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Spotsylvania

A change of position was affected on the 7th, the army moving during the night in the direction on Spottsylvania Court House, the brigade reaching Laurel Hill about 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 8th, having marched fifteen miles. Forming line of battle in the edge of the woods, under the enemy's artillery fire, the brigade advanced to the assault of his entrenchment's.


May 6th, move forward, engage the enemy in the afternoon. May 7th, march towards Spottsylvania Courthouse.

A change of position was affected on the 7th, the army moving during the night in the direction on Spottsylvania Court House, the brigade reaching Laurel Hill about 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 8th, having marched fifteen miles. Forming line of battle in the edge of the woods, under the enemy's artillery fire, the brigade advanced to the assault of his entrenchment's.

May 8th, our march continues all night. Here we build our rifle pits and await the arrival of the main army.


Quinter

The enemy's position being found to be very strong, the Iron Brigade was compelled to fall back a short distance, when they again rallied, advanced, and took a position within 300 yards of the rebel works, where they successfully resisted several attempts to dislodge them, being under constant fire for several hours. On the 9th, the enemy established a body of sharpshooters within fifty yards of our breastworks, but they were driven out by a company of the Seventh Regiment.


May 10th, move forward and charge the enemy's breastworks, but find these too strong to take by assault.


Quinter

On the 10th, the Brigade again advanced to charge the enemy's works in front, the Seventh being on the left. The troops being to the left of the brigade being repulsed, they were obliged to return to their breastworks, which they did in good order, the Seventh throwing out a line of skirmishers.


May 11th, march to rear of line of battle.


Quinter:

The 11th of May was occupied in shelling and skirmishing. On this day, the Second Wisconsin was detached from the brigade, and was detailed as Provost Guard of the Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps. The Second had become reduced below the number of one hundred men present for duty, and their field officers were in the hands of the enemy. Its connection with the Iron Brigade was thereby severed.


May 12th, March to left of line of battle. May 13th, march back toward the right, three miles.


Quinter:

On the 12th, another unsuccessful attempt was made on the enemy's works, in which the brigade took part. Hancock's corps made a successful dash, and taken the works, and a rebel division, with their officers. The enemy determined to recover the works, and made desperate efforts during the day. The Fifth Corps was sent to Hancock's assistance. A portion of the brigade, on its arrival, relieved some of Hancock's troops, who occupied the enemy's first line of entrenchment's, gained in the attack of the morning, while the enemy held the second line. A constant fire was kept up here by our men during the whole afternoon and night, to prevent the enemy from obtaining possession of and using some of the artillery, which lay between the lines. The Seventh Wisconsin was the first regiment to relieve Hancock's corps, and were relieved by the Sixth Wisconsin and the Twenty-forth Michigan. During the night the regiment returned to its former position, except the brigade, which rejoined the division in the morning, and remained quiet until the evening of the 13th, when the whole corps joined in the movement to the left, crossing the river Po, twice on the march, and arriving within about a mile and a half of Spottsylvania Court House, about daylight on the 14th, when they went into position behind works, on the right of the road.


May 14th, march to left of line in rear of Ninth Corps; seven miles.