The National tribune., 1885-11-19
The Rattle of the Wilderness.

To THE EDITOR: / recall very wildly an
incident of the battle of the Wilderness which
came under my notice on the 9th OF May, leol.
1t was toward evening of that day that Long
street made fierce assault on our right, when
was being held by Sadgwick's Corps, and, tax
ing advantage of the burning underpruSh
which was on fire, penetrated our lines at that
point pushing back the Third DIVISION oil the
Sixth Corps and sending them back to the rear
in perfect rout. Meates headquarters were
on hill TO the right of the Orange plank ROAD,
in front of and near where the various ROADS
converge on what is called Wilderness Tavern,
Gen. Warren's headquarters lat which was
then on duty being at the Lacey House, twhere
Stonewall jackson died year BEFORE on the
left OF the road, on AN elevation OF ground. vi
the opposite side of the road from our (Gen.
Warrcn's) headquarters, and over the low
grounds for quarter mile TO the rear, were
parked closely together all kinds OF army
wagons supply trains, ammunition trains
ambuances, headquarters wagons, etc, Win
innumerabe mules picketed thereabout ana
braying like panGemonium let loose. In
almost an instant the word came that Tue
line was broken and rebel troops were pour
ing through the gap and making toward
Gen. Meades Headquarters, and attendants,
worknen teamstcrs and Ordcrlies, as well us
officers, were at once Oh the alert and from our
position we could plainly see them hurfiealy
mounting aud preparing for a sudden night 10
tie rear toward GermaDia Crossing tents
were also being taken down III great hurry,
and straggcrS returning from the front Oh
double quick added TO the general terror ana
confusion of the stampede and there was
scarcely a soldier who knew OF the state OF
affairs but feared it would result IN another OF
our Army OF the Potonacs mastery retreats
another Bull Run or Charlottesville or Fred-
! ericksburg or Mine Run iasccs. Gen. Warren,
| who held the lines TO the left OF the sixth
~ NJ,
/ orders to his troops to remain hrm anu be pre-
| pared for any emergency.
| But Gen. Grant, who was now undergoing
his first experience with the Potomac Army
and against Lees veterans, had been over TO-
| ward our right directing the movements OF
HancockS troops, aud being informed Oh INC
condition OF affairs on Sedgw!chs front, roae
rapiGIy over toward Mcade's headquarters and
met him and his staff already mounted ana
prefaring for Il general retreat OF tiiat portion
! o. the army. We noticed that the faces OF the
! officers and men were soon turned about toWaru
the enemy, strdgslers and "sko'laddlers were
halted and by the aid OF L di"ISion OF Warren s
Corps the lost line Was recovered, and instead
of a retreat orders were given to move forward
Oh the following Gay.
How strange it seems to look back to that
eventful campaign only % years ago ana call
over the roll Of oar general officers who COM
| marded on that bloody field Nearly all gone
! TO their last pcacelul rest. iHclc Neie w
worth and Scdgwck who fell in battle and
| Grant, the commander, and Meade and Burn
side have since fallen. There remain only
Hancock, of the Second Corps, and Sheridan, o.
the Cavalry Corps, who trod with us the long
and dreary stretches of that Wilderness cam
paign. of all who held important commands
| Gen. Wadsworth was n gray haired Old man
from New York, who commanded division
under Warren; but the latter looked upon him
not so much as subordinate but as fathel
and faithful adviser. When the news o.
WadSwortls death was brought that day neal
the lines in the Wilderness with the fierce
battle raging all around US, Warren, the young
General, -young enough to have been Wads
worths son,-broke completely down for 6
time. and wcpt like child over the death OF
dearly beloved father. shall never forget the
scene as he sat, mounted, upon knoll in front o
the Lacey House, his staff about him, and tn,
big tears coursing down his cheeks bronzec
with the heat and burden of the day. But he
like true soldier soon recovered his presence
of mind and rode forward, giving orders ant
preparing to avenge the death of his brave
friend.-J. c. HARRIS Headquarters Fltti
Corps, Venango. Pa.