Meanwhile a brigade of the Ninth corps, which had been sent to the left, under Gibbon, swept down in front of Hancock's line from left to right and cleared it of the enemy. In the action of the previous day there had existed an interval between Warren on the turnpike and Hancock on the plankroad, through which Burnside was expected to advance and attack Hill and Longstreet in flank, hut in advancing through the woods the enemy was encountered on a wooded crest near the plankroad. An attack was not deemed advisable and Burn side's troops were moved farther to the left. It was not till afternoon and after Hancock's repulse that they became engaged, without ac complishing much, and toward evening they fell back and intrenched. The lull that had followed the successful attack of Longstreet gave Hancock time to re-establish his position now strengthened by fresh troops sent by Meade, and Hancock was directed to renew the fight at 6 P M. But again Lee anticipated the Union commander, and at 4.15 P.M., having gotten well in hand the troops of Longstreet and Hill, he advanced in force against Han cock's intrenched lines, until he came within 100 yards of the front one, when he opened a severe fire, which was heaviest on Hancock's left, and at the end of half an hour a portion of Mott's division and of a brigade of Birney's gave way in disorder.
The moment this break occurred the Con federates pushed forward and Anderson's brigade of Field's division took possession of that part of the first line of intrenchments and planted their colors on them. Near the point where the line was broken through a fire had, during the afternoon, sprung up in the woods, and at the time of Lee's attack had communi cated to the log breastworks on that part of the line. At the critical moment they became a mass of flames, which mold not be extin guished and which extended for many hun dred yards to the right and left. The heat and smoke were driven by the wind into the faces of the Union troops, preventing them on por tions of the line from firing over the parapet, and at some points obliged them to abandon it. It was this condition of affairs that permitted Anderson's brigade to seize a part of the breast works, from which they were quickly driven by Carroll's brigade, which was near at hand and which rushed upon them at the double-quick By 5 r.m. Lee's troops had been completely re
pulsed on Hancock's front, and fell back with heavy losses in killed and wounded.
Just before dark Ewen moved two brigades of Early's division around the right of Sedg wick's corps, held by Ricicetts' division, and in co-operation with the rest of Early's divi sion, succeeded in forcing Ricketts back in some confusion, capturing Shales' and Seymour. brigade commanders, and a large number of their men Wright's division, also, was thrown into some disorder but Wright restored order and Early drew back and formed a new line in front of his old one.
During the night an entirely new line was taken up by the Sixth corps, its front and right thrown hack, a change which was conformed to by the right of the Fifth corps. On the left Sheridan's and Stuart's cavalry had some severe fighting at and near Todd's Tavern in which Sheridan had the advantage. On the morn ing of the 7th reconnaissances were made of the Confederate position which was found well intrendied; neither commander showed any disposition to renew the fight on that field, and Grant decided to continue the movement by the left flank, and when darkness came the Union columns began their march for Spottsyl vania Court House (q.v.). The Union troops engaged numbered about 101,000; the Confed erates numbered about 60,000. The Union losses, as officially reported, were 2,246 killed, 12,037 wounded and 3,383 missing, an aggregate of 17,666. The Confederate reports are very in complete; the most reliable estimate places their entire loss at 7,750.
Bibliography. — 'Official Records' (Vol. XXXVI); Humphreys. 'The Virginia Cam paign of 1864-65' ; The Century Company's 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol. IV); Swinton, 'The Army of the Potomac' ; Walker, 'History of the Second Army Corps' ; Grant, 'Personal Memoirs' (Vol. H); Penny packer, 'Life of General Meade ; Long, 'Life of General Lee ; Gordon, 'Reminiscences of the Civil War.)