"By the bye," he said, "did you hear Warren or Sedgwick say any thing,
Nighthawk?"
Nighthawk smiled.
"I heard Sedgwick utter a few words, general."
"What?"
"He said to Warren, '_I hear Hood is to take Stuart's place. I am glad
of it, for Stuart is the best cavalry officer ever foaled in North
America_!'"[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
XXXII.
THE UNSEEN DEATH.
The morning of the 6th of May was ushered in with thunder.
The battle of the preceding day had been a sort of "feeler"--now the
real struggle came.
By a curious coincidence, Grant and Lee both began the attack and at
the same hour. At five o'clock in the morning the blue and gray ranks
rushed together, and opened fire on each other. Or rather, they fired
when they heard each others' steps and shouts. You saw little in that
jungle.
I have already spoken more than once of this sombre country--a land of
undergrowth, thicket, ooze; where sight failed, and attacks had to be
made by the needle, the officers advancing in front of the line with
drawn--compasses!
The assaults here were worse than night fighting; the combats strange
beyond example. Regiments, brigades, and divisions stumbled on each
other before they knew it; and each opened fire, guided alone by the
crackling of steps in the bushes.
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