The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-11
by the Union artillery, and are driven in

NIGHT.
Gen. Sedgwick prepares for the morrow.
Long trains of ambufances wind down the
slope to fredericksburg with the wounded.
| He sees that he must make connection with
Banks's Ford, which was abandoned few
hours ago by the Confederate brigade under
Wilcox. On the opposite side of the river is
Gen. Benham with brigade and pom
toon team. The engineers go to work, and
at ii o'clock have bridge laid, over which
Gen. Warren hastens, to see Hooker riding
up the north bank to United States Ford,
and thence to Charlottesville. While War
ren is riding west, Early, with his troops,
moves cautiously forward, crosses Deep
Run to Maryes Nights, finds no Union
| troops there, and once more is in possession
of the ground for the possession of which so
many Union soldiers have given their lives.
If Sedgwicks orders had permitted, he
might have swung south, swept Early away,
and captured all of Lees supplies; but his
orders were to advance to Charlottesville,
and he must obey them.
GEN. LEES PLAN.
Gen. Lee is quick to act. He sees that
Sedgwick must be crushed, cost what it
may. He sees that his supplies are in dam
ger. If he is cut Off from the railroad at
Hamilton's Crossing he must team his sup
plies long distance, or retreat towards
Richmond. He decides to leave Stuart to
confront Hooker, and go with another Corps
to Salem Church. With Early he will have
force much larger than that of Sedgwick.
He sees that Hooker has decided to stand
on the defensive, and he will leave Stuart to
keep up demonstration while he crushes
Sedgwick. So we see on the morning of
Monday, May 4, the troops of Anderson's
Division fastening east to join McLaws and
Early.
THE POSITION OF THE ARMIES.
Look at the position of the two armies.
In fredericksburg is Gibbon with 1000
Union troops and the wounded. On Marye's
Hights is Early, with 5000 Confederates.
Three miles west is Sedgwick, with 1000.
In front of him. moving round to join Early,
is Lee, with $4,000. Eight miles west, at
Charlottesville, is Stuart, with what is left
Of Jacks0p's Corps, not more than $4,000.
One mile north, secure behind the breast
works, is Hooker, with more than 10000!
These are approximate and relative num-
bers only, for after so much fighting and
marching no one can tell just how many
troops there were in either army.
GEN. WARREN.
It was midnight when Gen. Warren, who
had been with Sedgwick, crossed the river
on the pontoon bridge at Bankss Ford and
rode to Charlottesville to inform Gen.
Hooker of what had been accomplished. He
sent this dispatch to Sedgwick: Every
thing snug here. We repulsed the last
assault with ease. Gen. Hooker wishes
them to attack him tomorrow if they will.
He does not desire you to attack again in
| force unless he attacks, you. At the same time
look well to the safety of your corps and
keep up communication with Gen. Benham
at Bapks's Ford and Fredericksburg You
can go to either place if you think best"
Another great opportunity had come to
Gen. Hooker, but he did not see it.
4 am confronted by 10000 men," said
| Sedgwick.
1t is possible that Hooker did not know
how many men Lee had taken away, but he
knew some troops had left. Why not attack
instead of waiting to be attacked? Why
not mass his force on the right, swing it
round and take Stuart in flank, or on his
left, and push between Stuart and Lee, and
so help Sedgwick? He has nearly four
times as many troops as Stuart. We can
understand why he does not From the out
set he has resolved to fight defensive
| battle. He does not see his great opportu-
nifty. He is deceived by the show which
| Stuart is making. He makes no movement
to discover what changes have taken place
in Lees lines. The golden moment goes by
never to return.
LEES ATTACK.
Gen. Sedgwick has taken defensive po-
sition. His left is down by the Rappahan-
mock, halfway from Fredericksburg to
Bankss Ford. 1t extends south two miles
| IN % rlarE raad fhan IN tho h
west to the river. The line is six miles
long and the troops are strung out along the
entire distance.
Itwas after o'clock in the evening before
! Lee was ready. The signal was to be three
guns. The moment they were fired all the
! divisions were 10 advance and drive Sedg-
wick into the river.
We see Early moving up from Fredericks-
| burg. Next in line is Ander5on's Division
the brigades of Wright, Posey, and Perry,
! then McLaws's Division. The principal at
! tack is TO be by Early and Anderson, while
McLaws holds his position.
Gen. Howe's Division is in front of Early.
Col. Tompkins, commanding the Union ar
! tillery, has carefully planted the batteries
! Howe has two positions. He proposes to
| hold the front one as long as he can, and
| then fall back to his second and stronger
one, where his reserves are lying out of sight.
! 1t is past sunset when Early begins the
attack He is received by a hot fire, but the
| Confederates rush On. Howe withdraws
! the troops on his left to the stronger line.
! Earlys men advance with cheer, but sud
/ denly the woods fame, and terrific volIey
cuts them down and they fee in confusion.
/ In this short strife Early loses nearly 1,500,
! killed, wounded and missing
Night comes; the battle is over. Lee has
not crushed Sedgwick nor driven him into
/ the river, but Scdgwick sees that he cannot
| hold so long line. Messages pass between
| Hooker and Sedgwick
Withdraw, cross the river, and prevent
any [COnfederatel force crossing" was the
order received by Sedgwick at between
! and o'clock in the morning.
! The troops began to cross. The Confeder-
ates heard the rumbling of the artillery, and
began dropping shells upon the bridge 1t
was very annoying, but before morning all
/ Of Sedgwicks troops were on the northern
/ shore, also those of Gibhon.
| Gen. Hooker called his corps commanders
! together. What should be done? ? The army
/ started with provisions for eight days, and the
food was nearly gone. The army was in q
! strong position, but no advantage would be
/ gained by remaining and it was decided TO
/ retreat.
AT sunset the long lines began TO cross.
/ The water was rising. The engineers were
/ Obliged TO take up one bridge to piece out
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