The Washington herald., 1913-11-30


Fifty years ago today an assault by
the Army of the Potomac upon the Con-
federates under Lee, at Mine Run. Va,
was arrested under dramatic circum-
stances, ten minutes from the time sci
for its delivery.
The order for the assault had been
issued the night before, when Gen. G. X.
Warren, of the Second Corps, command
ing the left wing of tie Federal army.
expressed confidence in his ability to
storm successfully the portion of the
Confederate line in front of his position.
Daylight had brought a change OF
opinion to Gen. Warren. Lees line,
though hastily constructed. presented
such admirable strength that the Fed
eraI corps commander halted and sent
word to Gen. Meade, the army's COM
mander, that he would not risk the as
sault
The situation was one of the most
dramatic in the campaigns OF the year
OF blood that were ending here. Had
Gen. Meade learned of Gen. Warren's
decision ten minutes later a cooperating
assault that was to be delivered by the
army's right wing, in aid of Warren's s
attack. would have been launched, and
the whole battle line. seven miles long.
would soon have bIazed in the fury OF
attack.
To halt on the very verge Of grand
assault that had been carefully planned
ana acknowledge that the enemy was
too strong to be attacked. was an act
calling for moral strength. The world
might misconstrue such a course.
Yet Gen. Meade, though sorely disap-
pointed, Endorsed Gen. Warren's view.
Had the assault been delivered he would
have abided by the result as one of the
fortunes Of war. 1t not being delivered,
the time lost in the two generals meet
ing for conference and discussing the stu
alton, rendered the prospect Of success
hopeless. The enemy had been warned
and had strengthened the threatened
points
Gen Meade therefore reluctantly aban-
doned his plan of attack and with it
his campaign. No greater tribute was
paid to the ability of Gen. Lee in the
course OF the war than rnis.
Menace Promptly Met.
The Mine Run campaign. so-called, was
undertaken by Gen. Meade with the hope
Of turning the position held by the Con-
federate army in its winter camps along
the Rapidan River. The right of that
position was along a stream called Mine
Run, which entered the river at right
angles. The scene OF operations was
about twenty miles west of Fredericks-
burg.
Gen. Meade had put his army in motion
from the camps near Brandy Station, be-
tween the Rapidsn and the Rappahan-
mock, on November 26, and crossing the
lower fords of the Rapidan, had searched
the country in front of the upper reaches
Of Mine Run on the afternoon Of Novem- |
Der q. A few more miles of marching |
would have placed the Federals in the |
rear of the Confederate right, with 4 |
good prospect Of cutting Lees army. in |
two, for il was strung out for twenty |
five miles in rear of the Rapidan. in or |
der to secure subsistence for its animals. |
But Lee, ever alert to danger, met |
this menace with such promptitude that |
before Gen Meade could get his march |
ing corps in hand at an appointed reE-
dezvous-Robertson's Tavern, on the |
turnpike road from Fredericksburg to |
Orange Court House, which crossed Mine |
Run beyond the end of the Confederate /
works-Gen. Lee had changed front with |
his forces, had called up the troops in /
the rear, A. P. Hills corps, and had |
rapidly extended his line of defense along |
Mine Run until it covered the roads
Meade must pursue, and the whole of |
the country in which his army lay.
The Confederate line was drawn along |
a prominent ridge or series of heights.
eight miles, their various angles forming
4 complete natural series of Notifications.
Stretching Immediately in the rear
and on the fanks of the position was a
dense forest of heavy hardwood timber,
while some LOO yards in front was Mine
Run, a stream of no great width, but
difficult for infantry to cross, owing to
its marshy banks and the dense under
growth with which il was bordered.
The position taken up by Lee was de-
scribed by Gen. Meade as formidable"
The skill of Lee had been freely drawn
upon to make it so. The great Southern
general is seen at his best while hs Silly
preparing this line of defense.
Cen. Lee Mt His Best.
1T was Lees good fortune to occupy
the attitude of the party to be assailed,"
writes his biographer, ]. E. Cooke. He
seemed TO feel that he had nothing to
fear, and was in excellent spirits, as
were the men; an eyewitness describes