Rt. 20--Saunders Field

May 5, 1864--The well-disciplined Union troops reached the field’s center with their formation cleanly dressed, as though on parade. According to a Federal witness, rebel fire opened from the left and swept, “slowly, beautifully in its machinelike regularity, past the brigade front, and lost itself, out of sight, and by sound way off, in the woods to its right.” Apparently the first volley inflicted little damage, and the Yankees accelerated to a double-quick. The sheet of fire started up again on the left. With “clockwork regularity” bullets crackled slowly across the heaving blue formation. This time men began falling. Now running, the Federals closed on the woods. Again the terrible fire started. Blue-clad bodies catapulted in all directions, falling in clumps of eight and ten.