On the 10th Barlow's division made an attack upon our left and obtained temporary possession of a portion of Ewell's line. Gen. Lee said that these lines must be re-established, if he had to attend to it in person. Our (Heth's) division was called upon to do the work. We received our orders and were soon in readiness. Advancing cautiously for some little time, we came upon the enemy about one mile this side of a branch of the Po, we deployed into line and began to push them back. They finally halted in some earth-works, freshly thrown up, in front of Mrs. Graves' house, in front of which was a large open field. As soon as we got into the road running parallel to these works, we were halted and reformed, and, after some little delay, we were ordered to charge their works and drive them away. We charged across the open field under a heavy fire of artillery from their batteries on the hills beyond the little stream, which ran a short distance in the rear of their earth-works. Before we reached the works they, deeming "prudence the better part of valor," fled and made good their retreat, leaving behind them one piece of artillery, their dead and wounded, and several prisoners. We remained several hours at their works under a heavy shelling; some few of the shells exploding in our ranks. Gen. Cooke was slightly wounded in the charge, and Ensign W. C. Story, after we reached the works. We were finally withdrawn and marched back to our position on the main lines, after we had recovered the lost ground and forced the enemy to relinquish their temporary advantage. The 11th was passed in comparative quiet, with the exception of our usual salutation from the enemy's batteries. They made daily practice on our works, and endeavored to batter down and destroy the buildings in the village. They appeared to have a special spite at the little brick church immediately in rear of our regiment, occupied by our surgeon (Dr. Hunt) as a dispensary. "Gwin" had hardly "opened up" when a wicked shell came thundering through the gable, and he concluded to vacate, which he did in considerable disorder. When we quit our lines the little church was sadly in need of a contribution box.

During the night of the 11th the enemy, under the cover of the dense woods, advanced without discovery, and massed a large force in Ewell's front at the point known as the "salient," which was occupied by Gen. Edward Johnson's division. On the next morning at daylight these troops vigorously attacked and overran this portion of our lines and captured most of the division, including its commander, who was quietly enjoying his breakfast.

General Lee at once hurried troops from our right and left, and made dispositions to dispute their further progress. As Harris' Mississippi brigade was coming up at double quick, Gen. Lee, already in a very exposed position, now joined them and started to the front with them. The minies were flying fast and thick, and shot and shell ploughing the ground and bursting in the air. As they neared the lines a round-shot struck immediately in front of the grand old chieftain, and caused him to halt and take breath. The officers and men now plead and insisted that he should retire from this exposed position. He, in his calm manner, his feelings exhibiting a purity and nobleness of heart never witnessed in any hero of ancient or modern time, replied: "If you will promise to drive those people from our works I will go back." The brigade quickly shouted the promise, and in a moment commenced the most terrific musketry-fire that took place during the war.

While this desperate attack was going on, our (Heth's) division and Mahone's were moved to the left near the Fredericksburg road, to make a feint and create a diversion. We leaped over our works, and formed inside of them, to make the movement, and bravely did the boys move off, although nothing is so demoralizing to troops as to leave breastworks to do battle inside of them. We attacked the enemy, and drove them from two lines into a third. Finding that they were getting re-enforcements, and in a fortified position, we were gradually withdrawn to our former position on the main lines.

Several days of comparative quiet now ensued, during which time Grant was refurnishing his decimated brigades with heavy re-enforcements from Washington. In his official report to the 39th Congress, he said: "The time from the 13th to the 18th was consumed in manoeuvering and awaiting the arrival of re-enforcements."

After covering the entire front of our army with double lines, he still had a large reserve force with which to extend his flank and compel a corresponding move upon our part, in order to keep between him and Richmond.

On the 18th, Gen. Grant made his final and desperate attack, by hurling division after division against our lines. He commenced the attack in the morning, and soon the battle became continuous along the lines, and raged with the utmost fury and desperation. The cannon's shot and shell seemed winged with impetuous rage, and with hissing red flame bellowed through the air and over hill and plain, withering and blasting everything in their flight. War had now indeed stalked forth unmasked from his infernal den. In the smoke and carnage, Grant drove his troops mercilessly up to the slaughter, but it produced no impression, and the hopeless task was relinquished.

We had now completed twelve days of battle at Spottsylvania, and at no time, day or night, did the firing on the lines entirely cease.