At the break of day the command was hastily aroused from its slumbers by the loud peals of cannon and the rattle of small arms. Springing to their feet, what was their surprise to behold that part of the line of battle in their immediate front precipitately retreating, and abandoning their works, and the artillery there stationed, to the enemy, who were swarming over the breastworks. But an instant was, however, left for reflection. Another moment and their own artillery, double shotted with canister, would be turned upon them, and their destruction was inevitable, and, perhaps, the destruction of the whole division. And then and there they did what few troops had ever done before. Almost spontaneously (for in the confusion and noise no command could be heard) they rushed upon the overwhelming masses of the Federal infantry with the bayonet, and wrested the guns from their hands just as they were about to belch forth death and destruction to all who stood in their way. A most desperate and sanguinary hand-to-hand struggle then ensued, in which the bayonet and the short swords of the officers were used with dreadful effect, and it can be said to be one of the few instances of the kind in the history of battles. The enemy did not long withstand this mad attack, but fled over the breastworks and sought the cover of the line of works from which they had just emerged, falling by hundreds at every step, from the fire of the recaptured artillery and the deadly minnie that relentlessly pursued them. Again and again they advanced, but right upon the heels of the Maryland boys had followed Finnegan, with his Floridians, and the utmost efforts of the heavy Federal columns failed to make the least impression, and the result was, that the whole ground in front was strewn with the dead and wounded of the enemy, and at the close of the sanguinary battle of Cold Harbor Breckinridge remained master of his position, with several hundred prisoners in his possession, captured in the headlong charge of the Marylanders. The fight was not yet ended when the glorious Breckinridge, who had witnessed it all, dashed up, and, with tears of gratitude streaming down his classic face, extolled their conduct and thanked them for what they had done; and even as he did so he came near falling a victim to his own generous impulses, for a cannon shot struck his noble charger full in the breast, and horse and rider fell heavily to the ground. Except a few bruises, however, the General escaped unhurt. Here is what “a Virginian” says, in the Richmond _Sentinel_, of the part taken by the Marylanders in this great battle: NEAR RICHMOND, June 6th, 1864.