The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-04

HIS PROPOSED NIGHT ATTACK WITH NAKED TROOPS.

HIS PROPOSED NIGHT ATTACK WITH NAKED TROOPS.
To the editor Of the Savannah taa) News
Mr.. Edward A. Pollard, in an article on Stone
wall jackson, published in Patnam's Monthly fol-
December, states that the general "once recon-
mended night attack to be made by assailants
stripped naked and armed with bowie knives, sug-
gestng that the novelty and terror of such an ap-
partition would paralyze the enemy" Many OF the
pa pers throughout the South, the papers of this
City among them. have published the above quot
ed paragraph and accused the author of falsshood
and of an attempt to slander the memory OF the
ilustrous dead. The writer of this commnnica-
tion is not an apologist for Mr.. Pollard, but he
does not think just that assertion Of his should
he pronounced q falsehood without an inquiry
being made regarding the truth of it and the OBJ
tect OF this communication Is to show that II Mr..
Pollard was not fully true IN his assertion, he had
some ground for it.
The occasion referred to was Immediately after
the battle of Fredericksburg, Va. On the llth Of
December, lS62, the Federals occupying the
northern bank of the Rappahannock river, upon
the southern side of which Fredericksburg is situ-
ated, opened FIRE upon the town with LAG pieces of
artillery. majority of the inhabitants left town
when the bombardment commenced. Early in
The morning the enemy, under cover OF their fire,
attempted to swing pontoon bridge, laden with
ssldiers. across the river. A few well directed
shots from our artillery broke the bridge. and the
boats 1oated down the river, the men TO be
drowned or to be killed by the deadly rifles OF
Barksdale's Mississippisns. At night another and
successful attempt TO cross was made below the
city at Deer Run, and in few moments thereafter
the town was occupied by the enemy. The 18th
was spent in making Preparations for the battle
the 18th, the result OF which 10 too well known
to be detailed here suffice it TO say that by dark
ON that day the enemys troops to the number Of
60 0C0, torn, bleeding and thoroughly disorgan-
ized, were crowded in town. While thus stu
ated the Confederate chiefs held council OF war.
Ashas been frequently asserted, and never until
LATE alv Gan Iaq he
thought the enemy would make another attack,
not believing that they had suffered 30 severely
and were broken up Is was after ward ascertained.
To this opinion Gen. Jackson disagreed, and sug-
gested that the artillery of the first and second
corps, his and Lopgstreet's, should be collected
upon the hills directly in front of the town and
heavy fire be opened upon 1t, and that the men OF
his corps be stripped to the waist to distinguish
them from the enemy, and under cover OF the
artillery fire force their way into the town and
b1y0net all who were not similarly attired. His
corps was on the right and Longstreet's on the
left. The men Of the latter corps were not to be
stripped nor to participate In the attack but were
to protect the artillery and prevent the enemy
from escaping up the river and crossing at the
fords, which doubtless they would have attempted, ,
had en- attack been made, for there were only one
ponioon at the town, which would not have
afforded egrees for one fifth of the multitude, and
the bridges at Deep Run would have been secured
and all communication with them and the town
cut of at the first dash made by our troops.
1t has been asserted by officers high in authority
that the suggestion above mentioned was made
and adopted, and that Jackson especially stpu-
lated that his troops should not be allowed to fire,
but should only use the bayonet. Ii Is well au-
tbentcated fact that an attack upon the town was
contemplated by our chief, and In furtherance Of
the plan the artillery was placed upon the heights
in fIent of the breastworks behind which they
had fought during the days battle, with instruc-
tons to await q signal and then to open ire upon
the town. and to continue the fire until further or
lie ldaaf.s
they were in town-in position to be endangered
BY our FIRE. The infantry OF the first corps were
posted to defend the artillery Cit was afterward
told by of the second corps that they had re-
ceved oroers to strip to the waists but the signal
| for the bombardment was never given and orders
came to retire within the breastworks, as the pro-
posed attack had been given MP by Gen. Lee, who
| feared that the namerous inhabitants remaining
within the town would suffer alike with the enemy.
| No pen cen describe the horrors and butchery
| that would have attended that night lombard
| ment and night attack, as suggested by the dead
| hero who believed that +" war meaut fighting, and
| fighting meant killing" The town which, In its
best days did not. perhaps, contain more than
5000 inhabitants, was crowded with artillery, wa
| gons and about so 600 men, beside the wounded
| and non. combatants. The enemy quietly re-
crossed the river on the night Of the 18th, lesv
| ing the Confederates TO rejoice over another bar
rem victory. An examination OF the town, alter
| theip departure, showed that the men had been
SO numerous that the houses were not suticien'
10 contain them, and that they had torn dowr
the ou,houses and rsilings, and broken up the fur
niture, in order to make beds In the streets snt
4
The writer of this communication has mos
profound respect for the memory of Gen. Stone
wall jackson, yet he does not believe with other
that the assertion made by Mr.. Pollard, that tbs
illustrious hero desired to make Q night attscl
upon the enemy with his troops stripped, Is
slsnder upon his memory; but he does believ,
that If there had been more stripping to the
waist and night attacks, with fewer days o
tbanktg giving and fasting and prayers. the Soati
| woud have less barren victories to rejoice ove
| and less 10 mourn for now. VIKGINIAN.