The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-08
AT FREDERICKSBURG.
DECEMBER 10, 1862.

Gen st. Clair A. fulhoand in Philadelphia Times.
On the evening of November II the head of
our column struck the river near the old Viz
ginia town Of Falmouth On the opposite bank
we could see a battery Of four guns which
promptly opened upon US General Sumner
ordered Pettitts battery 10 the front, and in Just
eight minutes from the time that Pettitt fired
his first shot the gray-bacIs had closed up shop
and retired from business. Their four guns stood
silenced and abandoned. Sumner, whose seventy
two years had not dampened the ardor of youth,
carried away by the enthusiasm Of the moment,
called for troops to ford the river seize the guns
and occupy the city. The Irish brigade had
bivouacked in field near by and were cooking
coffee and resting after a hard days march, but
in three minutes after receiving the order the
brigade was going to the river at a run. Then
Sumner, remembering that he had orders not to
cross, and, being too old a soldier to disObey
stopped the movement and sent back to General
Burnside, asking permission to occupy the city,
and the answer came, peremptory " No" So
we were compelled to look at the prize without
grasping it. Why we did not cross the river
and push for Richmond has been often told !:
laundering by somebody and no pOntOons. A
general feeling prevailed that the years cam
paign was ended and winter quarters were next
in order. The pine-cOvered hills and undulating
slopes of meadow-land, broken up by running
brooks and ripping streams, furnished the most
inviting sites for pleasant camps, and soon the
dark woods were lit up by camp-fires. Camp
fires, fifty feet long-whole trees cut down. piled
up and forever kept cheerfully cracking and
burning-arOund which the whole company
the pleasant glow, spend the long evenings in
uprOarious fun, the day being filled up with
marching, drilling, inspection and reviews with
out limit. Thus passed the three most agreeable
weeks l ever remember in the army. By and by
the pontOOns arrived but too late Lee and
jackson and Longstreet had also put in an ap-
pearance, and from the bluffs we could see them
busy, very busy. indeed. Every day gave us
new evidence OF their industry. Every hour saw
new earthworks rising in our front: redoubts
lunettes, and Fashioned forts rfe-pits epaule-
mentS for the protection of artillery arose in
rapid succession until the terraced heights
which ran parallel to the city and two miles be-
low and nearly riile in the rear of it, were
covered with artillery, bristling with bayonets.
and so formidable as to make an ATTEMPT to carry
the place an act of insanity. The coming fight
was to be an assault upon an entrenched position
rather than an open battle.
Some time about the first week in December
council of war was held at headquarters, at which
General Burnside and the grand division and rps
commanders were present. 1t is difficult at this
day to tell Just what was determined at this cOun-
Gil, but it is evident, however that flank move
ment by way of Skenkers Neck, twelve miles
below the city, was discussed and determined
upon and the council adjourned, believing this to
be the programme. A few days after this Cen
eral Burnside sent for one of the corps command
ers and invited him to ride with him along the
nigh bluffs, SpOfford Heights, that skirted the
river In front of the city. He then told him that
he (Burnsde) had determined to change the order
OF battle and to cross and fight at the city, and
gave as one of his reasons that Colonel Hunt had
called ms attention to the excellent opportunity
that SpoffOrd Heights offered for the employment
OF all our artillery. The general officer in ques-
ton, after pelng warned by General Burnside not
to communicate the fact of the change to anv one,