our line was speedily formed, and, at a "double quick," we marched in the direction of the Fredericks

burg Pike, where the enemy,- Ewell's Corps, — had attacked our supply trains, and made a desperate attempt to get in our rear. Arriving upon the scene of action, we found that the First Maine and First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiments, fresh from the defences of Washington, had been engaged with severe losses. This was their first experience under fire, yet they behaved with great gallantry, checking the enemy and holding him at bay, until the arrival of "Birney's Flying Infantry." Immediately upon arriving, we made a charge through the woods, advancing beyond and relieving the lines of the "Heavies," and driving the enemy in confusion before us.

The ground was literally covered with the dead and wounded of the heavy artillery regiments. Not having experience in fighting, they had neglected the precaution that veterans take, and, instead of lying down or taking advantage of the ground, they had chosen their position on the crest of a hill, where they stood erect and furnished most admirable targets for the enemy, who fought as usual in the woods and behind fences.

Colonel Merrill, in his official report of the campaign, thus briefly describes the part taken by the Seventeenth in the engagement:

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"The brigade, under the immediate supervision of Major-General Birney, was formed into two lines; "the second, consisting of the Ninety-Third New

"York and this regiment, was placed under my com"mand. An advance was ordered and we marched "in line into the dense woods; here we became sepa"rated from the first line. I sent out messengers to "ascertain, if possible, its position. Not meeting with 66 success, I ordered the command to advance toward "the firing in our front. We soon found the heavy "artillery brigade engaged with the enemy. Moving "to the front, we relieved a battalion of the First "Maine Heavy Artillery, forming a connection with "the First Brigade, Colonel Egan. Night coming on, a picket line was established in our front, and "we remained in position exposed to the fire of the enemy. Earthworks were thrown up for protection, "the men using tin plates and bayonets for the pur

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pose. At daylight of the twentieth, the whole line "advanced, and, in connection with the First Brigade, "captured a large number of prisoners; the main "body of the enemy having withdrawn, and re-crossed "the river. We then re-joined the Second Brigade "and returned to camp.'

Although it was after midnight when we were ordered to " sleep in rear of our stacks," we were aroused before three o'clock, and ordered to advance. In the gray dawn, we moved forward, meeting with no resistance from the enemy, who we found had retired during the night.

The Twentieth Indiana Regiment was deployed as

skirmishers in our front, and, advancing through the woods, captured many prisoners, who informed us that Ewell had made a forced march in order to take us unawares, and that the men were well nigh exhausted. The woods were filled with stragglers, who had dropped out of the ranks, when the order came for another night march; and, without firing a shot, we picked up between six and seven hundred prisoners. As it was impossible to distinguish, in the darkness, the rebels from our own men, many amusing dialogues occurred, when our skirmishers encountered individuals or squads wandering through the forests. Several "Johnnies," supposing our skirmish line to be the rear guard of their own corps, fell in and marched along with us till they discovered their error, when they surrendered with good grace.

One non-commissioned officer, of General Johnson's Division, which we had captured entire on the twelfth of May, was among the number of prisoners taken. He had just returned from a furlough, and as his regiment was not to be found, he had been transferred to another one in Ewell's Corps. When taken, he expressed his joy at being able to proceed to Washington, as his furlough required him, at its expiration, to "report to his regiment at Orange Court House, or wherever it then may be, or be considered a deserter."

We returned to our camps, in the forenoon, where we rested for the remainder of the day, and until