boys of Co. K, now went home, with or without leave, and who will blame them, each one returning in time to join in pursuit of the rebel horde as they fled southward from Gettysburg.

CHAPTER IX.
In pursuit of the rebels.

We followed the enemy closely in his retreat, keeping on his flank, and on July 11th, found him entrenched at Williamsport, Md. on the Potomac River.

On the 14th, when an advance was ordered upon these works, they were found abandoned, the enemy having re-crossed the river on the night of the 13th.

We followed on in due time, and soon found ourselves once more, back on the old line of the Rappahannock in Virginia, where after a most wearisome campaign, we went into camp.

About the middle of October, the enemy made an attempt to get between the federal forces and Washington city, but Gen. Meade defeated his purposes, and Lee went back to his old haunts beyond the Rapidan river.

November 6th, the Mine-run campaign opened, but beside constant skirmishing and several brisk battles, by portions of the army, nothing of importance was accomplished, and we returned to our old position on December 2nd.

During the balance of the winter of '63, '64, we were encamped at Bristow station, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail-road, and guarded well a portion of the line of communication.

CHAPTER X.
The Wilderness campaign.

April 29th, we pulled up stakes again, and entered upon our last campaign. We broke camp and marched to Warrenton, a distance of thirty miles, and on the next morning continued on in the direction of Culpepper, and rejoined our old comrades of the main army, in the evening of that day.

We all knew that we were on the eve of an important campaign, and one that would in all probability close the war. The soldiers were very enthusiastic, and had the utmost confidence in the two great commanders who were to lead them.

On the 3rd of May there was great excitement in camp, and all anxiously waited for orders to move. The army had been reinforced, and everything now appeared to be in readiness to commence the campaign that was to end the war.

Directly after mid-night, May 4th. the reveille was beat, and was heard echoing and re-echoing all along the line of camps, and soon after the great movement against the rebel capitol had begun. Our corps (the Fifth) moved in the direction of Germania ford on the Rapidan river, and having crossed at that point, we marched until four o'clock in the afternoon, when we halted for the night, having marched fully thirty miles. Our camp for the night was in the vicinity of the Wilderness tavern. About sunrise on the 5th we continued the march but had not gone far, when we found the enemy in our front. Preparation was immediately made to give them battle. Our position was on the Lacy farm, until ten o'clock, when we moved to Parker's store and formed line of battle, our regiment and the Bucktails being on the extreme left.

John W. Urban in his "Battlefield and Prison pen" says, "Capt. Wasson of Co. D, was ordered to take his company and move through the woods beyond for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy's lines." This is an error. The party was made up of a special detail of twenty men, two from each company in the regiment. Captains Minnigh and Wasson were in charge, and the actual mission was entirely unknown to Capt. Wasson, who was ordered to take charge of the men and assist Capt. Minnigh, in the duty which had been secretly communicated to him. Wasson, nor any of the men knew what was to be done. Fortunately, I have in my possession the order, delivered to me, at Division Head-quarters, on said occasion. This order reads as follows:—

"Captain, You will proceed, at once, to the front bearing slightly to the left, to the Plank-road, and (if possible,) find out what troops are moving on it & in which direction they are moving."

It was intimated at the same time, that the mission was of a peculiar character, and that Capt. Wasson would obey my orders.

Comrade Urban's description of our advance, is in the main correct, but when we found the enemy before us, I asked Capt. Wasson to withdraw a few paces into the woods through which we had advanced, then and there informing him of the orders placed in my hands. He began at once to put on airs, (a habit of his,) and positively refused to obey my orders. He advanced the detail out into an open field, when one single shot stampeded the party, and they returned to our line, with the enemy on their heels.

I abandoned the detail hastily, and moving toward the left parallel with the Plank-road, soon discovered the enemy on that road, moving toward the extreme right of the position occupied by the Union army, which movement culminated in the attack on the outpost position occupied by the Penn'a reserves, and upon the Sixth corps later on.

Having accomplished my mission, I had no trouble in getting back to our line, and reported to Head-quarters, when the advance at the Parker house had been forced back to the main line, and when the Seventh Reserves had been captured. My impression has always been, that if Capt. Wasson had heeded my advice, the enemy would not have made the advance on our front at Parker's, and the Seventh regiment would not have been taken prisoners. I do not fear to speak upon this point, as the question has been considerably agitated, as to what led to the capture referred to.

If Co. D, was sent out on a reconnisance, as stated by Urban, I am unacquainted with the fact.

Urban also says, that subsequently, "Lieut. Wilder, (we presume he means Weidler,) and ten men were sent on a reconnoisance in the same direction, and encountered the enemy, and after being driven back, Companies C and K were sent to dislodge them; but finding the enemy in strong force, fell back in haste to our lines."

It is not our object to contradict this last quotation, but it does seem to us, that this jumble of details from one single regiment, out of a whole division, needs an explanation at least.

A single proof of the correctness of the statement I have here made, is this:—Gen'l Crawford was much surprised when I reported to him, all begrimmed with dirt and smoke, having passed through the burning woods on my return to our line. Having reported, he said, "We never expected to see you again, ... but, your service shall be duly reported to the Secretary of war." This may account for the peculiar wordding of the Commission as Brevet-Major, now in my possession, which reads as follows:—"for gallant and meritorious services in the Wilderness campaign, Virginia, May 5,. 1864." Here we leave this subject.

Safely back to the Lacy farm we rested for the night, waiting anxiously for the dawning of another day, that the terrible conflict might be continued.

Early on the morning of the 6th, the rebel forces were concentrated against Hancock on the left, where a terrible battle raged nearly all day. Such a continuous roar of musketry, inasmuch as artillery could not be used, we never heard in all our experience before.

During the heavy fighting on the left, we became engaged with the enemy in our front, driving them back, and in the evening started to the aid Hancock, but not being needed we returned to our old position.

Under cover of the night, Lee rapidly moved a heavy column forward, and hurled them on our extreme right. Our division was ordered to the support of Sedgwick, whose communication had been severed from the main army. In the darkness we felt our way cautiously, but our services were not needed, as the Sixth corps had stopped the advance of the enemy, so we returned to our former position.

And now one of the peculiar movements, from the right to the left flank commenced, preserving all the while an unbroken front.

We moved slowly during the night of the 6th, but as the new day dawned we moved faster, and by nine or ten o'clock it was a