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It was about six o'clock in the morning when the demonstration
against the enemy was made by the advance of the 1st
Mass. to the left of the road, and the 2nd N.H. to the right of it.
While still further to their right and connecting with it
were deployed the 11th Mass. & 26th Pa. rgts. Webbers battery of
regulars was pushed down the road int he edge of the [Slashing]
but received such a well directed fire from the rebel forts
that the artillerists fled from their guns and in spite of
the utmost Exertions of their officers could not again be
rallied, Volunteers, however, from Bramhalls' and
Osborn's Volunteer batteries quickly sprang forward, and
gallantly maintained the action of the guns, In the Mean-
time we were pushing our way through the Slashing
driving the rebel skirmish line before us. until we reached
the foot of the open plateau upon which was Fort Magruder
To our left the ground fell away in a succession of roll-
ing slopes, the whole commanded by a line of rebel
redoubts. In front of these was a line of rifle pits to
protect the rebel sharpshooters, and from which they were
busy picking off artillery men and horses, It was necessary
to dislodge this enemy and a detail was made from our regiment
to push forward as skimishers, drive out the Confederate
Sharpshooters, and aid in silencing the enemys guns. -
We clung close to the mirey earth and advancing
succeeding in driving out the Sharpshooters, and were
putting in effective work upon the rebel artillerists whose
guns were in angry dispute with those of our own, when we
were greatly annoyed by a rebel redoubt far on our left
whose shot nearly enfiladed our line, but in spite of their
efforts to dislodge us we grimly held our ground until the
rebel guns in our front were completely silenced. A Comrade
and myself had brought out with us a rubber blanket
on which we were lying to protect us somewhat frm the mud
As we silence the Enemy's guns we grew careless and would
rise to a [Revealing] posture to load our pieces with greater
speed and comfort, these were loaded and discharged
alternately, one lying down to aim and fire, while the other
rose to load. Our position had doubtless attracted the special attention
of the rebel gunners to our left, for they commenced a well directed
fire to dislodge us. The first Shot proved to be the closest call, for as
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