Mine Run

In the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia crossed back into Virginia, pursued by Union General George Meade's Army of the Potomac. During the pursuit through Virginia, the armies fought a series of battles around the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. The last of these battles, fought in the waning days of November 1863 was known as the Mine Run Campaign.

By mid November, Lee had entrenched his army south of the Rapidan River. Though his entrenchments were well constructed, the right side of Lee's line, near the Germanna and Culpeper Mine Fords were under-defended. Meade, whose army outnumbered Lee's 80,000 to 50,000, formulated a plan to cross the Rapidan as quickly as possible and outflank Lee by reaching the Orange Plank Road, which led to the rear of the Confederate Army.

On November 21, Battery B was ordered down to the artillery brigade camp near Brandy Station, and as preparations were made to lay out a winter camp, the men thought that no more fighting would occur that year. General Meade, however, had other ideas. Although Meade had planned on beginning his flanking maneuver on November 24 th , heavy rains delayed the start for two days. Yet, on the evening of the 25 th , the battery received marching orders. Breaking camp early on the morning of November 26 th they marched all day until bivouacking at the Rapidan River that night. The next morning the men of the battery crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, while the guns, caissons, and wagons crossed via Germanna Ford, where the water came up nearly to the bottom of the ammunition chests. After crossing, they continued on for about four more miles before halting for the night near Flat Run Church.

Unknown to Meade was the fact that a Confederate scout had spotted the Union movement across the river and reported back to Lee. Now aware that he was in danger of being outflanked, Lee shifted his troops east, attempting to block Meade's plan.

The rain continued until the 28 th , causing the Union Army to become bogged down in the thick Virginia mud far short of its destination on the Orange Plank Road. Early on the morning of the 28 th , Battery B was ordered to advance with the Second Corps, finally reaching the Orange Plank Road where they were halted to allow the infantry to pass as heavy skirmish firing was heard in their front. The fighting began as the opposing armies moved toward each other. Near Robertson's Tavern, the Confederate Divisions of Jubal Early and Robert Rodes clashed with the Union Second Corps under the leadership of Gouvernor K. Warren.

Following behind the infantry, the battery advanced at the double-quick with the cannoneers mounted, and went into battery on a knoll covered with small shrubs. As they were unlimbering, they came under fire from enemy sharpshooters. One horse was killed and another wounded before friendly infantry routed the sharpshooters, who retreated so quickly that the battery did not have a chance to return fire.

Fighting continued throughout the day as both sides awaited reinforcements. Three miles to the south, a cavalry battle was taking place between General David M. Gregg's' Federal cavalry and J.E.B. Stuart's Confederates around New Hope Church on the Orange Plank Road. About 2:30 PM, Confederate Major General Harry Heth's troops took the key high ground west of the church. Shortly, men of the Union Fifth Corps, under General George Sykes arrived on the field and pushed Heth from his position.

At 3 o'clock PM, the Second Corps, including Battery B, was advanced beyond Robertson's Tavern to the hills facing Mine Run on the left of the Union line. After marching a short distance, the Second Division under General Webb turned sharply to the left and advanced at the double-quick to the crest of the hill. As Webb's leading brigade reached the crest, they came face to face with rebel skirmishers who were closely followed by a battle line also attempting to reach the same crest. Webb was the first to arrive at the top and opened fire. Apparently this took the Confederate advance by surprise, and they immediately fell back. Battery B, closely following Webb's troops, immediately went into battery at the crest of the hill and opened fire on the retreating rebels.

Farther to the north, Union Major General William French, commanding the Third Corps, was advancing slowly to attempt a link-up with the Second Corps. Before this could occur he was attacked by a Confederate division under General Edward Johnson. Johnson did not realize that his division of 5,300 men was attacking a whole army corps, which was supported by an additional entire corps: a total of 32,000 troops. Oddly enough, Johnson's men held off the Union troops until dark, thereby protecting Rode's left flank at Robertson's Tavern.

Back on the left of the Union front, once the Confederates were routed from Webb and Battery B's position, the battery spent the rest of the day shelling the enemy's lines. At times they also received incoming rounds, and although some came dangerously close, no casualties were sustained. During the night, the Confederates pulled back to the high ground west of Mine Run and constructed strong earthworks. Meade, realizing his plan to outflank Lee had failed, concentrated his army west of Robertson's Tavern. Battery B was withdrawn from the front to Robertson's Tavern where they bivouacked for the night, with their guns, in an open field

On the morning of November 29 th , Mead again attempted to outflank Lee by sending Warren's corps on a march in a wide arc to the south. It took Warren all day to make the move, and darkness fell before an attack could be made. Meanwhile, Lee discovered Warren's move and shifted A.P. Hill's corps to the south where it constructed strong entrenchments opposing Warren. During the night of the 29 th the weather worsened, with the temperatures dropping to below zero. Without tents or shelter of any kind the men suffered terribly. On November 30 th , Meade decided to attack again, but when informed that Hill had put up strong entrenchments in Warren's front, and being low on provisions and facing continuing bad weather, he withdrew his army back across the Rapidan on December 1 st , thus ending the Mine Run Campaign.

The battery received marching orders on the morning of December 1, but did not move until noon. At dusk the battery crossed the Rapidan at Culpeper Mine Ford and encamped a short distance further on. The horses remained in harness all night. Over the next few days Battery B traveled through Brandy Station to Stevensburg, Virginia, where it went into winter quarters with the rest of the Army of the Potomac.