midnight
Within five minutes the Northern artillery , sixty massed guns , opened with a frightful crash . Once more that storm of steel swept through the woods , but now the lack of daylight helped the Southerners . Many were killed and wounded , but most of the rain of death passed over their heads , as they were all lying on the ground awaiting the charge , and the Northern gunners , not able to choose any targets , fired in the general direction of the Southern force . The cannon fire went on for several minutes , and then , with a mighty shout , the Northern force charged , but in a great confused struggle in the woods and darkness it was beaten back , and soon after midnight the battle for that day ceased . Yet there was no rest for the troops . Stuart , appreciating the numbers of his enemy and fearing another attack , moved his forces to the side to close up the gap between himself and Lee , in order that the Southern army should present a solid line for the new conflict that was sure to come in the morning . All that night the Wilderness gave forth the sound of preparations made by either side , and Harry neither slept nor had any thought of it .