In the ranks

5–7 May 1864

Battle of the Wilderness

FROM THE

Wilderness to Appomattox Court-House.

PREFACE.

There lay back of this the stories told to wondering little ones while they gathered around the arm-chair of the soldier grand- father. Here were planted the seeds of mil- itary ardor that found expression at Gettys- burg, Vicksburg, Atlanta, and the Wilderness. It is thus the past of the nation projects itself into the present. Our comrades that sleep down yonder guard their country more effect- ually than if, full armed, they kept unceasing

Chapter IV-

APRIL 29th we broke camp and proceeded to near Culpepper Court-house. Before leaving camp we sent our extra baggage, cloth- ing, etc., to Washington, and, of course, never saw them again. During the night of May 3d we marched for the Rapidan, crossing at Germania Ford. The next evening we camped ill order of battle near the Wilderness Tavern. The following morning the division moved out on a country road toward Robertson's Tavern. Passing through woods, Ave came to an open field, where line of battle was formed. The Bucktails were in front, skirmishing. We could see them on the ridge, and their oc- casional shouts and rapid firing showed that the batde had begun. For the first time I heard the whistle of the rifle ball, as a stray one now and then whistled over the line of battle. After Avaiting thus for some time, we moved back some distance, in the direction from which we had come. Here I spoke a

Chapter IV-

While this turmoil was progressing, to me so strange and bewildering, the surgeon, Dr. Lyon, came across me, and directed me to go to a certain point at the edge of the woods, east of the Wilderness Tavern, to help care for the wounded. Thither I made my way. As I passed on through the woods, I was soon out of reach of the bullets, which had been flying thick and fast. When I came to the open ground, I saw more clearly than ever the results of the battle, still going on in the woods beyond. The multitude of wounded and dying men crowded the road. Some were limping painfully along; others were being carried on stretchers, or helped along by com- rades.