The battery men were being slaughtered terribly. Calls are made for men to bury the dead constantly; several of Company K are doing the sexton's work. The continued sharp crack of the rifled cannon from our battery and the shriek of the enemy's shells as they go over our heads or burst near us are altogether unpleasant, whatever others may say to the contrary. I felt just as another man near me said he did. The air seemed full of flying deadly missiles. Hanson set up a childish cry, saying, "I wish I were in father's barn." "What would you do then?" "Oh, I'd go into the house."

The cooks having arrived, drew ration of bread and came around with it. When gnawing the crust amidst the jarring elements, I thought of the stalled ox and the dinner of herbs, and of that old ancestor of mine who couldn't find room on the salt marshes of Rowley to eat his beans. While thus thinking, I was brought to the outer world by one of the battery boys coming down over the bank and landing on my head. Then came a lull in the storm.

Old soldiers tell us the firing has been quite terrific, so we have seen something of war. At this time the companies of our regiment were formed to go to another pat of the field. While waiting for orders to move, Dr. Cogswell regaled us with a few patriotic sentiments. The old Bay State was frequently alluded to; some of us felt badly about the dear old state that we almost wished we were up there with her. I know I thought it would be delightful to sit on a horse as a member of the medical fraternity and talk patriotism and glory hallelujah, for all civilized nations acknowledge the code, and army surgeons as such are permitted to travel unmolested almost anywhere.

After a short rest, forward, down the center, where the line of battle was formed in the woods. The 50th was represented by four companies, under the command of Major Hodges, Company K on the right. As we were passing to our place in line, General Auger was standing behind an enormous great gum tree, and the bullets were whistling like hailstones through the branches. As I passed within three feet of him he gave the order, "Forward men, shield yourselves as much as possible behind stumps and trees, but keep moving forward toward the breastworks." I did not make any reply, but kept moving. The moment the line was formed it was to face front and pitch in.

We were on the extreme left, the 48th was next to us, beyond them was the 49th, led by their saucy looking commander, Colonel Bartlett, on horseback, the only mounted man to be seen, while stretching far away a long distance could be seen a solid column of men pressing forward with guns glistening in the bright sunlight, hurrying up towards the earthworks. The batteries at different points were pouring in a continual shower of shot and shell. The roar of the cannonading, the wild yell of the soldiers, the whistling minie balls as they flew over and around us, the horrible shriek of the shrapnel, grape and canister, were sounds, to a peaceful citizen like myself, altogether unpleasant, and what made it still more aggravating, not a single rebel head could be seen to fire at. As we worked up nearer the fortifications the line began to lose its regularity, and soon it became evident that the assault was a failure, the word was passed down the line to "halt" and each one look out for himself. I know one thing and it is this, that the 50th got as near the sand bags as any regiment, and Major Hodges led the column.

Just before the order to "fall back" reached us, a large piece of shell struck the ground just in advance of the major and covered him over with sand. Throwing himself around and shaking the dirt off, he swung his sword high in the air and cried out "Come on, boys." Close behind him were Barnes and Bradstreet, and Company K followed close up. Immediately after we got the word each man struck for the safest place, behind stumps, logs and uprooted trees. After repeated attempts and repeated failures, at last my "good angel" got me behind an enormous log, and here, with Pierce, we lay for several hours., the balls whistling over our heads, sometimes stripping a piece of bark from our shelter, but what cared we? With our heads together we talked, ate the remainder of our breakfast and then slept.

During this unsuccessful assault officers and privates got considerably mixed up, though men who have been raised to the dizzy altitude of second lieutenants find themselves crowded and jostled by high privates who work for thirteen dollars a month and take responsibility. More than one unfortunate colonel found himself sans horse, sans sword, sans everything, and none to do him reverence. Unless an officer is high enough to be at the head and direct, his chances are no better than a lesser light.

Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien, of the 48th, lay dead quite near our place of safety. Here and there all about us, where we lay, could be seen a blanket spread over some dead body; for this is the most that can be done at this time. Those wounded sometimes take the risk and, aided by comrades, will creep to some safe place and have their wounds attended to, but in most cases the dead and wounded lay as they fell until towards night, when the bugle called out "cease firing", and immediately all strife stopped. Then commenced carrying off all the dead and wounded.

In every direction could be seen parties with stretchers conveying to the woods in the rear those who had fallen. At the same time the rebel earthworks were completely covered with their soldiers a long way to the right and left. Not a word was spoken on either side. In this singular attitude we were for an hour. A little while ago we were firing into each other's bosoms, and now we are within speaking distance and not an unfriendly remark is made.

By night our men were all called from the field, the dead were buried and the wounded carried to the rear.  Then our regiment was ordered back to the last night's camping ground. The assault had been a total failure; hundreds have been slaughtered and nothing gained; the fact is, the place is too strong to be taken by an assault without a great many more men. It is an axiom of war, that any fortification can be carried by assault if there are men enough; but General Banks has not enough  to fill the ditches. It is simply a matter of preponderance. I never saw a more sorry and more disappointed body of men than is outside of Port Hudson tonight. This morning, in anticipation it was promised that, by persistent hard fighting, the patient waiting and long steady preparation through which we have passed for many long, weary days, weeks and months would receive its reward by seeing the stars and stripes floating from the flagstaff inside of Port Hudson; and we will some day, but not today, Johnny.

On the way back we passed several field hospitals where the surgeons were busy at work; my curiosity was not strong enough to stop me  and see what, perhaps, they may be doing to me tomorrow. Too discouraged and tired to talk, we soon drop asleep, expecting to go in again any moment, for this is not the end.