checked, we were ordered to throw up a line of works along a narrow by-road. We had commenced to construct a breastwork from rails and logs, when another attack was made in our immediate rear, by the division commanded by Wade Hampton. Gregg's cavalry, dismounted, were promptly moved to the point, and, though with great loss, held the enemy at bay. It was now nearly dark. Sharp firing was going on in our front and rear, and on our left flank, and for a while our chances looked anything but bright. General Hancock was at all times at the post of danger, and gave his personal attention to affairs. He directed us to continue our work on the narrow road, and to throw up a line of breastworks that we could use from either side, anything but a cheering aspect of things to us.

Colonel West's wounds rendered it impossible for him to remain with the regiment, and during the day the command devolved upon Captain Hobson.

At eight o'clock, the regiment was ordered to escort the ambulance train to the Gurley House, in the dark and rain, not a very enviable duty, but which was duly accomplished.

As soon as possible after dark, the remainder of the troops availed themselves of the only outlet that remained, to escape from the trap, into which they had been inveigled, and marched cautiously out by the road through which they advanced in the morn

ing. Many wounded, and all the dead were left upon the field.

The Seventeenth was peculiarly fortunate in this engagement, which was, at least for the division, one of the severest of the campaign.

We rejoined the brigade at noon of the twentyeighth, as it passed the Gurley House, and night found us once more in our old camps, near the Cheeves House, where we pitched our tents and retired, but not without a feeling of thankfulness that we had escaped so fortunately from the "bull pen " at Hatcher's Run.

The engagement was known, in the official reports, both as Hatcher's Run and Boydton Plank Road.

W

E commenced, immediately on our return to camp, to police the grounds, and erect suitable stockades for our tents; but at dark, on the thirtieth of

October, in obedience to orders, we relieved the garrison of Fort Rice. This fort was a finely constructed work, and far superior to Fort Hell. It mounted six guns, which were under command of Captain Rhodes, of the First Rhode Island Artillery. A portion of the regiment was stationed in the fort proper, and the remainder pitched their tents just outside the works.

We were about to relieve the pickets in our front, when orders were received to turn out the entire command, under arms, as the enemy had "gobbled" the picket line on the left of the Plank Road. We prepared for an attack, and for a while the firing in our

front was sharp and rapid. The enemy, however, did not leave his works. The line was re-established about midnight, and we retired.

Picket firing along the entire front continued almost incessantly, night and day, with but little perceptible effect, save to discourage desertions from the enemy.

On Monday, November seventh, we voted for President of the United States, and for Governor of Maine. The polls were opened at nine o'clock, A. M., under the supervision of the three senior officers present. The picket detail for the day came in from the picket line, and exercised their right of suffrage, thus depositing not only their bullets but their ballots in favor of the Union. Ammunition-boxes were used as ballot-boxes; and the election passed off very quietly. No riots occurred, and there was but little electioneering. The vote stood, for President Lincoln, two hundred and one; for McClellan, forty-seven; for Governor Cony, two hundred; for Howard, two.

On the evening of the ninth, a furious fusilade called the troops to arms. The firing was occasioned

pickets of the opposing

by a dispute between the armies, as to the relative merits of Lincoln and McClellan. After a spirited debate, degenerating, as political debates usually do, into bitter personalities and blackguard taunts, the Union soldiers gave three cheers for "Honest Abe," the rebels responding with

three for "Little Mac." This was the signal for our men to give them a volley, which was returned by the enemy, and, passing along the lines, both sides were soon blazing away, without knowing the cause, while the artillery commanders, thinking an attack was being made, opened furiously along the entire front.

Our life, during our stay in Fort Rice, was monotonous, and yet not altogether unpleasant. Occasional fusilades and night attacks on our right and left, occurred; but no attack on our immediate front or upon our fort was made. Scarcely a day or night passed, that we were not under fire of the enemy's mortars; but their shells, although they dropped into the fort with great accuracy, did out little harm, as, during the shelling, the men would remain in the bomb-proofs.

On the twenty-ninth of November, we were relieved at dark, by a detachment of the Ninth Corps, and marched with the brigade to near the Southall House, where we bivouacked in mass, and received orders to move at daylight on the following morning. At seven we were en route, and, after marching about six miles to the left, were assigned position in the line of works, at the left of the Peebles House. The lines at this point were constructed to cover and protect the left flank of the army, and formed a curve to the rear, bringing our line nearly at right-angles with the main line in the front of Petersburg. Our division was on the extreme left of the army.