The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-21
ANNALS OF THE WAR.
BATTLE OF CHARLOTTESVILLE.
GEN. sEDGWICK CAPTURES MARYEs
HEEGHTs-THE FIGHTING OF HAYS
AND NICHOLS BRIGADE.
Gen. st0newan jackson Is MortalIy
wounded, and Gen. Frank Nich0IIs
Loses a Foot.
BY AN Ex-OFFICER, G, s. A.

ericksburg, he was removed in January, 1863
and Gen. Hooker placed in command Of the
Army Of the Potomac. This General was
justly considered one of the ablest and most
dashing corps commanders In the Federal
army, possessed high administrative abilities,
and was generally popular among the troops.
He reorganized his army, restoring the old
corps formations, giving to each distinctive
badges, and by a liberal system of furloughs
secured the contentment and good will Of his
troops, who had been 80 badly demoralized by
the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg. He
also consolidated the various cavalry COM
mands into one compact, powerful corps, and
placed it under officers Of tried ability. So
vigorous and efficient were Hooker's efforts at
reorganization that by the first OF April, 1868,
he had under his command well equipped
and splendidly appointed army of 10000 irl-
fantry, $4,000 cavalry and 400 pieces Of artiI-
lery, which he proudly and boastfully called
"the finest army on the planet"
On the opposite side OF the Rappahannock
this powerful force was confronted by the
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
numbering scarcely $4,000 men, Gen. Long
street, with his corps of $4,000 men, having
been sent by the Richmond authorities on q
fruitless expedition south of the James river.
Early In April Gen. Lee informed the govern
ment that the spring campaign had been
opened by the enemy's cavalry, and that it
was absolutely necessary to have his army
strengthened by reinforcements, and by the
return Of Longstreets Corps. These repre-
sentations were unheeded; no reinforcements
were sent to him, and Longstreet's Corps did
not commence to march to his assistance until
the sixth of May-two days after the battle
Of Charlottesville had been fought and won.
EARLY's DIVISION
was encamped around Hanilton's railroad
crossing, some three miles south of Fred
ricksburg, one mile from the Rappahannock.
On the heights beyond the river could be
seen from a high hill near our camp, thou
sands Of the snow-white tents Of the enemy,
and hundreds of wagons parked with the ut
most regularity; the camps and heights were
swarming with our blue-coated neighbors,
some engaged In playing games, some In
drilling, and others ranged in long dark lines
going through dress parade or inspection.
High above suspended in the air, was q
huge balloon from which the aeronaut en-.
deavored to reeonnoitre our position. and tn
detect any change that might be made In the
disposition OF our forces; but, owning to the
range OF hills behind which our camps and
movements were concealed, these aerial raeon.
noissances were OF littleeor no advantaoe ta
the enemy. Our picket line extended alonoy
the Immediate bank OF the river while fhe
Federal sentinels held the opposite bank. NOT
over two hundred yards distant NOtWitE-
standing this close proximity, the hostile
lines did not fire upon each other, mutual
understanding existing that there should be-
NO FIRING BETWEEN PICKETs
so long as the armies maintained their prea-
ent positions. At times quite a brisk traffie
was carried on between the opposing lines.
Logs OF wood were dug out and converted
into miniature boats, to which ingeniouglv
contrlVed sails were fitted; these diminutIve
craft were filled with tobacco and Richmond
neWspapers-the only articles OF barter Or1r
poor fellows possessed their sails were prom
erly trimmed to catch a fayoring breeze and
they sped across the river with their precious
freight. The Federals would send return
cargoeS OF many acceptable. articles. but tha
most eagerly sought after and high1 3 prized
were coffee and sugar. which the Confeder-
ate government was too poor to supply ia
soldiers with.
The enemy's posidon'was most adyanta-
geous one-in fact, tmpregnable against at
for the most part lofty and precipitous. and
the hills Of Stafford Afforded Him many
splendid positions for his artillery. WHICH
completely commanded the low, level pIain.
Wnlcn extended from the river, on our side, TO
the Confederate line Of entrenehment-
same line that Burnside 80 unsuccessfully as-
saulted at the first Fredericksburg battle.
Under cover OF his heavy batteries, the enemy
could at any time, and with little loss, span
the river with pontoon bridges, and throw
across any force he might wish. The Con-
federate Notifications were situated from one
thousand to twelve hundred yards off the
river; on the left they ran along the crown Of
three high hills, called respectively Lees and
Taylor's hills, and
MARYE's HEIGHTS
On the right of these the line descended
into and crossed a valley OF two miles
In BREADTH until it reached a low range
Of hills, half a mile In length, stretching 20
the railroad Immediately in front Of Hamil-
toms Crossing. From this short and irnper-
feet sketch Of the relative positions of the two
armies, it will be readily perceived that Gen.
Lee was forced to keep on the defensive, and
that Gen. Hooker had it In his power to as
sumo the offensive whenever he saw proper To
do so.
The Federal army, as I have before stated.
far outnumbered the Confederate. The for
mer was well fed, while the daily rations of
the latter consisted Of only pound and an
OF salt meat per man; but the morale OF our
troops was excellent, and most buoyant and
confident feeling pervaded the ranks that
Gen. Lee would be victorious whenever and
April 2s.-This morning the writer visited
FREDERICKSBURG,
in company with Col. L. Fl. Stafford. OF tha
Ninth Louisiana Regiment, of Hays brigade.
who was field officer Of the day. The town
presented most dilapidated and desOlatA
appearance, large number Of private resi-
denees being in ruins, and all the churches
and public buildings were battered and torn
the effect OF the shot and shell which Burn
slde, with the spirit OF Vandal, poured upon
Fredericksburg. Only a few of the inhsbi-
tants remained, some poor whites and blacks,
whose scanty means would not permit them
to go elsewhere.
The garrison consisted of Basksdale's Mis-
sss1ppi brigade, among whom there seemed
to be considerable stir and excitement, conse~
quent upon some unusual manifestations Of
activity on tie part of the enemy on the other
side of the river Col. Stafford and the writer
assembled the tower of the Episcopal church,
| from which elevated position we had a fine