Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-11-04

TIE Late Increment Of tie Army Of tie Poto17a-
&c from tie Rapidaa 10 Ce7frerale-Long ind
3 Quick Harclinq - Ski1nltsd near Aasbtrs,
Ia. - tSha5Eshooters Charging DiSmoeasted
Cagalry-G General Siekles-A Dessrters rate,
de-
CAMP NEAR FAIRtAx STATION, VA,
October 18th, 1868.
Editors .Ioau7sa ,-Inasmuch rs "some-
thing has turned up . of late in the army of
the Potomac wherein the Wisconsin Compa-
ny of Sharpshooters has enacted its part, l
therefore furnish to your many readers anoth=
err letter
- From about the 18th of September until
October 10th the army of the Potomac had
been advanced as far as the line of the Rapi-
dan. At the latter date, however, we became
convinced that another move was in order on
the military chess board by the sounding of
the long roll by both bugle and drum, follow
ed by an order TO fall in quickly So,
hastily picking up, we were soon ready to
march, and not long after left our new camp
with its lumber s'fixin 81 and were man@uvered
about some little time in the woods as picket
scouts and skirmishers, andwer finally drawn
up in line of battle in an open field west of
Culpepper prepared for an attack. Here we
remained over night without much sleep, be
ING ordered to keep on the q7sj gjge for what
ever might transpire. The next morning
Glth) at an early hour we began retracing
our steps towards the Rappahannock. While
resting few moments on the way we were
disturbed by shot being fired on our left
flank Soon after more followed, and hastily
falling in, we were sent out as skirmishers.
4 few already out having discovered rebel
horsemen proving round, Companies and
b were used as a support TO the left of the
line But after feeling our way about half
mile through the brush and open field we
were assembled, having discovered that a
small body of rebel cavalry had passed by,
which, however, were not now TO be seen
We captured one man in rebel uniform. Not
long after we were again in the column march
ing on, whittier we knew not, although appa-
rently falling back The roads were good
and the weather cool, therefore notWithstand-
ing packed knapsacks and haversacks with 90
rounds Of ammunition weighed heavily, the
men made good time, crossing the Hazen by
pontoon late in the afternoon, and fording
the Headsman knee-keep about 10 7. NJ,
finally resting q mile this side on a hillside,
tired and hungry, somewhat wet, and many
muddy, having been so unfortunate as to slip
on the muddy sides of the numerous streams
and creeks that we crossed thereby having
fail, which, while loaded down as above stat
ed is no pleasant performance, especially
should a rifle hammer or nuZZle crack one on
the head as was sometimes the case. The
next morning Q2th) we were astir early, and
after marching d short distance, finally re-
traced our steps and took position for the
day and night (as it turned OUT on the bank
of the Headsman (branch of the Rappahan-
nock) near the ford. Firing was heard du-
ring the day to our right and left, and fighting
was evidently going on The day before We
witnessed from a distance kilpatrick's caya-
ry charge, but being notified that he |
could take care of the force of the
enemy pressing him, and that we
had better keep moving, we therefore
left him and his gallant band to worst the
daring foe. We left the % Headsman" early
on the 18th, and moved back towards War
renton Junction, leaving Sulphur Springs to
our left. On several occasions we were or
dered to lie ready to meet the enemy, as they
were supposed to be lowering on our TANKS
We were at one time drawn up in line of
battle, and the 9TH division Of tho sharp
shooters, Companies G and b under com
mand of Lieut.. Stevens, of Wisconsin, were
sent out over a large open space to a dense
wood, some threc-quarters of a mile from the
main body, who were finely posted on an Ell
eyated position. Here we lay for a short
time as a support to two companies of Mary
landers but soon after being ordered back
as the rebels we're reported ahead we again
pushed on, sometimes at double-quick to
catch up, our regiment being ahead OF US
Not long after, firing was heard, and We hur-
ried on, as the booming of canton told Us
that fight was in progress.
THE sETRsyTSH At arRT-PN