[18]
artillery fire from two batteries upon my line of skirmishers.
I was ordered by Major General Slocum to halt until he could move his troops and arrange the plan of an assault, that artillery was of no avail against it, and that nothing but a combined and vigorous assault of infantry would carry the mountain.
It being decided that the attack should be made on the right flank of the road, leading over the mountain, I was ordered to lead the column under cover of the artillery fire, and as secretly as possible, to a large field near the base of the mountain, where the column of attack was to be formed, i. e., each brigade in two lines, at two hundred paces in the rear.
About 4 o'clock P. M. I ordered forward the 27th N. Y. Volunteers to deploy as skirmishers, and upon their placing the interval ordered between the columns of attack and their line, I advanced at quick time the 5th Maine and the 16th N. Y. Volunteers.
My line of skirmishers found the enemy at the foot of the mountain, safely lodged behind a strong stone wall.
Their entire line, being now developed, exhibited a large force.
The front line advanced rapidly and steadily to the front under a severe fire of artillery from the heights and musketry from behind the stone wall and the trees on the slope above it. Halting behind a rail fence about 300 yards from the enemy, the skirmishers were withdrawn and the battle commenced.
By some mistake, more than a thousand yards intervened between the head of the column of General Newton's Brigade and my own, and nothing but the most undaunted courage and steadiness on the part of the two regiments forming my line maintained the fight until the arrival of the rest of the attacking column.
On their arrival the 32d N. Y. Volunteers and the 18th N. Y. Volunteers were sent to report to me. The 5th Maine and the 16th N. Y.
