face of an active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country, and protected.  Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth, Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy outside his intrenchments near Mine Run.  The battle raged furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which, considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the roads, was done with commendable promptness.

General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was received.  This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of the 4th.  By six o’clock of the morning of the 6th he was leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.  Considering that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.

The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o’clock on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same position that they had on the evening of the 5th.  After dark, the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank, capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable confusion.  But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon reformed it and restored order.  On the morning of the 7th, reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of the battle-field.  From this it was evident to my mind that the two days’ fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind his works.  I therefore determined to push on and put my whole force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued for a movement by his right flank.  On the night of the 7th, the march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth corps moving on the most direct road.  But the enemy having become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line, was enabled to reach there first.  On the 8th, General Warren met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at Spottsylvania.  This force was steadily driven back on the main force,