on our infantry line were raking the field, the former with shell and solid shot, the latter with grape and canister.  Smoke settling on the ground, soon rendered objects in front scarcely visible, but the steady flashing of the enemy’s guns and the hail of bullets over our heads and against our works told plainly enough that the enemy were standing to their work with desperate courage, or were held in hand with a powerful grasp of discipline.  The third line of assault had now mingled with the first two, and all lying stretched upon the ground and hidden by the dense smoke, caused the greater number of our bullets to fly over their heads.  Our elevated position and the necessity of rising above the works to fire, rendered our breastworks of little real advantage; considering, too, the disparity of numbers, then three lines against our one, and a very weak line at that.  The loud Rebel yell heard far to our right told us to be of good cheer, they were holding their own, and repulsing every assault.  The conflict in front of Breckenridge’s Division was the bloodiest, with the possible exception of that of Mayree’s Hill, in front of Fredericksburg, and the “Bloody Angle,” of any during the war.  Negro troops were huddled together and forced to the charge by white troops—­the poor, deluded, unfortunate beings plied with liquor until all their sensibilities were so deadened that death had no horrors.  Grant must have learned early in the day the impossibility of breaking Lee’s line by direct charge, for by twelve o’clock the firing ceased.

This last assault of Grant’s thoroughly convinced the hero of Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge of the impossibility of breaking Lee’s lines by direct advances.  He could not surprise him at any point, or catch him off his guard, for Lee knew every foot of the ground too well, having fought all over if for two years.  It was estimated and confirmed afterwards by official reports, that Grant had lost sixty thousand men from his crossing of the Rapidan to the end of the 3rd of June, just thirty days—­more men than Lee had in the commencement of the campaign.  Grant had become wiser the more familiar he became with Lee and his veterans, and now began to put in new tactics—­that of stretching out his lines so as to weaken Lee’s, and let attrition do the work that shells, balls, and the bayonet had failed to accomplish.  The end showed the wisdom of the plan.

The two regiments on the left of the brigade did not suffer so greatly as the others, being protected somewhat by the timber and underbrush in their front.  The enemy’s dead lay in our front unburied until Grant’s further move to the right, then it became our duty to perform those rites.

* * * * *

COLONEL LAWRENCE MASSILLON KEITT.

Colonel Lawrence Massillon Keitt was the second son of George and Mary Magdalene Wannamaker Keitt.  He was born on the 4th day of October, 1824, in St. Matthews Parish, Orangeburg District, S.C.  He received his early education at Asbury Academy, a flourishing institution near the place of his birth.