Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1881-01-06

hearts In many homes that day that were
ready to break 40 they YEARLY waited for the
news from the front. Nevertheless the Wal
went on. and the twenty thousand gallant
men who swept that crest, less the one thou.
sand bleeding units slope, went forward IN.
der John Sedgwick. ,3aa1obas ~ sgsFog lal
Our advance was spitefully resisted. Al
Salem chapel, midway between Fredericks-
burg and Charlottesville, the enemy strong.
ly reinforced from the main army under Lee
confronting Hooker, reinforced also by the
troops who lined the river above Fredericks.
burg and who fell back upon the carrying OF
Marye's Heights, made final stand Brooks,
God bless him! Old commander of the Yer.
mont Brigade, true hearted gentleman, un.
equaled soldier, rough and ready, beloved OF
men. robust and strong and prompt, went for
ward with his division of the red cross through
the thick underground that covered the mild
ascent that led to Salem Heights. The sunk:
en- road across the crest at right angles to our
line of march, filed with the rebel infantry,
checked for the moment his advance, but be
swept forward gallantly and well, pierced
their line and fora moment held the crest.
His Hank aud rear were assailed by the enc
my, who over tapped him, and he was forced
back through the underground out into the
clearing, followed closely and viciously until
he was enabled to reform under cover of our
batteries, which, with grape and canister, rap
idly served, checked the enemy under the per-
sonal supervision Of Sedgwick The next di.
vision, as fast IS it arrived, was put into &C.
tion. and the whole lineagaia advanced, stead
lily forcing ito way up the crest, until az last
night set Up and there was the silence OF death.
All night long those two armies lay in the
closing hours of the day. There was no inter.
change Of soldiers hadinage there was not q
picket shot to disturb the silence No flres
were lighted on either side, aud the men lay
down cofeeless on their grassy beds. Here
and there the stretcher-men moved around 81
lently, bringing ia the wounded or gathering
in the dead. There was but one sound that
disturbed the stiffness. From the direction OF
Charlottesville we could hear the low rumble
OF artillery, telling of marching columns.
Strange but not unexpected ru,nors reached tis
from our rear that the city OF Fredericksburg
and Marye's Heights, which we had carried
80 CALAMITY and at such cost, were reoccu-
pied by the enemy, reinforcing from the direc-
ton of Richmond. The situation of the corps
was critical Howe's division was formed in
line of battle facing to the rear aud toward
Fredericksburg to resist an attack from that
direction. Brooks and Newtou remained on
the field facing towards Charlottesville, and
the two lines thus formed 10 opposite direc-
tiOns about two miles apart, were connected
by a skirmish line of troops supporting fire.
queni batteries. Everything indicated that
the Sixth corps would be oyerwhelmed by
an attack from all sides at early daylight Gen,
Sedgwick, when all his arrangements were
completed, lay down in the wet grass with his
head pillewed' ON his saddle !; but he slept not.
Three times during. the night be telegraphed
to Gen. Hooker, sending the dispatch TO the
river at Banksford, a few miles above Fredef-
icksburg, with which point we still held CON-
munication. There was certain pathos in
those dispatches that; none who do not realize
the situation can appreciate. ~ have reached
this point, !" he said lin obedience to orders.
My advance 10 checked. The enemy Is strong
ly reinforcing from yeur direction / can
plainly hear the rumble of their artillery my
losses are heavy. / will be. no doubt, attacked
in strong force at daylight. Can you help
me 2" M s4# e9lgs4l ..ss
This was the burden Of the dispatches three
times repeated during that still and anxious
night. No answer came until eight o'clock Of
the following day. In the meantime the enc
my wasted the hours in preparation On that
morning staff officer of Gen. Sedgwick,
whose personal re lations enabled him 70 speak
freely, and whose youth, no doubt, inspired
him somewhat with O sentiment OF enthusi-
asm, remarked to thes general that the yitua-
ton seemed gloomy. The general quietly as
sented, with that pleasant merry twinkle ia
Ills eye, which all who knew him will remem
Der. Our young friend then remarked: Seen
eral, it looks as If the Sixth Corps was going
to close its career to-day" ut has somewhat
tRat appearance" said the General. "Then,"
said our young officer, with puch honest in.
tensity, IF the Sixth Corps goes out of exist.
ance today hope it will be with blaze of
rylrrv ha hicforv cf fh;o Cor
all time" ls
The General quietly smiled and bending for
ward said: ..-...
Il will tell you a secret; there will be no
surrendering. "E g.
The long hours went by and at eight o'clock
came strange message from the commanding
general.
''You are too far away for me to direct
Look 10 the safety Of your corps. Fall back on
Fredericksburg or cross the river at Banksford
as you d. em best" ...-..........
But to the strong and earnest appeal, "Can
you help me strongly If / am attacked there
was no reply. In the direction of Chancel-
lorsvile there was the silence Of death. Not
artillery which echoed from every battery.
The enemy in cur front, in fact ] may cay on
our three fronts. replied. The commanders
of the other corps who stood inactive. near
Charlottesville heard the incessant roar Of the
artillery near Salem chapel. They chafed al.
most to mutiny, because while this gallant little
band, less than one fifth of the army was con-
tending against these desperate odds,
six corps stood idle within the sound'of
their guns. ~ s4r 'H'
Sedgwick and Hooker have passed
away, and have undergone that final judg-
ment from which there is no appeal am
If %
the dead, much less of gallant soldier like
Gen. Joseph Hooker, but | do, stand here to
vindicate the memory OF one of the purcst
men, one Of the truest patriots, one OF the best
and bravest-aye, and greatest soldiers that
ever honored any land by a life of honorable
service and glorious death upon the field of
battle. 1t has been stated before q committee
Of the National Congress, whose sole basiness
seemed to be during the several years of their
continuance to dishonor the names Of the best
and truest of our soldiers, that Sedgwick's
failure to obey the orders of Hooker was one
of the chief causes of the failure of the Chan,
cellrsville campaign. This statement was
principally made by man who still lives and
whom therefore an at full liberty to answer
Daniel Butterfield, Major General, chief of
staff of the Army of the Potomac, absent from
every position OF danger during all these oper-
atoms. controlling at the OLD headquarters at
Falmouth Prof Lowe, the chief of balloons,
and doing q large correspondence in Napo-
leonic style by telegraph and stenographers,
has stated before this committee that Gen.
Sedgwick's delay was the primal cause of the
failure. Gen Sedgwick's order to advance to
Chancellorsville and be there at daylight in
claded another aud more important commits
sion. He was directed TO make this march,
impossible in itself in the time allowed-im-
rS,i, n&a1
ordered to capture Fredericksburg and every
think in il, which he did. He was ordered to
carry Maryes Heights, which he did magnifi-
Gently. He was ordered to advance upon the
plank road. which he did, He was also order
ed TO destroy any force that might intervene
between him and the general commanding
This he calamity attempted and did as much
in the line of destruction as it was possible to
do with the force at his command. The same
dispatch which ordered hi..l to destroy any in
tervening force informed him that the army
commanded by General Robert E. Lee was be-