The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-04
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.1
STEAMER CHARLOTTE FANDEKBIIT,3
hnr 1871 &

&C, &c.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.1
- STEAMER CuARLoTrE FANDEKBIIT,3
Aug. 1st, 1871.
Your correspondent (after hot, dusty,
Richmond at half-pastS s o'clock yesterday
evening for the purpose of taking the Rap
pahannock boat at Fredericksburg.
The beautiful moonlight was enjoyed for
bnt brief season before we were in the
fast embrace of old Morpheus. from which
we were only relc tscd just before reaching
Hamilton's crossing.
The bright moonlight and the keen eve
Of distinguished colonel of artillery, with
whom we were pleased to revive old ac-
Uuaintance and associations, gave us bet
ter view and clearer idea of the field of the
great battle of December 18th, 1862, than
VIC have had since the war, and We recalled
4 hundred incidents Of that splendid yicto-
rv. That hill on the left of the railroad is
the position where Gen. Lindsey Walker
fought so skilfully bis " little Derringers."
and there is the spot where Colonel Lewis !
Minor Coleman received his death wound, !
with which he fingered in such agony to
.show how Christian soldier should die"
Esanc is the broad plain across which the
lilests Of Burnside marched to meet the de- |
kSh'uction which awaited them, and there |
skhe place where "thc galllnt Pelham" " /!
ffHaa laincd so heroically his position against
aHtse weight Of metal brought to bear upon ,
his horse artillery. AS the train dashes
along we are wildly reminded Of that grand |
panorama we witnessed on that memorable
morning, as Early's division marched into
its position in line of battle from its biyouac
two miles below Ilamilton's Crossing
"Old Jube " in his famous gray coat and
white sloueh hat, having on his " fighting
look" riding in front, accompanied by his
staff "Stonewall Jim Walker" in com
mand Of Early's old brigade. the old 18th
Virginia in front Atkinson in command
of Lawton's Georgians Hoke and his
North Carolinians, and Hays and his LOU
isiunians all forming a column that stretch
ed across the plain, their bayonetS sleam-
ing in the rising sun, "the boys" march
ing with the firm tread and serious look of
| men who meant to do their duty; and the
whole forming 4 spectacle we can never for
got.
and then the outline of the hills marks
where the calm chieftain awaited with his
| lcutcnants the attack which he was to huri
| back in such utter discontinue. Soon we
| dash across the plain and arrive at Frede-
rickSburg, which still bears many of the
| marks of the noble defence made by the a-
llSIllcu ksuulG anu Ills DCl UlG vi p-
plans. And we were thinking, too, of that
great revival held in the Episcopal ''church
house" under the conduct of that devoted
Methodist chaplain, Rev. Mr.. owens, as
sisted by Baptist, Presbyterian, and Meth
| odl>t ministers Il revival which lasted for
weeks, was interrupted by the battle of
charlottesville, but continued afterwards
| until the Gettysburg campaign opened,
| and which resulted in the prufesScd col-
version of about three hundred OF those
| gallant men.
hut we are at the depot. Your cores
p0ndent is eagerly inuuulimy for the Rap
pahannock boat, and is cooiy told that
'thc left at ! o'clock in the afternoon -
| 4. e., Just eight hours before We arrived, and
| ten hours before she was advertised to
| leave.
We were about to take the return train
| TO Richmond, when 4 gentleman kindly Ill
formed us that by going on to Baltimore
| we could take the boat there, and reach
Tappahanuock early Wednesday morning.
So we found comfortable room and Il very
poor breakfast this morning 1T the EX-
change Hotel.
We had opportunity this morning of a
good view Of Stafford heights and the sevc-
raj points at which the Federals crossed the
river. BY the way, We have seen in the
manuscript of the forthcoming "Lee Memo.
rial Volume" u very characteristic letter
from General K. X. Lee to distinguished
Federal general in answer to u letter of in
quiry concerning this battle. ...
In order TO fortify certain opinions which
he held concerning this great conflict, this
officer, whose name, if it were proper to
give it, would be recognized as one of the
most distinguished Federal generals that
the war produced, wrote to Gen. Lee.
In his answer, which has Devcr been
published, the old chieftain says: That he
has no reason to believe that Gen. McClel-
Ian neglected to do anything in his power
TO gain success-that he presumeS that
Gen. Burnside had good reasons for chang
Ing his route and advancing on Fredericks-
burg-that so far as he could judge the ear
lier arrival of the Federal pontoons would
not have altered the result, rs it would only
have caused an earlier concentration of the
Confederate forces at Fredericksburg, and
that as for the plan urged by this distin-
gui>hcd officer after the battle Ito the effect
that the Federal army should be moved
back to Aqua creek and put on board Of
transports, that Richmond should he
threatened from Fortress Monroe, ;and
that us soon rs the Confederate army fell
back to meet that movement BrTnside's
army should enter the Rappahannock aud
thus flank the heights Of Fredericksburg,
Gen. Lee said that it was impossible now 70
determine definitely what would have been
the result of that movement, but that he
did not think that the Confederate army
would have fallen back on Richmond until
the necessity aoas fully developed. He
closes his letter by quantity saying =" Ut is
80 easy to form opinion in the light of sub
sequent events which we could not have
previously formed for lack Of sufficient in
formation that it is difficult to say how
nrh MO fuhf shnr,f2 40 attached, tnl n min.
ions thus formed.' ~
But H We llnger on "reminiscences of
Fredericksburg we will greatly oyer-taX
your space and patience. There Is on
board to-day party Of 800 eXcursionists
from fredericksburg. The excursion Is
gotten up under the Joint auspices Of the
Odd-Fellows, Knights Of Pythias, and the
Fredericksburg band, and is proving a
most successful and pleasant one. The
band makes sweet music, young and old
find ample amusement and every comfort
and luxury on the splendid steamer Char
lotte Vanderbilt, the ladies have provided
the most bountiftll refreshments, and all
goes s. as merry as n marriage-bell," as we
Steam no the river. And we may add that
the bar Is closed, and the party very. order
ly. Mount Vernon, Fort. Washington,
Alexandria, Arlington, and other points OF
interest, attract attention ana comment.
The Federal soldiersat Fort Washington
are treated by our band to Dixie,' which
they seemed TO enjoy very good humorediy.
As we passed Mount Vernon, and the
bells OF our boat tolied as usual, q youth of
sixteen remarked In our hearing: s. Won
der If tae bells,are tol!ing for the death of
liberty, which Washington won" AS We
came Ill sight OF Arlington, and were re.
minded of the brigandage of "the best
Cover nment the world ever saw" in
..holding and possessing" from It's right
Y,x~o ,>f