Thursday, May 12. — General Crittenden arrived last evening and took command of our division this morning. Our whole corps advanced at 4 A.M., Potter’s division leading and Crittenden’s following. The 1st Brigade of Crittenden’s division had the advance of the division. We moved up the Spottsylvania road, swinging our left around so that it was nearly at right angles to the road. We advanced about a mile from the road before we were engaged with the enemy. The movement turned out to be one to connect with Meade’s army. I thought that the enemy had retreated, and that we were following him, and had no idea that we were going right into a fight. Potter was soon briskly engaged, and as they were trying to flank him, I threw forward my right, making almost a right angle with his line. Potter carried the first line of the enemy’s pits. I had the 59th and 57th detached, the former to report to Potter and the later to Lesure, leaving me with the 56th. Soon the Regulars joined me, and were posted on the left of three brass guns, with the 56th on the right. Skirmishers and sharpshooters soon began to annoy, and the battery cleared out. About 3 P.M. an order was received from General Grant, ordering the corps to charge the enemy’s works. M y brigade was out of ammunition, but the 56th advanced, misunderstanding the order. Artillery and infantry soon opened on them, and for some time shells were plenty. Our men were repulsed. Major Jarves was wounded in the heel. Likewise Lieutenant Galucia. Captain Putnam ordered them to fall back slowly. Two thirds of them obeyed, but the remainder ran. I rallied about 80 of them and put them in the front again. We had brisk skirmishing all day. In the night, as we had not formed a junction with Hancock, it was proposed to fall back, but it was effected without falling back. On the right we were very successful, Hancock capturing several thousand men. Rained in the afternoon and night. Had to lie down on a bank without anything but a rubber coat. Felt cold and miserable all night.
