The Republican journal., 1882-02-16
NUMBER Z.
Sketches of Army Life.
NUMBER SEVEN.
THREE VISITS TO OFRFDERICKSBJvRG


Fredericksburg is an old city in the county of
Spottsylvania, Va. 1t is situated on the south
| ern bank of the Rappahannock river, about
sixty miles from Richmond. At the breaking
out of the rebellion it contained about four
thousand inhabitants. The valley of the Rap
pahannock is so narrow at this place that it
hardly admits the passage of the river, the
southern bank of which rises in natural terraces
many feet above the rivers level. ON the first
of these rests the city. and upon those in rear Of
and above the city was fought the great battle of
Fredericksburg. On the north side of the river
the land rises so high that artillery planted up
on its heights commands the city on the opposite
side, and also affords a fine view of the heights
above, where the army of General Lee was en-
trenched. The North had become impatient at
the long delays of General Mcclellan, and when
General Burnside assumed command. public
sentiment was strongly in favor of forward
movement. ''On to Richmond was the cry,
and the brave General Burnside decided that
the advance should be made BY the way of Fred
ericksburg. The army was divided into three
grand divisions, commanded by Generals Hook
Wednesday, December 10Th. 1862. the work of
building pontoon bridges across the river began.
On Thursday and Friday there was a good deal
of fighting where the bridges We're being built.
The city was filled with sharp~ho0tcrS who
poured a most deadly fire upon our troops who
were engaged in the work, and ~ a last resort
| our artillery planted on the river shellcd the
town most vigorously and drove the rebels out,
| and when Friday night came, the grand div i>ons
of Franklin and sumner We're Nv all across
The darkness was intense, but What Il magniti-
cient view met our eyes we stood upon the
Stafford hills on the north bank of the river.
Far above the city ON st. Mary's heights in Il
crescent like form, shone the camp fires of Cen
eral Lee. Thousands of General Summers men
We're encamped within the city. and their camp
fires burning upon the streets ana squares shone
up brightly and chccrfully III the darkness. Far
down on our left, confronting the hosts of
StoneWall Jackson Franklin'S men were en-
| camped and the long line of fitting fires show
ed LIS the immense army prepared for the battle
on the morrow. Fifty thousand men under
General Hooker, encamped on the northern
bank of the river, Were to cross on the morrow.
What thoughts filled our minds as we looked at
this strange scene. What would day bring
forth? What would b. the results of to-mor-
rows battle: Why had those rebel batteries
planted upon yondcr heights been % silent
while our men We're crossing: Had General
Lee been frightened a> he looked down from his
perch and saw the vast union forces forming
for the battle: And had he ordered retreat to
Richmond without Il struggle: Or had our men
been drawn into fatal trap: Had Lee reserved
his thunder to pour upon the breasts of our men
upon the morrow: 4 vague suspicion came into
our minds ;t> looked. and As we thought of
the fearful carnage, the very air around us
seemed tremulou> with ominous sounds. There
was but little sleep That night. The men sat
around their camp fires and talked Of the NOR
row. Patriotic songs We're sung, and hearts
beat high with the anticipation> of glorious
victory. 1t is well for Us sometimes that Wc are
not allowed to discern the future. Saturday
| morning daWncd. Many of our men ate their
last breakfast, little knowing what awaited
them on that fatal day. As have already init
| mated, the rebel army Wa well posted. Their
right was commanded by ~toncWal Jackson
| Long>trett commanded the center, and A. p.
| Hill their left. The morning Was quite warm,
and a thick fog embodied the rontrndng forces.
| Franklin'> men, vino had crossed the river on
pontoOn>, three miles below the citv. ON the pre-
| tiou, day, Were early in motion, and the sounds
| battle came rolling heavily up from our left,
| and the conflict soon opened in our front. The
rebel artilltry that crowned fine hpiUhts and OH
circed the city poured fearful storm upon our
menWho oWcrc WithiniS street t>,and our artillery
| thundcrri 4 terrible response. It was an art-
| cry duel. in which il seemed that the Gods
Were the combaants, and were hurting those
| iron globes with almighty power. It was soon
| apparent thai our vigorous cAnnonade had but
| little effect upon the rebel works. and that if
| they We're taken it must he ut the point of the
bayonet. But what fearful undertaking.
| Search not the histories of foreign nations
| alone. if YOU would find deeds OF heroic valor
but look at the divisions of Howard and French
aS they form their lines to make that charge.
Never did brave men more nobly undertake Il
desperate enterprise. At double quick they
rushed toward the rebel lines. The crescent
shaped hills above them were crowned with fire.
as a score of batteries opened upon them Thick
and fast flew the messengers of death, but they
needed them not, and with wild cheers pressed
onward. They had almost reached the base of
the ridge upon which the rebels We're entrenched
when the long lines of rifle pits behind the stone
wall, and far up the hill side, cleaned With fire,
and twenty thousand rifles opened upon them
Their artillery was 50 posted that every gun
could be turned upon amy given point and thus
from the front and along either flank was pour
ed the cruel iron storm. Men fell by hundreds.
lines melted away tie line staggered. then halt
ed, and the next moment fell back rcpu>cd, and
sought shelter in small ravinc. They We're
reinforced and charged repeatedly upon the
heights, but only to be hurled back over those
fatal slopes raked by the rebel guns.
MY FIRST VISIT.
Late in the afternoon Hooker> command is
ordered to cross the river. 1t is critical mo
ment. On Wonder field the battle is undecided; j.;
the river city, and hiIlsiles are throbbing in the
fearful conflict. Fifty thousand men are hasten
Ing to reinforce the shattered and bleeding col
ulnns. Banners wave, bands play. the soldiers
charge, and the rebels shell our advancing col
lnnns. But in the wild excitement the shells
had lost their terror. Werllshed across the pom
toon bridges and charged up through the city
until we reached its outskirts where our brig
adc formed line of battle about one-fourth of
a mile from our most advanced position. For
an hour we laid flat in the mud to get rid Of the
shells that We're screaming and crashing over
4 ton