The National tribune., 1883-07-26
MORE ABOUT WINERUN
Another Collection of Statements from
Eye-W witnesses of the Scene.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

L have read the letters contained in your
issue of July II in regard to the Mine Run
affair with deep interest. i was there, a men,
Der of company A, Fourth O. V. L., Carrolfs
brigade. The brigade was composed of the
Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana
and Seventh West Virginia regiments AL
though twenty years have passed, many of the
incidents of that cold and clear morning are
still fresh IN my memory, and always will be.
We had moved down to our position in line
quietly before daylight and stacked arms
When the day daWned, what scene was before
US! Twenty eight thousand choice troops of
the grand Army of the Potomac were masSed
in line of battle at least four deep, to be pro-
jected upon the rebel position under and by
the direction of one of its most skilled en-
gineerS and trusted generals. Our regiment
was in the second line. / think Rhode Island
regiment was in front of us. The lines were
massed close together in q low piece of ground
sheltered in our immediate front from a view
of the rebel works by higher ground. Our
orders were to move forward at the sound of a
bugle, and, as soon as we became exposed to
the rebel fire, to move at double-quick on the
enemy's works and take them at all hazards
We were to take blanket with us to be wrap
ped up in in case we fell on the field Our
knapsacks were piled by companies, and one
out of each company detailed to stay with them.
Our cartridge-box lids We're fixed so as to re-
main open. Many of us had the metallic clover
leaf badge, with name, company and regiment
engraved thereon. l have mine yet. We took
these from our caps and placed them on our
blouses, at the same time saying to the one in
charge of our company'S pile of knapSacks,
We'll, Ben, it we don't see you again tell our
friends all about it,. We then stood ready to take
arms, and impatiently waited the command
We knew that bloody work was to be done;
the preparations before daylight indicated it ;
the quietness of the maneuvering of the troops
selected for the work showed it clearly. We
had got the impression that there was to be a
simultaneous charge or feint made ON the enc
my's line to our right previous to our charge.
The boom! BOOM away in the distance on
the right told us the ball had opened. We
stood ready. Some had already clutched their
guns. The enemy had sprung TO theirs.
There was pause Time was up. With one
foot forward we waited, but all was still. The
minutes passed, and yet no bugle blast! And
then we saw Warren, with his aides glass in
hand, scanning the enemys position. They
rode on, and still no orders. Why don't the
bugle blow?" was whispered around as we
waited. And presently the word was passed
that the assault had been abandoned. Dis
clpllne was then relaxed, and some of US left
the ranks to go forward and investigate for
ourselves. By permission of my colonel | went
forward to the top of the ridge in front-ab0ut
twelve or fifteen rods distant-and there sure
ton was naturally q strong one, and all that
skill and labor could do in one night had been
done to make it impregnable. There were the
rifle pits covered with the butternut- uniformed
Johnnies-some standing on top of their works
waiting and some dancing the double shuttle
to keep warm Down the slope and up the
rising ground TO their works was the road to
death. From where / stood the arrangements
to receive us was complete. A fire from the
front and flank would have swept the ground
in the front of their works as with whirlwind
of destruction. We remained in line of battle
all day, and at dark we built fires. As soon as
they burnt down we silently folded our
blankets and fell back to our first position
The next day our company was on picket,
where we remained until near midnight
When we returned we found the troops had
all left, and after marching and double-quick-
ing for several miles overlook them near the
Rapidan. That live to write this is owing to
the good Judgment of General c. K. Warren
and l think, considering the nature of the man
and circumstances under which he was placed,
it required greater heroisln to refuse the at
tack than to have led the charge in person
ROBERT E. BIGBEE,
Co. A. 4th Ohio v T.