[808] he extends his line toward the south, Hill, discovering his design, prolongs his line of battle. Webb, of the Second Union corps, deploys a brigade on the right to join Prince of the Third on the turnpike, and to support by another brigade on the left of Caldwell's division, which on each side of the unfinished embankment of the railroad extends to nine hundred yards on the south of the plank road as far as the Catharpin road, and thus ends Warren's line at sixteen miles on the north of Frederickshall. Finally, when his troops are in place, Warren has but the time before night to examine Hill's positions on Mine Run. The attack cannot take place before the following day, the 30th.
Whilst he is executing this movement the remainder of the army has remained stationary; the rear-guards have joined their corps, the stragglers have come up, and a fresh distribution of rations has been made. The reconnoissance of the enemy's line has given encouraging results. Howe's division of the Sixth corps, which occupies the extreme Federal right in the direction of Bartlett's Mill, outflanks the opposite wing of the enemy. A turning of the valley allows a cross artillery-fire on the extremity of that wing; the declivities it occupies seem accessible; a grove on the right bank offers a shelter to prepare the attack and conceal the reserves.
Meade, who has been vainly looking for the weak point of the enemy's line, receives with pleasure, about six o'clock in the evening, Howe's report. The point designated by the latter will be attacked on the 30th by the Sixth, supported by the Fifth corps, whilst the left will also assume the offensive. Warren, who comes personally for the orders of his chief, assures him that the enemy on this side has no natural or artificial defence. He undertakes to dislodge him on the morning of the following day if Hill does not prevent it by a prompt retreat. Giving full credit to this information, Meade orders Carr's and Prince's divisions to march by night to increase to twenty-six thousand men the force with which Warren is to strike the decisive blow. Sykes, leaving the right, is to support Sedgwick's attack; the centre is occupied only by two divisions of the First corps and Birney's of the Third. These troops will not move forward unless the enemy's line has been broken on one side or the other.
