[326] the Landrum House to the Salient, Birney's division still remaining with General Burnside. Gibbon's and Barlow's divisions now traversed the same ground which we had fought so desperately on six days since, and as but a portion of the dead of that day's contest had been buried, the stench which arose from them was so sickening and terrible that many of the men and officers became deathly sick from it. The appearance of the dead who had been exposed to the sun so long was horrible in the extreme as we marched past and over them, a sight never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it.At 4:10 A. M. Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to the assault, their troops in line of brigades. My artillery was posted in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops in front.
As soon as our lines came within range we were received with a most destructive fire of musketry and artillery from the enemy, who was snugly fixed in heavy intrenchments protected by abatis. Our men gallantly rushed on until they came to the edge of this abatis, which was so heavy and firm that they could not penetrate it under the fire, and our lines stood at that point delivering their fire until 10 o'clock, when we were withdrawn, it being found impracticable to carry the position and our losses were heavy in this assault in killed and wounded. The Sixth corps attacked at the same time with us on their right, with the same result.
General Frances C. Barlow, page 369 of Records, says: ‘Attacked the enemy's left May 18th.’
General John R. Brooke, Barlow's division, of Hancock's corps, page 411 of Records, says: ‘At 10 A. M. moved forward in support of Second and Third brigades, which were ordered to attack the enemy. Occupied the position taken on the 12th, and remained there. No fighting done by brigade, though exposed to a heavy artilley fire throughout the day, losing heavily in officers and men. The assault made on our part of the line was not successful.’
Major-General John Gibbon, of Hancock's corps, pages 431 and 432 of Records, says: ‘At daylight on the 18th, the division was in position at the breastworks taken on the 12th, ready for another assault on the enemy's interior line. The Corcoran Legion, Colonel Matthew Murphy, Sixty-ninth regiment, New York National Guard Artillery, commanding, had the day before joined the army ’
