The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-15
ANNALS OF TIE WAR.
ON THE FIELD OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
BY HON d. WATSON ROWE.

Every one rememb bers the slaugh-
ter ana failure at Fredericksburg :;
the grief Of it, the momentary pang
Of despair. Burnside was the man
of the 18th Of Deccmbe than be, no
more gallant soldier in all the army,
no more patriotic citizen in oil the
republic. But be attempted there
the impossible, and as repulse grew
toward disaster lost that equal mind
which is necessary in arduous af-
lairs. Let US remember, however,
and at once, that it is easy to be
wise after the event. The army of
The Potomac felt, at the end of this
calamitous day, that hope itself was
killed-hope, whose presence was
never before wanting to that array Of
the uncoDquerable will, and steadfast
purpose, and courage to persevere;
the secret of its final triumph. |
have undertaken to describe certain
night-scenes ON that field famous for
bioodshed. The battle is terrible !;
but the sequel Of it is horrible. The
battle, the charging column, is
grand, Sublime. The field after the
action and the reaction is he specta-
Gle which harrows up the soul
MARYE's HILL.
Marye's Hill was the focus of The
strife 1t rises in the rear of Fred
ericksburg, a stones throw beyond
the canal, which runs along the
western border Of the city. The
ascent is not very abrupt. A brick
house stands on the hillside, whence
you may overlook Fredericksburg,
and all the circumjaceDt country.
The Orange plank road ascends the
hill on the right-hand side of the
house, the telegraph road on the left.
A sharp rise of ground at the foot Of
the heights Afforded cover for the
formation OF troops. Above Marye's
Hill is an elevated plateau which
commands it, The hill is part Of a
long, bold ridge on which the decliv-
ity leans, stretching from Falmouth
to Massoponax creek, six miles. It's
summit was shaggy and rough, with
The earihworks OF the Confederates,
and was crowned with their artillery.
The stone wall on Marye's Height
was their ''ceigne ef vantage" held
bg the brigaues of Cobb and ker-
shaw, Of McLaws' Division On the
semi-ciTcular crest above, and stretch
ing far Un either hand WAS Loug-
streets Corps, forming the left OF The
Confederate line. HIS advance po-
sition was the stone wall and rifle
trenches along the telegraph road
above The house. The guns Of the
enemy commanded and swept tie
streets which led o1t 10 the heights
Sometimes you light see regiment
marching down those streets in sim
gle file, keeping close to the houses,
one file on The right hand side, anoth-
er on the eft. Between the canal
aud the foot oi the ridge was level
plat Of llat, even ground, a few hum
dred yards in wild b. This restricted
space afforded what opportunity
there was to form in order of battle.
A division massed on this narrow
plain was target for Lees artillery,
which cut fearful swaths in the dense
and compact ranks. Below and to
'he right of the house were fences
" which inpeded the advance Of the
charging lines Whatever division
was assigned the task of carrying
Marye's Hill, ieJouched from the
town, crossed the canal, traversed
the narrow level, formed under cover
of the rise ofground below the house.
AT the word, suddenly ascending this
bank, they pressed forward up the
hill for the stone wall aud the crest
beyond.
BURNsIDE's DESPERATE EFFORT.
From noon to dark Burnside con-
tinued to hurl one division after
another against that volcano-like en-
inence, belching forth iire and smoke
and iron hail French's Division
was the first to rush 10 the assault.
When it emerged from cover and
burst out on the open, in full view OF
the enemy, it was greeted with q
frighiful liery reception from all bis
batteries OF the circliDg summit.
The ridge concentrated upon it the
convergent fire of all its enginery Of
war. You might see Tor mile the
lanes made by the cannon balls in the
ranks. You might see bursting
shell throw up iuto the air cloud of
earth and dust, mingled with the
limbs of men. The batteries in front
of the devoted division tbundered
against it, To the right, to the left.
cannon were answering TO each other
in a tremendous deafeaing battle cho-
rus, the burden of which was
Welcome to these. ma.lmen about to die.
The advancing column was the focus,
the point Of feoncen,ratioo, of an arc
almost a semi-circle--of destruction.
1t was centre Of attraction of eli