The camp at this place was greatly enjoyed. Baggage was brought up from the rear, shelter tents were pitched, and the men improved all the opportunities for rest. A strong force reconnoitred toward Stannard's Mills, on the Po river, and returned safely, having found no enemy within five miles of our position. Heavy firing continued on our right, and an attempt of Early's corps to turn the right flank, and seize the Fredericksburg road, was splendidly repulsed by a division of heavy artillery regiments on their way to the front to reinforce the army.
But, like all other pleasant experiences in a soldier's life, this rest was soon to end. At half-past three o'clock, on the afternoon of the 21st, we received orders to break camp, and the brigade, with Jones' battery, was ordered to take possession of the crossing of the Po river at Stannard's Mills. After marching about five miles the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, which was in the advance, encountered the enemy's pickets, and after a lively fight drove them across the river. Upon our further advance we uncovered a battery of three guns, posted near the river, which opened upon us with a heavy fire of shell and canister. Colonel Curtin formed his line of battle in the woods near the river, and the skirmishers became briskly engaged along the river's banks. General Potter came up at this time to examine the position of the enemy, which was found to be strongly intrenched. While searching for a ford by which to cross and attack, orders were received to suspend the attack, and our brigade and Jones' battery were left in position, to prevent the enemy from crossing, while the remainder of the column moved, by way of Smith's Mills, to Downer's bridge.
The day had been pleasant and very hot; but at dusk, just as we had completed our movement, a heavy rain set in. We were in close proximity to a watchful enemy, and were obliged to maintain the utmost vigilance and quiet. We had no blankets nor shelter of any kind, and were not allowed to kindle fires, and, in consequence, passed a most dreary and uncomfortable night. Troops were marching in rear of our line all night, and before daylight our brigade was withdrawn and moved forward on the Telegraph road southward.
CHAPTER XV.
ON THE NORTH ANNA AND THE PAMUNKEY.
The great army was once more on the march, and another "left-flanker" was in progress. At six o'clock, on Sunday morning, we halted an hour for breakfast. At seven the march was resumed. The day was pleasant and very hot, relieved by a half hour's rain at noon. Our brigade was separated from the remainder of the corps, which had marched during the previous night while we had been holding the river fords. During our noon halt all the trains of the army passed us, together with the head-quarters' guard, and the rebel prisoners captured in the recent battles. The noon halt was at Guiney Station. In the afternoon we marched in the direction of Bowling Green, toward the North Anna river, and our brigade had the rear of the column on this road. The march that day was very pleasant. We had emerged from the dense forests of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania to an open and beautiful farming country, abounding with well-tilled fields and fine dwellings, which bore evidences of comfort and plenty, unscathed by the desolations of war. As we advanced southward the roads improved, and our march was very rapid. At five o'clock we came up with the remainder of our division, and continued the march until nightfall, when we bivouacked near Bethel Church, having marched sixteen miles.
Early the next morning the march was resumed, but the roads were so crowded with the wagon-trains and artillery that the progress was very slow, and we did not fairly commence our day's work till three o'clock in the afternoon. The roads having by that time been partly cleared we pushed along with great rapidity, our ears being every few minutes greeted with the distant booming of artillery. Our speed was not abated until about dark, when we approached the North Anna river at Ox Ford. We bivouacked for the night by the roadside near Chesterfield Church, and were lulled to sleep by the din of moving battalions and the steady fire of the skirmishers.
Grant's movement to the North Anna had been observed by Lee. The operation, which in the presence of a wary foe is one of the most hazardous, had been conducted with great skill and complete success; yet the enemy, possessing the direct road to the river, had been enabled to move with great rapidity, while the march of our army had to be made cautiously over comparatively unknown roads. When, therefore, we reached the river we found the enemy prepared to dispute its passage. The army of the Potomac reached the North Anna on the afternoon of the 23d, at three points,—the Fifth and Sixth Corps, on the right, at Jericho Ford; the Ninth near Ox Ford; and the Second, on the left, at the Chesterfield bridge. The river at the points where the army reached it makes a bend to the south, and then immediately to the north-east, thus nearly forming two sides of a triangle. Lee's army was in a strong position, the centre resting opposite General Burnside's position at Ox Ford, with his flanks drawn back, the line of battle being nearly in the form of the letter V; or, as a rebel author aptly writes, Lee had "inserted a wedge of gray tipped with steel," in the centre of Grant's line. The Fifth and Sixth Corps crossed the river to the right, and the Second, after sharp fighting at the bridge on the left.
When the passage at Ox Ford, between the two wings of our army, was attempted by General Burnside, it was resisted with great spirit; and it being impracticable to attack at that point, although a portion of the corps crossed the river, the Ninth Corps was divided, and our division assigned to General Hancock to coöperate in the movement on the left. The 24th was excessively hot. The men were obliged to lie in an open field exposed to the sun, and suffered much from the heat. Soon after daylight the picket fire deepened into a heavy and continuous discharge of musketry, mingled now and then with artillery. At two o'clock came the order "Fall in!" and in a moment we were on our way toward the river which separated us from General Lee's position. Just before we reached the river a brief halt was ordered. We had moved out in column, and the Thirty-sixth had the left. When we resumed the march we faced by the left, and moved by a circuitous route through the woods to Chesterfield bridge, passing the hospitals of the Second Corps. Upon reaching General Hancock's head-quarters Colonel Curtin reported to that officer in person, who ordered us to cross the river at once. We were, however, obliged to wait for some time, while other troops and batteries were crossing, and were exposed to a severe artillery fire, which would have been very destructive had the guns been better served. We also encountered a severe fire as we crossed Chesterfield bridge, but fortunately no one was injured.