The National tribune., 1891-05-21
THE WILDERNESS.
Pcnns. lrania Comrade Gives His Experience In
the Big Battle.

EDIToR NATIONAL tribune: In our old
standby and frend-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
] of Jan. % 1891. Is an article from ComTade
Doak, Ith Ne, accompanied by small dia-
! gram. ! have nothing TO cTitcizs ia the article
referred to, and the ground as represented in
/ the diagram looks familiar 10 me f; but cannot
understand how he gets the Sixth Corps located
as he does on May > However TO make sure
o. my ground, let Us start in on the morning
/ Of May 3. 1864
The 93d Tn. was the leading regiment Of
/ the Sixth Corps that day. aud we left biyouac
early ia the morning. The first point ] rocol-
lect is that az a brick house standing at a juno
/ tion of the road on which travelled aud a
main road running toward Fredericksburg,
where we turned abruptly TO the left,-toward
] Fredericksburg as | learned atterward,-aHd
/ proceeding in that direction probably one and
a half or two miles, when we turned of the
main road into a smaller road.
Comrades will remember that those move
ments were all left in front, bringing our com
pany ca within Tcgimental.front distance Of
the head Of column. Following this road for
another mile or two and, il mistake not with
the brigade commander and staff at the head
OF column, we suddenly and without warning
OF any kind, received yOlley from the enemy,
taking the column in flank.
Then came the command, Forward. double
quick" aud in a few minutes we struck an
nlIAt large, open EOaus GtosAtN IL anu AuIiltu
in line OF battle the right Of our regiment rest
ing on the crossroads. Our position was just
behind the road we had been marching on,
while the l02d Pa, the regiment following us,
formed some 10 yards in front Of the same road,
Its left resting on the crossroad.
After firing a few rounds all advanced
probably Onc-lourth of mile or more. Meet
ing no enemy, we were halted aud skirmish-
ers thrown out, who advanced some distance,
aud tltpu Gnut xVord laark at thprp WAS A N
enemy in front.
ia this position we remained probably half
an hour or more, when we fell back 10 the
crossroads Meanwhile temporary works had
been thrown mp at the crossroads, which were
occupied by other troops; but j never knew
who they were, rs we were moved toward the
right, along the small road, for a short dis
lance, where we were furnished with ammu-
milton.
We had scarcely secured our ammunition
when we were again called into line, and com.
menccd moving forward through a dense
woods. My impression is that in moving for
ward we ohliqucd toward the left; but Of this
i am not certain.
let me say what / do know though. We
had not gone very far before we encoun-
tered the enemy; but the woods were covered
with uuderbrush, so that we could not see
them. Their bullets. however. found us, aud
the situation was very unhealthy. ] tried to
stop bullet with my right arm and j need
not tell you the result was urgent necessity for
a Surgeon orwell. anyone who knew how TO
wrap a bandage This closed my individual
campaign work for the summer Of 1864.
inclosc a rough lead-pcncil sketch Of the
route Of march on the 9TH Of May, including
the time upuntil, say. O'Clock in the afternoon.
Ga this sketch, A is the point where the first
attack was made while in column; y the
first and ID the Second position tonly guessed
a) Of the 93d Pa. is the first position Of the
l02d Pa.