The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-12-21
VOLUME XVIII.---NO. %.
4 STORY OF SLAUGHTER,
The isutler Guard at f.redericksbure

The iiutier Guard q; fredericksburg.
BY Frirate ". T. S}umafe, 2d s. c. J., i,
the Charleston Weekly Neus.
After the battle Of Sharpshurg and the
Maryland campaign had ended, the Con
federate forces recrosseu the Potoma,
and encampcd in the beautiful and fer
tile Valley Of Virginia, between Mar
tinsburg and Winchester, where they On
joyed much needed rest of several
weeks aud luXuriatcd on the fat OF tha,
nigh 8 favored country.
Being supplied with army shoes and
winter clothing, the men were ready tc
move in any direction Gen. Lee mipl,
command. In the latter part Of Novcm
ber. 1862, we took up the line of march
and passed through tho ancient City o.
Winchester, which we left to the tender
mercies Of Gen. Milroy and his soldiers
Crossing the mountains nj Chcstcr's Gnp
we passed through Culpeper in the di
rection Of Fredericksburg, where we ar.
rived in cold, drizzling rain about tho
lat of December. to find ourselves con.
fronted on the opposite aide of the Ran.
pahannock by Gen. Burnside and his
army.
We were ordered into camp On the
heights near the Telegraph raad, over.
Looking the city, the possession of which
WAS soon to cost the lives OF many val
liant men. For some days and nights we
were engaged in
| PICKETING THE RIVER SIDE
and watching the movements of the Fed
eral army. Our company officers no,i.
fled liz that whenever Burnside attempt.
ed to cross the river two guns would be
fired in quick succession from our side.
as signal TO prepare for his reception
Gen. BarksdaIe's Mississippi Brig.
ade was quartered in tho town
and did picket duty at tho point
where il was expected that non
toon bridges would be thrown across the
river. We anxiOusly awaited Burnsde's
| advance.
On the morning Of the 18th of Dccem.
Der our slumbrrs were broken by the
roar OF the signal guns, and suon ail was
| 0uatle and confusion in camp. getting
ready to move to the front We reached
our position mt the foot of Lees Hill
about sunrise, and Immediately began cut.
ting ditch with our bayoncts and mock.
ct'knives TO protect ourselves from the
shot and shell of the enemy which fell
uncomtortab!y near. Gen. Lee aud staff,
icn. l.ongStrcet and his staff, were on
the top of the hill, just to our rear;
level plain OF mile, extending to the
river, was IN our front. On Stafford
fieights. on the opposite side of the
river, the Fcdcrals had II number of guns.
which they turned upon the dcfenceless
town occupied by old men. women and
children. ant rained perfect.
DEluGE OF SHOT AND SHELL.
into tue buildings. Soon black columns
OF smoke asccndcd heavenwnrd, angry
finmes ronred and crackled, and it was
evident that the old city was ono fire in
many places: Though it had every ap-
pearance OF being doomed, strange 10 say
but few building were consumed. Sew
erai attempts were made by the enemy
TO throw pontoons across the river, bat
they were foiled by the uncrrine aim of
the Mississippi rifles
The contest WAS kept up at irregular
intervals until late in the afternoon.
when company or regiment of pioneers
crossed the river in the upDer mart of the
town, and succeeded in turning the left
flank of Barksdale's Brigade. The brave
MissiHippihns stubbornly contested
every inch Of ground. and fought from
street to street until dark put an end TO
the unequal conflict. when they were
withdrawn and ordered to join their iii.
vision. The sun rose on the morning of
the 18th of December clear and bright
the weather waS cold and crisp. 1t was
generally believed that a great battle
would be fought before the setting OF the
sun which hnd risen in such glorious
splendor. After the withdrawal Of the
NiississiiPPians there was no opposition to
Burnside's advance. He crossed the
river on four pontoon bridges amidst the
eheers of his soldiers and strains of mar
t'al music: his infantry, with waving
banners, accompanied 81 magnificent
artillery and superb cavalry, 40 they do.
boucheti into the open plain, made nh
Imposing panoramic display of the glo.
rious pride and polnp of war. Excite.
ment was
AT FEVER HEAT.
The suspense became absolutely painful
az thousands OF the enemy were massed
IN easy range. Not gun of welcome
had been fired from our batteries. which
crowned the heights in their Immediate
front. A member of my company, who
was lettering near the top of Lees Hill,
told me that Gen. Longstreet was living
upon the ground in n sound sleep. but
upon being awakened by one of his staff
officers, immediately ordered the batter
les to open on the advancing foe. 1t was
said that the first discharge from our
gnns mertally wounded the gallant end
chivalric Gen. George d. Bayard, of the
calvary, who was the pride and idol of
the Federal army. He was to have been
married ON the following Wednesday,.
But the enemy, not 10 be undone in cuur.
tesy, Immediately unlimbered their guns
and returned the compliment.
FIERCE ARTILLERY DUEL
was kept up for some time, while Mr..
Meade's corps was deploying and form.
ing in line of battle to attack Stonewall
Jackson near Hamilton's Crossing. on
our extreme right. Kershaw's veterans
were inactive spectators of the brilliant
scene; they were momentariy expecting
to be moved to some other part of the
field.
My company (Butler Guard) being on
the extreme right of the brigade, had
been thrown out on picket a short dis.
tance in front, and did not know that
brigade was ordered to the left to the
support Of Gen. Tom Cobb, who was hard
pressed by overwhelming numbers at the
foot OF Marye's Hill, until Gen. Kershaw
rode up and said, In bis genial tone /:
Buffers, follow mel" We made tho
distance in quick time to Cobbs posi- :.
ton, midst screaming and bursting
shells. My company was deployed
along tho street supporting Phillins's
GeOruia eoioD ,yh;ok