The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-28

fore the true situation was discovered
A critical condition was then suddenl,
developed. Lee was moving his whole
army to attack.
a large force confronted Warren
across the pike, and extended its left te
the Spotswood road, and Wrights Divis
ion and Niel's Brigade, of Getty's Diyls
ion, of the Sixth Corps, were sent out
that road. Another large force was
moving down the Plank road-the head
of the column had already passed Par
ker's Store, three miles from the Brock
road. Burnside was on the Rapidan,
Hancock was at Todd's Tavern, seven
miles away, and about five miles from
the Plank read.
There was a space of six or seven
miles open to the enemy, and the force
on the Plank road was now moving down
70 OCCUPY it. A few miles further down
the Plank road was our reserve artillery,
and our supplies and transportation were
strung along between Charlottesville
and Toddls Tavern, all
EXPOSED TO THE CONFEDERATE FORCE,
then moving down the Plank road. Ii
was impossible for Hancock to reach the
Plank road in time to check the move
ment Before he could get there large
part of Lees army might intervene,
senarate Hancock from the rest of the
army, capture our reserve artillery, and
threaten our supplies and transportation.
The danger was imminent Getty S
three brigades were ordered forward IN
haste to take and hold the position. In
the language of Gen. Meade: "To hold
this crossing at all hazards until the
arrival of the Second Corps" The dis
tance was nearly two miles, and part OF
the road was narrow and muddy, but
the command pressed rapidly forward
and reached the crossing just in time.
We were not minute too soon. Before
reaching the crossing We met part OF our
retreatiag cavalry that had turned of
on to the Brock road. We met the
enemy's skirmishers within few yards
of the crossing, drove them back and
checked the advance.
The enemy, surprised at the sudden
appearance of infantry, Immediately
reformed his lines and prepared for an
attack or to attack. In driving back
the enemy's skirnishers we captured
some prisoners, from whom it was learned
that two divisions of Hills Corps were in
our immediate front The Vermont
Brigade hurriedly formed on.the left OF
the Plank road, and the other two bri-
yades formed on the right of it All
commenced throwing up temporary
defenses, which proved Of great value
the next day.
In the meantime Hancock had been
ordered to move up the Brock road to
the Plank road, and to report his ar.
rival there, and be prepared to move
out the Plank road towards Parker's
Store. Evidently this order was sent
him before the necessity for haste was
known. Hancock received it at 20
minutes before noon. At II m. Meade
wrote Hancock: The enemy's infantry
drove our regiment of cavalry from
Parker's Store down the Plank road.
and are now moving down it in force.
A. p. Hills Corps is part of it. How
much not known. Gen. Getty's Divis.
ion has been sent
TO DRIVE THEM BACK,
but he may not be able to do SO. X y
Move out the Plank road towards Park
er's Store, and, supporting Getty, drive
the enemy beyond Parker's Store, anc
OCCUPY that place and unite with War
rem ON the right of it."
Again, at 1:30 p. m, Meade wrote
Hancock: "The enemy have thu
Orange Plank road nearly to the inter
section of the Brock road. Getty j,
there, but not strong enough to attack
Attack them. Getty will aid you" Al
3:15 the following order was sent Han
cock: The commanding General di
rects that Getty attack at once, and you
support him with your whole corps"
1t was evident that Gen. Meade
thought Hancock's Corps was then a
the Plank road ready to attack will
Getty's command. Unfortunately, i
was not there. The Brock road wa
bad and narrow, and closely lined witt
thick underbrush Undoubtedly. too
the distance from Todd's Tavern wa
greater than Meade supposed. Besides
there must have been some delay in th'
delivery of orders At 2:40 p. m. Han
cock wrote Meade: " Your dispatche
of IL m. and 1:30 p. m. just received.
And at 4:05 p. m. Hancock wrote tina
he had just received Meade's order o
Bis.
Soon after the dispatch to Hancocl
of BIB for Getty to attack at once AM
for Hancock to support him with hi
whole corps, Eeut.-Col. Lyman, a vol
untary Aid, arrived with orders from
Gen. Meade direct to Gen. Getty to al
tack Immediately without waiting longe
for Hancock's Corps. l happened t
be with Gen. Getty at the time. w
all felt that crisis was upon us-tha
for Geffy's small force tn attack tn