Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-03-10
Recollections Of the Battle OF Hatch
es Run, February the 9Th, 9Th
and 7th, 1865.

Recollections Of the Battle Of Hatch
es Run, February the 9Th, 9Th
and 7th, 1865.
The greater part of the army of
the Potomac lay in camp, in winter
quarters. in semi-circle around the
south Of Petersburgh, Virginia. The
country round about is rolling, the
soil Of red clay and loan, and was
once heavily timbercd, with oak and
pine, but the forest has been broken
by large clearings for plantations, and
since the advent Of the army much of
the remaining timber has been thined
out and cut away, for fuel and winter
quarters. The Weldon railroad runs
directly south from Petcrsburgh, to
some point in the Carolinas, and the
scmi-circle Of our camps and fortifica-
tions, which you will remember were
extended in July, 1861, at the time
Of the famous mine explosion, crosses
the railroad, thus cutting off one of
the principle sources OF supply for the
confederate army; only one other
railroad running into Petersburgh and
from thence to Richmond, The South
Side Road" is held by the confed-
eracy, and the control Of 1t is the
key to the besieged city. This road
runs off in a south westerly direction
from PeterSburgh, connecting with
the Richmond and Douvilie road to
Linehburgh, and from thence into the
heart of the Southern States; to cap
ture and hold it, will force Lee to
capitulate; SO while we are facing the
besieged city, and the confederate
army around and within it, the real
bone of contention lies to the left of
our lines and partly to the rear of rs.
but it is closely watched and guarded,
and we cannot move upon it without
precipitating battle.
Saturday after noon February 4th,
1865 quite number Of the boys Of
our company CA. 188th n Y. Vol J
were playing ball on the level ground
at the head of our company street in
trout Of the Captains Quarters, when
the rumor came that we had orders to
draw four days rations and sixty
rounds of cartridges each, and be
ready to march, on notice; bats and
balls were soon forgotten in the gen
eral haste to prepare for the coming
movement, hurried letters were writ
ten and dispatched to the loved ones
at home, extra articles Of camp, lux
uries which had accumulated during
the preceding two months Of idlness
were assorted out and hidden away
for use in case we should ever return
to that camping ground, which, by the
way, did not happen, and the few
necessaries, such as a soldier can carry
on the march. were arranged ready
for the starting, for but little time is
allowed to 'fall in after the order is
given. A large iron bound wooden
box containing cartridges was brought
and placed upon a stump in the middle
Of our company street. and we were
| directed to fill up our boxes, this Of
itself is no light load for an all days
march; then came the Commissary
Sergeant with his help, bearing the
rations. for distribution. Four days
rations means forty bareback, about
three pounds of salt pork and plenty
Of coffee and sugar, filing the haver-
sack, to over flowing. and making
together with the knapsack, WOODEN
and rubber blankets, canteen and
heavy musket more real labor, than
glorious show in a soldiers ap-
pcarance,
At three o'clock the following
Sunday morning, we were awakened
by the rumbling of heavy army wagons
over the corduroy roads, indicating that
some portions of the army were al
ready moving. We were soon all
astir, awaiting orders, and at four
o'clock, before it was day light, the
order came to fall in. We were soon
part and parcel of the long dark
lines Of blue and steel that were slow
ly winding their lazy lengths along
the numerous roads leading from the
forest toward the open fields around
the yellow House." station about
four miles south of Petersburgh on
the Weldon railroad. What the move
ment was for, and where we would
strike, no one seemed to know, but
that there would be battle before it
ended was evident to ALL When day
! l. Il