The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-14
THE " BULL PEN"
A Few Incidents of The Fight at Hatcher's r

a
To THE EDITOR: With view of gaining
more information, and partly on account of
some peculiar incidents that occurred during
an engagement in front of Petersburg, Va, Oct
81, 1864, which may be of some general interest
to your readers, write this. The engagement
] refer TO of the many OF the Second
Corps during the siege for the purpose OF ad-
vancing our lines, and by many of those
engaged in it is known as the Bull Pen !" (; by
others, perhaps, AS Hatcher's Run. The troops
engaged We're so far as | know, only the Third
Division of our Corps (Second) and division
of cavalry tGregg's), with some artillery. When
the advance was ordered our brigade was held
in reserve, the other two advancing to the at
tack. Gems. Grant, Meade and Hancock were
near by US watching the situation.
One Of the odd incidents occurred when the
advance had opened the fight. We, in reserve,
were in a cornfield. A cold, drilling rain was
falling and we were far enough in the rear SO
that balls from the enemys artillery dropped
near us. 1t was curious to see the black pro-
jectiles evolving out of the murky sky; and
funny, too, to see the boys dance about in the
mud to avoid them when they struck the
ground in our midst.
After an hour or two of this unpleasant work,
we were suddenly attacked by division of
rebels, by reason, as we then understood, of the
failure of division of the Fifth Corps to move
out and properly connect our line with the
main line Of the army, leaving a gap through
which the enemy came far in rear OF our adj
vance, aud under cover of woods attacked our
brigade in flank. Their line was at right
angles with ours, giving them the advantage
of an enfilading fire upon us. To add to the
confusion, different officers gave conflicting
orders, almost causing stampede. Gen. Pierce,
commander of our brigade, seeing this, rode
rapidly to the front shouting Men, for Gods
sake, follow me and form On the woods!" This
md hrie hp1a fha N
check until our advance brigades had time to
return.
After this, and just before dark, our situation,
and apparently that of the cavalry and artil
lery, together with Gems. Grant, Meade aud
Hancock, was such as would be indicated by
the name given to this engagement" The
Bull Pen" Firing of artillery and musketry
from the enemy came from all Sides Had the
enemy known it, there was big game in that PEN
During the evening / remember an amusing
incident. Gen. Hancock, riding by, ordered us
to throw up breastworks, when a soldier
replied; -
The General responded: "Use tin plates,
canteens sticks-anything, but throw up
! works."
The soldier came back with the query
General, will you kindly tell us which side of
the breastwork to get on after it is made?"
The General smiled and rode off. The work
/ was not Dullt
As darkness came on, and we remained inact-
| i've, with, as we then thought, brilliant pros
| pect of "Andersonville as our destination" we
were gloomy enough During this time, and
until we were safely brought out of the situa-
ton we were in, occurred the last singular cir
cumstance l wish to mention. group of us
were standing together discussing the situation,
and the proposition was made by one of our
| number, that we resist the enemy until capture
seemed certain, and then to wound ourselves,
thereby to get the benefit of parole and escape
Andersonville. A shell burst near u.s. seriously
wounding one OF our number, he remarking at
the time. Boys have got my parole!" Soon
after we were ordered to fall in and move off.
Our wounded coHlrade was left, at his request
in as comfortable condition as possible. By
daylight next morning we were inside our
main line, meeting no enemy on the way. Our
| surprise was great when we learned that our
wounded comrade had arrived inside our lines
almost as soon as we; yet he was unable to
walk. 1t was all plain when he told US that
scarcely had we left when the rebel skirmish
line arrived They who found our comrade
wanted to desert and the wounded man agreed
to give them safe conduct inside our lines, pro.
| vided they would carry him, which they did
If any comrade can elucidate this subject as to
the troops engaged and circumstances incident
thereto more fully, for one would be pleased
| to hear from him.. WEIDENsALL, Lieuten.
ant, s4th Pa, Los Angeles, Cal.