Rained all night and incessantly till 10 o'clock a. m. There
has been desperate fighting by the Sixth and Second Corps on our left all day
at the “Bloody Angle” where they have held the enemy back as well as tried to
take its works, but with great loss of life. This will evidently go down as one
of the most bloody and desperate battles of the war. The Tenth Vermont was
relieved by some of the Fifth Corps about 3 o'clock p. m., our Division having
been ordered further to the left adjoining the “Bloody Angle” or “Slaughter
Pen.” Just after we had stacked arms under the brow of a slight ridge next the
bloody angle, Captain H. R. Steele wandered a little distance in front and
almost immediately returned hopping along holding up his foot saying he was
shot. I ordered some of the men to take him to the hospital.
I am now in command of Company K. The men seem pleased, and
I'm sure I am for I like the Company. The men seem sensible, and I know them to
be reliable good fighters. I am not sure but what they will win my esteem from
Company B, but I never have been fickle; there's room in my heart for all the
men of the gallant old Tenth Vermont. They have faith in me and it's mutual.
They will never be turned down by me. We are to bivouac on our arms in a dense
growth of pine forest with the enemy immediately a short distance in front. Surely
this fierce struggle of giant armies can't last more than a day more.
Either one or the other will have to yield, and as we have had the best of it
here thus far, it will be Lee.
It is wet and depressing for the “Slaughter Pen” will be our
portion next without Lee withdraws tonight which God grant he may do if it is
His will. The thought that we may have to assault into the jaws of death at the
bloody angle in the gray of the morning is appalling for I am told there are
thousands of dead and uncared for wounded on the field between the lines, and
in the rebel works the dead and wounded lay in piles, the wounded bound in by
the dead several deep. The rattle and roar of musketry and artillery is
dreadful as I write and may continue all night. I am about to lie down perhaps
for my last sleep, but I'm too exhausted to have the thought keep me awake for
seldom has sleep, sweet sleep, been more welcome. But I have never thought I
should be killed in battle. It's delightful to have perfect faith — the faith
of a child in such a way. It helps one to go into battle, although I dread
being wounded, it shocks the system so. I never go into a fight or take a
railroad journey, though, without feeling reconciled to yield up my spirit to
Him who gave it if it is His will. This gives one calmness and reconciliation
unspeakable. God be praised for giving me such peace. This is my prayer.
SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections
and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 55-7
No comments:
Post a Comment