The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-13
MINE RUN.
BY c. M. STURGls.

bI Cs w. D OhGIOs
 Mine Run took its name from the little stream that wound it's crooked way among the hills, and in some places was turned from it's original course to the Rapidan below the Moyton's Ford, by the dirt and rubbish of the mines along the little creek The writer only knows what came directly under his own obser- vation.
 We were called in November 1SG3 into line by report of three or four shots from one of our batteries on our right. which was followed by that awe inspiring, nerve exciting, soul stirring thing known as the long roll of the kettle drum. By the way, nothing else sounds like it, and nothing else stirred up the emotions of a soldier unless it be the wild, but purely natural confederate rebel yell which came spontaneously from the deepest re- cesses of patriots bosom.
 We were marching along quietly after the first few artillery shots, when malS- ing a turn in the bend of the road, we met the advance guard of the enemy, and the head of the column began a sharp muskeUy fire In our immediate front. We were ordered to halt, file right into the timber given in the same breath by the officers in front. Quickly our lines were formed, but we fell back | to another hill in an opening, and we be- gan to dig up the dirt with our bayonets I and scoop 1t up and pile it in front with | one-half of what had been yankee can | teen. When in camp we used these halves of a canteen as a frying pan. Sometimes we would lay one side of a canteen down in hot ashes and fill 1t with dough. then place the other side over the dough, and then cover it up with embers or hot ashes and wait for the heat to cook the dough, and when done. if we had put little bacon gravy and sometimes scraps of bacon in the dough, we would have as delicious piece of bread as can be cooked on any nice clean stove at the present day.
 On the above occasion we used the half canteens as shoves, and soon had holes in the ground big enough to get Into by doubling up In a knot, and a pile of loose dirt in front. which reinforced with our knapsaclSs. made a pretty fair breastwork to stop minnie bullets. When dark came that evening we went to an old rail fence a short distance in our rear and brought the rails and strengthened our line, and a pick and shovel were added to our supply of tools. and when day broke next morning we had works that resisted three-inch shells.
 One shell struck the works and came through to within sight, and not more than one foot from my face. l expect ed 1t to explode but 1t failed. or l would have been blown to pieces. We remained at that place all day and a storm set in. Snow fell to a depth of four inches. We did little firing. Next morning the enc my retraced their steps, burning every house in their retreat. Some were hand some farmhouses One, in particular, had large columns standing. The family was that of an officer in our service. His home was pilaged of everything. and the women and children were stand ing around the embers. Women and childrens clothing were strewn for miles around on the snow. Nice undergar- ments were torn in two parts, and one part carried a mile or more further than the other part. Ladies' silk hose were on the road, one at one place, its mate piece a mile farther on. Infants cloth- ing was treated likewise Parts of nice chinaware were carried for miles and | broken against trees The enemy re- l treated beyond the river, and we return | cd to our former old camp.