The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-21
FREDERICKSBURG. Nav I3. 1863.

tempt to enforce the CONSUMPTION law of the
Federal Congress
FREDERICKsBURG, May 13, 1868.
To tie Editors of the Enquirer
Gentlemen-l desire briefly to respond to
communication from Gen. Early, which ap
peared III the columns of your paper of yes
terday.
His insiuua.ion with reference to cores
poudents ''in the interest of particular com-
mands,' if Intended for this brigade ia 9Ia-
tuitous aud unfounded. To my knowledge no
publication has been made by any one con
nected, directly or indirectly, with il; and /
was not aware that his conduct in the late en-
gagements around Fredericksburg had been
made the subject of newspaper censure until
1 saw 1t announced over his own 81 lgnatIra.
When Gen. McLaws moved up the river,
OH the night of the Both of April, my brigade
was detached from his command, and Was
ordered to report to Gen. Early, who was
charged with the duty Of watching the move
meuts Of that portion of the Federal army
which had been left 10 the vicinity of Hayil-
toms Crossing and opposite this place, ON the
other side of the river, and, as supposed, to
give him battle if he should offer it.
About , o'clock OH Sunday morning, having
thrown a pontoOn bridge over the rivar, the
enemy commenced crossing into Fredericss-
!. burg in large numbers General Early was
then with his entire division at HamiisOas 8
Crossing. l as once informed him of the fact
and asked for reinforcements. With several
batteries, which were under the command Of
Gen. Penjieton, and single brigade of 10
fantTy, / bad d front of not less than three
miles to defend, extending from Taylor's hill,
On the left, to the foot of the hills in rear Of
the Howison house, and not "the short lns
in rear of and 10 tte left of Fredericksburg"
as stated by Gen. Early. The 2lst req ren,
was posted between the Msrye house and the
plankroad, three companies of which were
afterwards sent to the support of the 18Th re-
giment, which was stationed behind tbs stone
wall at the Marye house. The 18th regiment
was placed in front of Lees hill, and the 18th
still farther to the right
One regiment from Gen. IIays's command
was subsequently, placed to the right of the
18th. Four pieces of artillery were placed on
the right of Marye's house, two on the left,
aud the balance on Lees and the hills in the
vicinity of the Howison house-thus making
the only disposition Of the small force u. my
command, which, IN my Judgment. would pre-
vent the enemy from passing the !ine The
battle commenced at daylight. A farious can
nOnading was opened from the ensmy's bate
ries in town aud along both banks of the river.
Two assaults were made upon Marye's heights
but both were eignally repulsed. About
o clock q heavy column Of the enemy was
seen moving up the river, evidently for the
which, if successful, would have given him
command of the position which l held. But
this was prevented by the timely arrival of
Gen. Hays with four regiments of his brigade.
The enemy having thus been foied in his par-
pose, turned the head of his columa down the
river again; but it was impossible TO tell whe
ther he had abandoned the attempt or intend
ed to advance again upon the same position
with still heavier force. Gen. Wilcox had
now reached Tay lors hill with three regi
ments of his brigade, one Of which he pro
missed to send to the right in case il should be
needed. This regiment wae sen. for, but there
was not sufficient time for it TO come up Ge
fore the action w8s over. With u line as ex-
tended as this, and in consideration Of the
small number OF troops at my disposal, aud
tbs uncertainty as to the point agaiDs. which
the enemy would hau the immense force he
had massed III town, l deemed it proper that
the regiments should remain as they then
were, and await the happening of events
Very soo,, however, the enemy came on:
from his hiding place and moved in three col
umns aud three lines of battle-twsnty thou
sand strong against the poaitious held by my
brigade A. the same instant Col. Humphries
was :.Bsailed Oh the left, Coils Hulder and Car
ter and the Louisiana reg iment on the right,
and Col. Griffin 10 the centre. After a deter
mined and bloody resistance, by Col Griin
aud the Washington artillery, the enemy, fully
twenty to one. succeeded i'll getting possession
CT Marye's hill. At all other points he was tri-
uuphantiy rspulsed. But seeing the line bro
ken at this point, l ordered the i3sh, 18th and
the Louisiana regiment to fall back to the crest
of Lees hill, to prevent the enemy from get
ting in our rear. This they did, resisting his
approach at every step, and with the ana OF
Frcin's aud Ca Teton 9 batteries, both IT which
were handled with the most consummaie skil
aud courage, finally succeeded in checking bis
advance. The 2lst regiment, with the remain
der of the 18th, after Marye's hiil had been
taken, fel. back and rejoinsd the brigade on
ths hills.
The distance from town to the points assail-
ell WAS go short, the attack Sd suddenly made,
aud the difficulty of removing troops from ore
part Of the line 10 another was so great, that
it was utterly impossible for either Gen. Will
cox or Gen. Hays to reach the eceNe CT ac-
tion in time 10 afford any assistance whatever.
1t will thus be seen that Maryo's hill was de-
Tended by bu. one email regiment, three com
panies aud four pieces OF artillery, and not by
the entire brigade A more heroic struggle
was never made by a mere handful of men
against overwhelming odds. According to
the enemy q own accounts, IN any Of this noble
little band resisted to the death, with clubbed
2 uos even altar his vast b ordes had swept over
xad around the wslls His losf, from reports
published iu his own newspapers, was q
thousand killed aud wounded; but, according
10 tho statements Of Intelligent citizens, it
reached two thousand.
The inference naturally drawn form Gen
Eariy's statement is, that on Monday morning
Gen. Go,d,a's command drove the enemy
from Marye's hill, which my brigade had
failed TO hold the day before. | would seorn
10 detracs from the welearned reputation OF
| this brigade and its gallalt commander; but
the truth is, the enemy had abandoned Maryss a
heights, and Gen Gordon took possession
| without OppOsirion.
NV brigade needs no defence st my hands
Its reputation, won upon many battle fields,
l. vel established. This communication ID
| not written for that purpoes, but b correc,
| erroneous Impressions whica den- Early
| publication was calculated 70 make
WA. BARxsDALG.
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