the time, day and night.  One of these nights, possibly the 11th of May, a staff officer stole quietly where the Colonel and Adjutant were lying and whispered, “It is thought that the enemy have gotten betwixt our out posts and the breastworks and intend to make a night attack.  So awaken the soldiers and put every man in the trenches.”  The Colonel went to one end of the line and the Adjutant to the other, and soon had our trenches manned.  The Colonel was observed full of laughter, and when questioned, stated that on going to the left wing of the regiment to awaken the men, he came across a soldier with some small branches kindled into a blaze, making himself a cup of coffee.  He spoke to the soldier, saying: 

“Who is that?”

The soldier replied, not recognizing the Colonel’s voice:  “Who in the h——­l are you?”

The Colonel said:  “Don’t you know the Yankees are between the pickets and the breastworks, and will soon attack our whole line?”

He reported the man at these words, saying:  “The Jesus Christ, Colonel!” rolling as he spoke, and he never stopped rolling until he fell into the pit at the works.  Never was a revolution in sentiment and action more quickly wrought than on this occasion with this soldier.

It is needless to speak of the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, except to remark that here our comrades of McGowan’s Brigade showed of what stuff they were made, and by their gallantry and stubborn fighting, saved the day for General Lee.

Soon after this battle General Grant, though baffled by its result, renewed his effort to reach Richmond.  By a rapid march, General Lee was before Grant’s columns at the North Anna River.  Here we hoped the enemy would attack us.  On the South side of this river, on the road leading to Hanover Junction, good heavy works had been completed, while a fort of inferior proportions on the North side was intended to protect the bridge across the river from raiding parties of the enemy.  To our surprise, when the part of our army that was designed to cross the river at this point, had crossed over, the Third Regiment, James’ Battalion, and the Seventh Regiment were left behind about this fort.  We had no idea that anything serious was intended; but after awhile it leaked out that General Lee needed some time to complete a line of works from one point of the river to another on the same stream, on the South side, and that it was intended that the bare handful of men with us were intended to hold the approach to the bridge in face of the tens of thousands of Grant’s Army in our front.  Trying to realize the task assigned us, positions were assigned the different forces with us.  It was seen that the Seventh Regiment, when stretched to the left of the fort, could not occupy, even by a thin line, the territory near them.  We were promised the co-operation of artillery just on the other side of the river.  Presently the attack opened on the right and center, but this attack