The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-12-11

prevented our a'alIhS OF
them.
In marching south from the Rapidan.
the purpose was pain to turn the enemy's
position bv = tietour to the FrederIcks
burg and Orange Court House turnpike.
Robertson's Tavern, midway on this road.
made the first objective point. The en-
emv were found here in position. though
probably only his extreme right flank =
His tine was formed on the west Of Mile
Run. tribufory Of the Rap;dan. When
he discovered our movements, he threw
his forces down to head us off
In the morning the 81 and 6 h corps
advanced on a westerly road. running par
allied with the rebel position. The road,
which ran through an interminahfe forest.
was supposed to lead out to turnpike
east OF R"bert~ on's Tavern: but instead,
ran into a road leading from Robertson's
Tavern to Raccoon Eord, the enemy's line
of communications,
The head of the third corps, led by Gen.
Princes second division fell in with the
enemy at tie jnnc,ion of this road at noon
on Friday. Heavy ski.mishing ensued -
The enemy was determined TO resist our
advance Gen French, commanding the
corps, massed his other two divisions.
which were close a, hand, and ordered
Prince to advance This brought on Sc
rious action, the enemy showing a large
force of infantry. The woods were so
dense that it was impraclicah'e to work
artillery. Only one battery was engaged
on our side, aud two guns on the rebel
sihe -
The 81 division, Gen. Car, deploved in
the lhicket to the left Of Prince. and in>
madiasey the engagement became general,
lasting until dark, when the rebels with>
draw. leaving their dead and wounded on
the f-ld. The roar Of muskelrv during
the brief battle WAS never exceeded. The
ene,,y opposed us with the entire Of Ear
Tvs corps, late EweI!'s, and one division
Of Hilr.. His total force was estimated
at 80 coo One brigade only, Biaisdelfs,
Of the 81 division. and two ofthe 81 divis-
ion Morris ard Kefer's were principally
I'enga red II, first
Birney'. division. supported by the 3 |,
became engaged later, with two Of Its
brigales Egsn' and Coils Late Graham 5
Wards wsssIightly engaged also Elmak-
er's, ot the 6'h corps was in supporting dis
rance. Smiths brigade. of the 3 corps.
new troops, moved in under tremendous
fire. ana broke in considerable confusion
Birnev advanced Egsn into their position,
who held the ground with the 81 and 5lh
Mi,hoan. 20 Indiana, 4O.h New York
and IS, Berdan Sharpsiooiera. The en-
envy r,,de two fierce charges on keefer.
AID wer. ep ulseh both times handsomely.
The br,oada unw acted like veterans
Keefer. formerly Q: The western army. now
camnand. a hrigans, comnos-d OF the
llnth Ohio. 1921 Ohio, 13Sth Ptnnsyi-
vani1 and h Maryland.
Morris drove the enemy from their in
trenched posi'ions charging across the op
ening and up the hill. The enemy posi-
ZION. behind breastwolks in the edge of the
woods. was carried most handsomely.
The rebels attempted to retake it, and
were repulsed bv the same brigade See
;ey's Battery K, 4th United States. were
twice charged upon 10y the rebels. The
gins double-charged with canister. now
ed the aesaiants down tearfully. They
we're repnls-l on both occasien. by can
non alone, with tremendous slaughter.
Our losses are surprisingly light. COM
pairing the length of the action and feroci-
tv of the attack. The total is 25S killed,
500 wnunded and 200 10 $40 missing
At night the 81 corps bivouacked on
the battle field. sleeping on their arms
Ambulance trains were late in coming up.
having become ensancled with an endless
maze "f transportation wagons. artillery,
&c crossing at Gcrmania Ford. Thev ar
rived when the battle was terminated, and
were engaged all night in picking np the
wounded | counted upwards Of 400 re-
bel dead on the field The wounded were
beyond count, probably l 500 to 2 600 -
These were Of necessity left uncared for,
and the rebel dead unhured. Our own
dead only were buried bv daylight.
Soon after midnight the Oh corps was
ordered to move bv another road 10 Rob-
er,son's Tavern At daylight the 81 corps
iulnwed
Had he followed up the victory. pnrsu-
ing The enemy. We would have turned
their left flank; instead Of which, when
;hey retired. they fell back into formid-
able position, already intrenched. on the
heights west OF Mine Run forming line.
with The right resting on Clark's Noun
tain. stretching across plank and turnpike
roads. the left resting on the Run north
of the turnpike.
A council Of war was held that night
Gen. Wsrran suggested a movement Oh the
enems's righ, flank. which was approved
by Gen Meade.
Another council wa, held that night.
and it. was determined TO reinforce War
rem Two divisions from the 3 corps
were given him. The attack was then TO
he made on MONDAY a. q, at s precisely.
along the whole line In the morning
batteries opened along the whole front,
from right to left OF the 81 corps, War
rem still TO the lef, did not open Bir-
nev. with the only division remaining oi
the 3 1 corps advanced his sku mishers,
ard drove the rebels from their first line
Of we' ks. and took possession This was
tho onlv cdyanca aloro tho linn Tbou