Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-11-09
Extracts from Diary Kept while in the Army
of the Potomac review of BattIes. Skirm-
fshes, Marches, Sc. Of the End Wis, Vols.
CHAPTER VII

vi tue foteEiac-A review or Battles, Skirn-
fsheS, Marches. Sc. of the End Wis. Vols.
CHAPTER XIII
Nov. %, 1S63-AG an early hour we
mooe forward, our advance soon engage
the enemy's picketS ard skirmishinc be-
gins. At Robinson's Tavern we form in
line of battle and advance through heavy
wood and thickets of underbrlsh for sew
eral miles. After crossing Mine Run the
enemy form line of battle, and l~,'t near
o Ferdiersville, in such a position that
1t does not seem advisable 10 attack in our
immediate front 1t is somewhat difficult
to explain the great advantage the enemy
have in this position. Mine Run is a
small s1ampy stream, affording scarce
enough water 'or grist mill that drains
q portion of the UidcrReSs Its banks
have the appearance of an old ditch, and
are steep and high. so that ii is impossible
to pass it with artillery or trains without
bridging On the immediate right and
left of the road the land is undulatinc to
the east of the stream and covered for the
most part with hea y timber and thick
underbrush, with few places suitable to
post batteries, while further to the left it
is swampy and covered with heavy WOOD.
for miles
While on the west it is more hi " and
chopped, and open fe ds succession of
ridges seem to rise back to Clark Noun
|
tain, each affording rood positions for bat
teries, and ,he country favorable for ma
| neuvering troops, and to add 10 the des-
parity Of our position we have not one road
while the enemy ha many radiating as
it were from Old Yerdierslille For sew
eral days we remain in our position, the
I'd and Sd corps on our left try to get
through and turn the enemy's right flank,
but fail on account Of swamps and hea y
woods While the 9TH and 9th corps at
tempt a similar movement on their left
with as poor success, after passing Sc eral
days and nights Of very cold weather, in
bivouac and s FINISHING.
December /, 1868 Late in the after
noon we retreat back thrcagh the Wilder
ness, reaching the RaPidan near midnight,
at Germana Mills miles .azz
December 2d-Our brigade is detailed
to go to Mitchells Ford, and guard the
crossing ii the ca airy can be brought
for that purpose, and about 9 o'clock a.
m. we march up the Rapidan and post
I pickets near the Ford, and bivouac
Distance marched, ) miles
Dee. Sd. About l O'clock p M we re
join the division at Kel ey's Ford and bir-
ouac.
Dee 4 Lay out a camp near Kellcy's
Ford and bu,ld winter quarters Remain
here till
Dec. 24-Break camp and march to
Culpeper Court House, where we again
bui d winter quarters, about : of mile
west OF the village
Culpeper Court House is a thriving post
illage and the capitol of Culpeper County
Va. 1t is situate on the Orange and Alex
andria railroad. A beautiful stream runs
near it, called Mountain River, that flows
to the Rappahannock.
A beautiful extent of country surrounds
this little town. The face of this district
is finely diversified, from the low land,
verdant mead, to the gently swelling hills,
and the soil is remarkably fertile The
popu alton, in times of peace, was compu-
ted at nigh one thousand souls 1t had
churches and news paper Offices in com
mon with other towns of Virginia.
Feb 6, 1864-Narch at an early hour
| by Pony Mountain and bivouar in the
woods near Raceoon Ford on the Rapidan
about the midd Of the afternoon Dis
tance II tnilos. Evening Col Morrow
commanding or brigade with detail
from each of the regiments in his com
mand proceeds rnder co er Of the dark
ness to Belleyille, or Raccoon Ford and
sets fire to the viii, ce which serves as a
cover for the enemys sharpshooters The
village IS uninhaJi,ed-rainy.
Feb The ain of yesterday contin-
ues all night and this morning foggy and
loudy-cannonading on our right some
miles above Remain in bi ouac till near
sunset, when start back to camp near c,
arrive home about 10 clock after wea-
risome march over muddy and slippery
roads, of IL miles
/ Most people, e-en many intellieent
Ire!or-ners, have the idea that to eep in a