Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-10-19
Extracts from Diary kept while In the Army
Of the Petomae-i review Of BATTLES, Skirm-
iskes, Marches. &c. Of the 2nd Wis. Vels.
CHAPTER

April 29-About midnight the 1st Di.
vision (Wadswcrth 81 moves down to the
river, with a pontoun ira in to lay a bSidge
at Fitx Hugh's Crossing. Moving slowly
and cautiously, it is near dayfreak, when
the Engineer Corps preceded by sharp
shooters, attempt to lay the pontocns; the
enemy, pickets on the opposite side are
around and they open sharp fire of mus
kerry, driving the sharp shooters and pom
TONERS back from the bank. The enemy
being in strong force and intrcnched, it is
thought advisable to wait till daylight,
and the lifting of heavy fog that hangs
about the river. About aunrise an at
sempt WAS made to shell them from their
rifle pits, but it does not prove fery effect
i've, and our brigade is organized into
storming party to cross the rissr in pom
;oon boats, and drive them a: tie point Of
the bayorot To perform this task we
unslung knapsacks. 1'he 9th Wisconsin
and 9th Michigan, in advance, followed
closely by the ID and 7th Wisconsin. and
l9th Indiana regiments-all at double
quick reach the bank with pontoor boats,
launch, fll with men, and pole them over
as rapidly as possible, under CALLING fire
from the enemy, and charge immediately
upon the lntrenchments ut the top of tho
bank In less than twenty minutes all is
qulet-we are in possession of the enemv's
works, with nearly two hundred of them
as prisoners of war. twenty nine Of them
lying PROSTATE and life ess upon the field,
and the balance flying for life across the
plains to safer protection in their in
trenchments on the heights beyond We
throw out skirnishers and form in line Of
battle to ho d the position. The pontoon
bridge Is laid bg noon, ard another brig
ade, commanded by Gen Cutler, comes
over to our support and takes position to
our right, towards Barnard House We
take position on nearly the same grounds
we occupied in the great battle Of Dec. l3
Battery b, 4th Artillery, crosses the river
and takes position about midway bo-
tween the brigades We then intrenchet
these positions and remain here subject
to great dea of shelling for several days.
Regiment ost none ki led and but fve
wounded Distance marched, 4 miles.
May :, lS63.-Re cross the Rappahan-
mock, take up the pontoon bridge, ard
march up the rive bivouacking at United
States Ford. Distance, ii mi e..
May Gross the river on pontoon
bridge at an early hour, and Join the main
army at ChancelIoryille by sunrise. Dis
tance, miles.
The first corps takes position on the
right Of the bait line of the army. on
he road leading TO Elys Ford There is
hard fighting all day nearly the rebels
making charge after charge upon the
breast works lit e to our left, but are
repulsed each time successful ". And
w.iiie our loss is said to be heavy. theirs
IS immense Owing to marshes and heavy
timber, rendering our lines inaccessible.
he frs, corps does not become engaged
During the 4th and 5th we remain in the
same posltion-occasionally there is som.
firing to our left Rainy, 5th.
May 6.-Sedgewick, falling to hold the
heights of fredericksburg, and we unable
to push forward, the army BEGIN at an
early hour to withdraw to the north eide
OF the Rappahannock, ard take up posi-
ton on the barren hills Of Stafford County
We march to Brewers House on the Cat
let's road. Distance miles. Rainy and
muddy.
May March back to the Heights,
near Fitzhugh's Crossing, and camp. Dig
tance 10 miles
May 2l.-Ihe brigade starts On an ex-
pedition down "the Northern Neck" .
| name given to the peninsula between tho
Rappahannock and Potomac rivers to Sc
cure the 8th Illinois Cavary ry reported
''cut of by the enemy coming between
them and our lines. Bivouac Mt night at
MilleYiile-next day marcb, crossing Mat
tox Creek to Oak Grove, thence to Leeds
town Next day march at an early hour
1t. Col Critcher, 18th Va Cavalry. han
! pening to be north Of the Rappaharnock.
engaged in enforcing the rebe conscriu-
ton act, Is discovered by some of our men.
While attempting to escape, lfs Is caught
and sent to camp by Major Mansfield, Of
our regiment, as a prisoner Of war T'hi,
march seems to be without destination or
/ object, and we return to Oak Grove, from
whence the 2d and 9th Wis. regiments.
under Col. Bragg Of the 9th, proceed some
! miles towards Westmore and Court House.
| and bi ouac. On the next day we march
| to Montrose Nj IL, about two miles distant
| from the c. H., when we meet the advance
| Of the cavalry on their return.
May %, iS63.-Return towards camp
/ Ca King George County Court House.
May 26-Reach camp, having marched
/ 100 miIe. In one day We marched 81,
another, 80 miles.