[806] likewise increase the centre column, which will comprise the whole army except the Third corps. Meade in this manner sacrifices his plan of turning the defences of Mine Run, in the vain hope of seeing the enemy expose himself by an imprudent manoeuvre.
On the morning of the 28th the two divisions of the First corps, placing themselves on the left of the Second, form with it on each side of the turnpike a line of battle which is advanced toward the west, sometimes deployed, but oftener in parallel columns. The right resumes the march interrupted on the preceding day; the Third corps, passing behind the Second, follows toward Rowe's Mill; the Sixth changes direction on reaching Warren's right wing, when they form themselves into line of battle to march toward Mine Run by the paths which run through the forest. But the enemy, whom the Federals hoped to take by surprise in the woods, has disappeared, and when they reach the crest between Rowe's and Bartlett's Mills, which commands Mine Run at the height of more than thirty-five yards, they perceive before them the whole Confederate army posted on the opposite bank. At their feet the stream inundates a part of the valley. The rain which had swollen it, ceasing for two days, has begun again, and the forest-paths are almost impracticable; the artillery and troops which are not on the first line cannot take a step forward without stumbling in the mire. Finally, a fog which is gradually thickening renders all objects indistinct and exaggerates distances. Whilst the Third corps, passing behind the line of battle, places itself on the left of the First, and Sykes, returned by a night-march to Robertson's Tavern, is moving forward in column on the turnpike, the Unionist generals are observing the enemy's positions and looking for the weak points which they can attack.
The time which they employ in that way is not lost to their adversaries. Hill, arriving on the evening of the 27th with all his corps after a very long march, has stationed it on Ewell's right and behind Mine Run. Though, if the Confederate army is assembled, nothing is prepared for the defence of this new ground: the Federals can still on that day attack the Southerners on an equal footing above Bartlett's Mill. But the latter are working, while Meade and his lieutenants are watching and
