attack the Confederate works there, the object being, according to General McClellan, "to force the enemy to discontinue his work in strengthening his batteries, to silence his fire, and to gain control of the dam existing at this point."[1] Smith brought up his three brigades, Brooks’, Hancock’s and Davidson’s, and during the morning kept up a vigorous artillery fire. Then, at 3 o’clock, under cover of a sharp artillery and musketry fire, two attacking and two supporting companies of the Third Vermont regiment crossed the stream and rushed gallantly for the Confederate works. The part of the works immediately in their front was occupied by the Fifteenth North Carolina regiment, Col. R. M. McKinney. The regiment at the time of the Federal attack was not on its lines, but was about 200 yards in the rear, engaged on some heavy intrenchments that it had been ordered to make. When the pickets gave the alarm the Fifteenth rushed to its arms and advanced to meet its assailants, who on reaching the unoccupied line had partly taken refuge behind the earth thrown from the Confederate rifle-pits,[2] and opened upon the North Carolinians, as they advanced, an accurate and deadly fire. The fire was promptly returned and several volleys exchanged. Colonel McKinney of the Fifteenth was killed in the advance. The Seventh Georgia and other adjoining regiments, none knowing the strength of the attacking party, rushed to the aid of the North Carolinians, and in a few moments the little band of Vermont men was driven back with a loss of 83 men.
At 5 o’clock a more formidable attack was made by the Sixth Vermont, in conjunction with the Fourth Vermont. Colonel Lord, of the Sixth Vermont, says: "The companies . . . advanced fearlessly and in perfect order . . . with a view of taking the rifle-pits of the enemy at the point of the bayonet. Before this could be accom-
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