five o'clock
On this natural plateau not less than three hundred pieces of artillery -- a number fabulous in any preceding struggle in the history of the world -- were placed in battery ; so arranged that they would not interfere With the fire of the infantry along the natural glacis up which the assailants would be obliged to advance unsheltered . In the skirts of the woods lying beyond the foot of the hills , long lines of rifle-pits had been dug -- these , and the woods beyond , occupied by a brigade of Maine and Wisconsin infantry and a portion of Berdan 's celebrated regiment , to act as sharp-shooters . The sun was sinking rapidly westward in the direction of Richmond -- that coveted capital of Secessia , for the possession of which so much blood and treasure had been unavailingly expended ; the trees , which for so many hours had afforded no shelter from the blinding blaze , except immediately beneath their spreading branches and dust-dimmed leaves , began to cast long shadows eastward ; and the fervent heat began to be more sensibly tempered by the breeze creeping in from the placid James . Still the Union troops were resting on their arms , weary but undaunted , awaiting the approach of the Confederates , then -LRB- at five o'clock -RRB- reported as advancing to the attack . The line was formed as follows : the remnants of Porter 's and Sumner 's corps on the right ; Franklin and Heintzelman in the centre ; and Couch 's division of Keyes ' corps on the left . In position , on the left , were two New York batteries , Robertson 's United States battery of six pieces , Allen 's Massachusetts and Kern 's Pennsylvania batteries . Griffin 's United States battery , Weeden 's Rhode island , and three from New York , held positions in the centre .