_Saturday, November 28._--The order was to be awake by three o'clock in the morning. At daybreak our lines advanced, but the enemy fell back some distance. Our line of battle followed rapidly until ten o'clock A. M., when suddenly our advance was checked in front of Mine Run. Finding the rebel army in battle array, presenting a formidable line, our battery was brought in position at once; but, shortly afterwards, ordered to advance and open fire on them. Our unexpected firing broke the front line of infantry very soon; but two batteries taking the position, opened a terrible fire on our battery. Owing to our exposed position, we had to withdraw our guns by hand to the rear, where the ground formed a sort of ravine. At this time, Rickett's Pennsylvania battery, and Ames' New York battery, opened from our left. Our battery fired sixty rounds. We had one man wounded, Burrill,--a detached infantry man,--a cannon ball breaking his arm. Shortly after we retired to our former position. All hands went to digging until eleven o'clock in the night. About midnight we were ordered to fall back on Red Tavern. The roads are in a horrid condition. Rain set in early in the morning.
_Sunday, November 29._--Red Tavern. March of the Second corps and a division of the Sixth to the left flank, at seven o'clock A. M. All the rear boxes of the caissons were left behind, so as not to impede the march on the muddy roads. We turned off to the Gordonsville plank-road. Our cavalry was skirmishing all the time. Passing through the woods, the enemy's batteries opened a heavy fire, but were responded to by our horse artillery. A line of battle was formed at once. Our battery went in position on a knoll, close to the woods. The enemy ceased firing at dark, and the glare of both armies camp-fires was soon visible. The night was very cold. We are only three miles from Orange Court House.
_Monday, November 30._--Most of the infantry of the Second corps, and the division of the Sixth, advanced before daylight, with the intention to take the enemy's works by assault. It was understood that we should open fire at an elevation of nine degrees, by the first bugle sound. The second signal of a bugle should be for the infantry to storm the works. But we waited in vain for any signal, General Warren stating the works could not be taken without immense loss of life; the main works being built of solid logs, two feet thick, the breastworks eleven feet high and six feet thick, mounted with eighteen guns. Our battery opened several times on the enemy, who was endeavoring to carry artillery by our front. Sergeant Olney made a splendid shot during the morning. Heavy cannonading was kept up on the right the whole forenoon; but neither army seemed to be very anxious to open the battle. Horse artillery fired on our position several times, without doing any damage. During the afternoon the right section took position ahead of us, a little to our right, firing some. Our whole line was fortified during the day. At dark, our battery was ordered to fall back to the rear, which was gladly responded to. Going about two miles, we went in park close to the Fredericksburg plank-road.