eeded to the Old Wilderness Tavern. Sedgwick
bivouacked on the heights south of the river. The reserve artillery
crossed at Ely's Ford, and subsistence and other trains at this
and Culpeper Mine Ford. All these movements took place as ordered.( 9)

No serious resistance was met with the first day. On the night of
the 4th I encamped immediately south of the Rapidan on the height
just above the ford. I was ordered to cover the ford and protect
the pontoon bridge until the head of Burnside's column should reach
it. The whole army slept without tents. On rising in the early
morning, and while standing on a bluff overlooking the river, Major
Wm. S. McElwain of my regiment, in a quiet but somewhat troubled
way, ventured to suggest that unless I was more prudent than usual
I would never recross it. I told him the chances of war were hardly
lessened by prudence where duty was involved, and that my chances
of going North alive were probably as good as his. He seemed to
have no concern about himself.

General Grant, his staff, and escort, rode by while we waited. He
was on a fine, though small, black horse, which he set well; was
plainly dressed, looked the picture of health, and bore no evidence
of anxiety about him. His plain hat and clothes were in marked
contrast with a somewhat gaily dressed and equipped staff. He
saluted and spoke pleasantly, but did not check his horse from a
rather rapid gait.

About 10 A.M. Burnside, at the head of his command, reached the
ford. His corps, the Ninth, had been recently organized by him at
Annapolis, Maryland, and officers and soldiers were, in general,
newly equipped and clothed, and all regiments and headquarters had
new flags. The long line, as displayed for miles, moving slowly
over the lowlands to the crossing, was most imposing, and gave rise
to varied reflections. But the time for strong battle had come.
The head of the Fifth Corps was pushed forward on the Orange and
Fredericksburg plank road, the purpose being to avoid the intrenchments
of Mine Run, but the enemy appearing on the turnpike running, in
general, parallel with the plank road and to the north of it, the
Sixth Corps (except the Second Brigade, Third Division) moved to
position on the right of the Fifth, save Getty's division, which
was sent to the intersection of the Brock and Orange plank roads
with instructions to hold it, at all hazards, until the arrival of
Hancock's corps from Todd's Tavern. Abo