CHAPTER XIV.

AT SPOTTSYLVANIA.

TOWARD noon it became evident that a new movement was contemplated. About one o'clock we marched by the flank to the rear, and halted near the road for the rest of the brigade to withdraw, and concentrate. We then moved rapidly to the open ground near the Old Wilderness Tavern, where the Ninth Corps was massed. There we saw our immense artillery and ammunition trains moving in the direction of Chancellorsville.

We remained at the tavern until dark, and had supper there. For forty-eight hours our only food had been bread and water. As soon as the trains were on the road we were ordered to follow them in the direction of Chancellorsville. The march was very tedious and vexatious, owing to the darkness and the slow movement of the wagons. At every few rods we were obliged to halt, and the weary men threw themselves upon the ground for a few moments' rest, only to be aroused to move a little distance and repeat the same experience. At ten o'clock the picket-firing ceased, and we lay down by the roadside for the night. At daylight we resumed the march. At nine o'clock we reached Chancellorsville, and halted in an open field, at the intersection of the Gordonsville Plank and Orange County roads. Here stood the ruins of the house used by General Hooker as head-quarters during the great battle fought one year before, and all around us traces of the bloody struggle could be seen. Without shelter from the scorching sun, and covered with dust raised in great clouds by the passing trains and troops, we remained at

Chancellorsville during the entire day. The Fifth and Second Corps had moved on the Brock road toward Spottyslvania; the Sixth was with us. As the last division filed past us down the Plank road, and the fire of the Wilderness died away, the distant booming of artillery in our front announced that the enemy was in position across the advance of the Fifth Corps.

The firing increased all the afternoon, and at sunset was very heavy. The brigade bivouacked at Chancellorsville, and remained until nearly noon of the next day, when orders were received to move down the Plank road in the direction of the conflict. During the afternoon we moved from one position to another, and at dusk were put in line of battle upon a high crest west of the Richmond and Potomac Railroad, on the extreme left of the army. We were not permitted to remain long in this fine position, where we expected to pass the night, but were moved out to the road again, and marched rapidly through deserted camps and past smouldering camp-fires, until late at night we bivouacked near General Burnside's head-quarters, and upon the left of the army of the Potomac, which during the day had been closing around the strong position of the enemy at Spottsylvania Court-House. Three divisions of our corps were now concentrated at this point, the Fourth Division being detailed as guard for the supply train of the army.

The 10th of May was clear and intensely hot. The burning sun drove us from the open fields to seek the shelter of the woods. There we lay during the long and tedious hours, listening to the sounds of battle on our right, with orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. Thus far during the campaign but little artillery had been used, owing to the nature of the country; but on this day the action was on more open ground, and much of the artillery of both armies was brought into use, the cannonading resembling one continuous peal of thunder.

Reports came to us that Lee's army was being forced

from its strong defences; in fact, rumors of the wildest description reached us. They were soon to be dispelled, however, for, at four o'clock, marching orders were received, and in another moment we were on the road, marching in the direction of the conflict. The route lay over a good road, through noble forests, until at length we reached the open country along the banks of the Ny river. After halting at the Harris house for the command to close up, the march was continued to the river, which we crossed by the turnpike bridge. Here we filed to the left into an open field, and the division was formed in line of battle, and ordered to advance rapidly. On reaching a rise of ground in our front we received a severe fire from the enemy's artillery; but the advance was not checked. The troops on the right of the road soon encountered the skirmishers of A. P. Hill's corps, and pressed them back, our regiment threatening their flanks. The artillery was now brought to bear on the enemy's line, and the whole division advanced gallantly in face of a heavy fire, and continued until darkness compelled a halt. This movement was made in support of the famous charge of twelve picked regiments of the Sixth Corps, upon the right centre of the enemy's position. The assault was made with great gallantry, and the works were carried with a loss to the enemy of six cannon and nine hundred prisoners; but the rebels were strongly reinforced, and the great advantage which was gained could not be secured. At nightfall the remnant of the noble column returned, leaving their dead and wounded and the six pieces of cannon, which could not be removed, in the enemy's hands.

The division passed the night in line of battle, without fires or coffee. The picket line was attacked several times; but no serious demonstration was made, and there were no casualties on our front. At daylight of the 11th the line advanced to the crest of a ridge directly in our front, from which we obtained a fine view of the enemy's position. We were about a quarter of a mile from the Court-House,

around which stood the enemy's earthworks, bristling with cannon, and surrounded by a formidable abatis and slashing of timber. They seemed to be alive with troops, who, doubtless from our close advance, expected an immediate attack. The enemy evidently desired our approach, and were ready to give us a hot reception. The position was strong naturally, and the fortifications and obstructions rendered it well-nigh impregnable. Our pickets held a very advanced position and kept up a lively skirmishing all the morning. Being seriously exposed, we were ordered to build a line of breastworks along our whole front, maintaining at the same time the utmost vigilance lest the enemy should attack our left and flank. Notwithstanding a close and annoying fire we were able to construct a strong line of intrenchments during the forenoon; but we were not allowed the privilege of defending them, for at three o'clock orders were received to withdraw with the utmost speed and caution. This was a perilous undertaking in the face of a watchful and powerful enemy. The movement was made against the earnest remonstrance of the corps commander, and the mistake was afterwards seen when too late to be corrected. The day had been intensely hot, and now the sky was black with clouds. As the movement commenced the rain began to fall. Soon it descended in torrents, and during the drenching rain which followed, the works were evacuated without exciting the attention of the enemy.

The brigade was now hurried to the rear, the direction of the march being toward the right of our line, and in another hour the corps was massed in a large open field near the Harris house. Here we remained more than an hour, exposed to the full fury of the drenching rain, which caused the men to shiver with cold. It was the first rain that had fallen during the campaign, and, however welcome it might have been in allaying the stifling dust and cooling the heated air, it was decidedly unpleasant to be obliged to encounter its full force in the open field, without shelter of any kind.

Here the wearied men partook of the first nourishment during the day. At dusk the corps was again ordered forward to a new position in the advanced line, more to the right of that occupied during the day. We crossed the broad meadows bordering the Ny river, and as we moved forward an aid reported to Captain Barker that, Colonel Bliss having been injured, he had been directed to notify the senior officer to take command of the brigade, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, was in command. He was soon succeeded, however, by Colonel Curtin, who had been temporarily absent.

The shower settled into a steady rain, and the night was cold and cheerless. The advance was continued in the darkness until we reached a line of breastworks around a deserted farm-house. Here we remained during the night. The head-quarters of the regiment were in a dilapidated barn, and nearly all the officers lay down upon the wet ground, which constituted the floor. The place was filthy and disagreeable; but any shelter was welcome on such a night. The hours dragged drearily. The men were under arms, and the pickets, though almost exhausted, were alert and vigilant. We were ignorant of the enemy's position, yet conscious that the morning light would reveal it, and be the signal for a determined assault.

The morning of Thursday (the 12th) dawned cold and dismal. A curtain of gray mist enshrouded the earth as with a pall. The men shivered as they awoke from unrefreshing sleep, and the order to advance was promptly responded to. Without food we moved forward, continuing the line of advance of the previous evening, and, after a short march, reached a large opening in the forest, where a portion of the corps was being massed in column by brigades in line of battle. During the night the Second Corps had been massed on our right, and were ordered to assault at daylight, with a portion of our corps to support the left. We were to advance by brigade front, formed en echelon. The Second