The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy, was ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred yards of the enemy’s intrenchments.  In front of Birney there was also a marsh to cross.  But, notwithstanding all these difficulties, the troops pushed on in quick time without firing a gun, and when within four or five hundred yards of the enemy’s line broke out in loud cheers, and with a rush went up to and over the breastworks.  Barlow and Birney entered almost simultaneously.  Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took place.  The men of the two sides were too close together to fire, but used their guns as clubs.  The hand conflict was soon over.  Hancock’s corps captured some four thousand prisoners among them a division and a brigade commander twenty or more guns with their horses, caissons, and ammunition, several thousand stand of arms, and many colors.  Hancock, as soon as the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the enemy against him and advanced inside the rebel lines.  About six o’clock I ordered Warren’s corps to the support of Hancock’s.  Burnside, on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to the very parapet of the enemy.  Potter, commanding one of his divisions, got over but was not able to remain there.  However, he inflicted a heavy loss upon the enemy; but not without loss in return.

This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to leave us in full possession of.  He made the most strenuous efforts to regain the position he had lost.  Troops were brought up from his left and attacked Hancock furiously.  Hancock was forced to fall back:  but he did so slowly, with his face to the enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss, until behind the breastworks he had captured.  These he turned, facing them the other way, and continued to hold.  Wright was ordered up to reinforce Hancock, and arrived by six o’clock.  He was wounded soon after coming up but did not relinquish the command of his corps, although the fighting lasted until one o’clock the next morning.  At eight o’clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making his dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and with emphasis.  At eleven o’clock I gave Meade written orders to relieve Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly.  Hancock placed batteries on high ground in his rear, which he used against the enemy, firing over the heads of his own troops.

Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive nature, but negatively a great deal.  He kept Lee from reinforcing his centre from that quarter.  If the 5th corps, or rather if Warren, had been as prompt as Wright was with the 6th corps, better results might have been obtained.