The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-19
The Story of a Bloody and DeSper-
ate Battle.
IN ARTILLE cry DUEL.
How a Great Engagement
Was Fought and Lost.
By Rer. Theodore Gerrish.

SpOttsylyania, Virginia 1t is situated on the
southern bank of the RappahannCck river,
and IS about sixty miles from Richmond. At
the breaking out of the rebellion it contained
about four thousand inhabitants. The valley
of the Rappahannock is 50 marrow at this place
that it hardly permits 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 terraces rests the city, and
upon those in rear of and above was fought the
great battle of Fredericksburg. On tho north
side of the river the land rises so high that
artillery planted upon its heights commands
the city on the opposite side, and also affords q
fine view of the heights above, where the
army of General Lee was intrenChed.
The North had become impatient at the
long delays of Genera, Mcclellan, and when
General Burnside assumed command, public
sentiment strongly demanded a forward
movement. con to Richm0nd" was the cry;
and the brave General Burnside decided that
the advance should be made by the way of Fred
ericksburg. The army was reOrganized, and
divided into three grand divisions, commanded
by Generals Hooker, Sumner, and Franklin.
On the night of Wednesday, December 10th,
1862, the work of building pontOon bridges
across the river began. On Thursday and
Friday there was a great deal of fighting
where the bridges were being built. Our
movements were tardy and slow, and this
enabled the enemy to concentrate his forces,
and fortify his position. The city was filled
with sharpshO0teTs, who poured a most deadly
fire upon our men, who were engaged in the
work of building the bridges and as a last re-
sort, our artillery planted upon the northern
bank of the river, shelled the town most vigor-
ously and drove the rebels out. When Friday
night came, the divisions of Franklin and
Sumner were nearly all across the river. The
darkness was intense, but what magnificent
view met our eyes as we stood upon the
Stafford hills on the north bank of the river.
BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.
Far above the city, on Marye's heights, in
a crescent-like form, shOne the Camp-ires of
General Lee. Thousands of General Summers
men were encampcd within the city, and their
camp-fres, burning upon the streets and
squares, shone up brightly and cheerfully in
the darkness. Far down on our left, confront
ing the hosts of "StOnewall Jackson" Frank
Inns men were encamped, and their long line
of fitting camp-fires showed us what an i'm
mense army there was prepared for battle on
the morrow Fifty thousand men, under the
command of General Hooker, encamped on
the northern bank of the river, were TO cross
tomorrow.
What thoughts filled our minds as we looked
at the strange scene! o, that we could read
the future, and be able to tell what day would
bring forth What would be the result of to-
morrow'S battle? Why had the scores of rebel
batteries on yonder heights remained so silent
while our men were crossing? Had General
Lee become frightened as he looked down
from his lofty position and saw the vast Union
army marshaling for the assault? and had he
ordered d retreat to Richmond without a bat
tie, or had orr men been drawn into a fatal
trap? Had Lee reserved his bolts of thunder to
hurl them upon our men in to-morrow's con-
fict?
A vague suspicion filed our minds as we
looked and as we thought of the fearful car
mage the very air seemed tremulous with
ominOus sounds.
There was but little sleep that night; the
men sat around their camp-fres, and talked of
the morrow. Patriotic songs were sung, and
hearts beat high in anticipation of a glorious
victory. Perhaps after all it is well for Us that
we are not able to discern the future. A
Knowledge Of coming events might unman our
hearts, and disQualify US to perform our duties.
Saturday morning dawned. Many of our
men ate their last breakfast on that morning,
little dreaming what awaited them on that
fatal day. As l have already intimated. the
rebel army was well posted and strongly in
trcnched. Their right was commanded by
"Stonewall Jackson" Longstreet commanded
the center, and General A P. Hill their left.
THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS
The morning was quite warm, and thick
fog embodied the contending hosts. Franklin
men, who had crossed the river on pontoons,
three miles below the city, on the previous
day, were early in motion, and the sounds of
battle came rolling heavily up from our left
and the conflict soon opened in our front. The
rebel artillery that crowned the heights and
encirclcd the city poured a fearful storm upon
our men who were within its streets, and our
artillery thundcred terrible response. 1t
was an artillery duel, in which it seemed that
the gods were the comhatants, and were hurl-
ing those iron globes with almighty power. 1t
was soon apparent that our tremendous can
nonade had made but little impression upon
the rebel works, and that if they were taken,
ii must be at the point of the bayOnet. But
what a fearful undertaking! 1t is not ncces-
sary to search the pages of ancient history, or
the military records of Europe, to find deeds of
heroic valor, but only to look at the divisions
of Howard and French as they form their lines
to make that charge. Never did brave men
undertake = more desperate enterprise At n
double-quick they rushed toward the rebel
lines. The crescent-shaped hills above them
were crowned with fire, as 4 score of rebel
batteries opened upon them. Thick and fast
came the plunging, bursting, shrieking messen-
gers Of death, but they needed them not, and
with wild cheers pressed onward. They had
almost reached tho base of the ridge upon
which the rebels were intrenched, when the
long line of rifle-pits behind the stone wall
and far up the hillside, cleaned with fire, and
twenty thousand rifles poured their deadly
contents upon them. Their artillery was so
posted that every gun could be turned upon
any given point, and thus from the front
and along either flank was poured the cruel
iron storm. Men fell by hundreds, bat
talions melted away, the line was shat
tered, it staggered, then halted, and the
next moment fell back repulsed, and sought
shelter in small rsvine. They were re-en-
forced by fresh troops, and charged repeatedly
upon the heights, but only to be hurled back
IL +I.,t i-,,J ~ I,
rebel guns.