Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-15
THE TERRIBLE CANN0NADt Al
SPOTTSYLvANlA.
Where Grant Came Out ofthe Wilderness
Richmond as Now Seen from the An
cient Shrine they Call a Capitol
Its Relics Of Revolutionary
Renown, and its Me-
mentoes Of the
Late War.
Al CORRESPONDENCE OF the Register.

con TO Richmond" With this famous
war cry ringing, metaphorically, in my
ears. | left the Federal Capital, day be-
fore yesterday in the afternoon, and set
out for the ex-rebel capital. The whole
world ought to know that Richmond is
nearly due south OF Washington, about
one hundred and sixty miles, and that
the former place was the shield OF the
rebellion on its northern flank. 1t Is
memorable ground all the way along
groun that no American citizen, unless
he is the type concentrated all in sell,
can look upon without emotion. In the
rebuilt houses and restored fences, and
replowed fields, the assurance OF peace
is given, but in the sinister head'stones
that mark the graves OF the slain SOL
diers, there is
A Grim Reminder OF Ruthless War.
| made q short halt at BIeder-
icksburg, on the Rsppahannock,
river, about halfway to Richmond
The town is situated in Spottsylvania
county-a small territory that witnessed
four of the bloodiest battles OF the civil
war, namely Fredericksburg, Chancel-
lorsyille, the Wilderness and Spottsyl-
yania court house. i arrived at night
in Fredericksburg, and had to postpone
making any observations until yester-'
day morning, which, being pretty clear,
gave me an opportunity of scanning the
field where Burnside, fguratively and
in fact, butted his head against stone
wall, with the usual results, as he did
not happen TO be buck.goat or mig.
ger. -,
When a man reads of a great battle
before he sees the field, his ideas are not
very clear as to the extent OF the lines
over which il was fought. Fredericks-
burg was a long, drawn-out affair, with
two principal points OF attack Maryes
pronounced Mabreesl on the right, or
nearly 50, OF
The Federal Line,
facing the left wing OF Summers grand
division, and the heights near
Hamilton's Camp, several miles
distant on the Federal left,
sssailed by Franklin's grand divisions
The troops between those two point.
simply demonstrated" Sumner was
face to face with Longstreat and Frank
lin with "Stonewall" Jackson. The
Confederate battle line faced the north,
while their rivals fronted south, with the
Rappahannock river, and, beyond IT,
Stafford's Heights behind them. The
hills on the north bank OF the river,
where Burnside had his headquarters,
rise abruptly, almost from the banks,
while the heights on the south side are
at least half mile back, and, in many
places much further. | give these
points simply to fix the scene properly.
After breakfast left the hotel and
walked directly south along the street
that terminates in what is called "the
old turnpike" along which the divisions
of French and Hancock and Humphrey
Marched to Slaughter
on the morning of December l3, 1872
The thoroughiare ascends some distance
toward the open ground en- which the
attacking columns developed, then dips
again and rises 10 a gentle swell front
ing Marye's Heights. This rolling land
which was nearly bare OF houses in 1867,
is now somewhat built up, and, instead
OF marshaled soldiery, observed score
of peaceful COWS drinking in the little
brook that ran red with blood on that
ghastly December morning of eighteen
wears ago. In the distance the heights
looked anything but formidable. al
though the dilapitatea and dead trees
along the street and roadway, after l
descended the first hill, showed the dead.
ly volume OF fire directed against the
advancing unionists from the rebel bate
ries all along the western crest OF this
range. Such houses as stood there
were so demolished that they had
% be rebuilt, so that most of Frericks'
burg is, virtually, a new town.
Quite a bunch Of dogs and negro
children were playing together in the
roadway and gazed at me with curiosity
not unmingled with
Tendency to Stampede.
| asked one OF the youngsters
if that were Msrye's Heights right in
front. 81 doesn't know, sab, she an.
swered, "but the nashnel sentry Ma
tional Cemetery is up thar" A little
further on the road turned obliquely to
the left. Reaching the end OF the turn,
| went directly eastward and observed
stone wall on each side Of the road.
Behind the structure on the north side,
comely-faced country woman was
spreading ont some washing "ls that
the famous stoneNall OF Fredericks-
burg?" | asked her. "All that is lett oi
il. sir" she answered cheerfully. There
was some more OF it, but they took 1t
down TO build the lodge at the Gene
terry" Were You in the neighborhood
during the bsttie?" Il WASH I far away,
she answered "My husband was here,
and saw the Irish brigade fall to pieces
before Longstreet's men, who were
posted behind the fence. They came
M after French's division was defeated,
brave as could be, with green branches
ia their hats and
Their oficers Cheering them on.
I have heard the Confederate soldiers
speak OF il often. They might as well have
| charged the moon. The fire from the
hills and from behind this stone fence
soon laid them low. They never ran,
however, and when all was over, al.
though the other soldiers fought we'll,
too, the bodies OF the Irish lay stiff and
bloody nearest TO this stone wall. Their
bones were dug up out OF here sfterward,
and all that could be found are now
| buried up there on the hill. i don't
think any were identified except a few
of the officers. This simple statement
is borne out by history. 1t was an in
sane movement, but the poor soldiers
obeyed orders. Infamed by that thirst
for glory, and that wild ardor which be-
long 10 the Celtic blood Meagher's men
fought with q desperation that won
many eulogiums. Burnside's expert
ment cost the Union army over twelve
thousand men in killed, wounded and
prisoners, and he actually was insane
enough to propose forming the ninth