The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-04
Scales on Davis

From Gen. Alfred NJ. Scales we have
a pamphlet copy OF his address before
the Army Of n. Va. Association" in
Richmond, last November. Subject j.
the battle of Fredericksburg; "a remin-
iscence of particular interest with Us, as
that battle was fought on our 18th birth
day. and amid the thick of the fray the
thought kept buzzing like a bee that
possibly a small stray little bullet would
stop the Almanac on the same day it
started.
Gen. Scales discusses the battle very
lntelligently and pays an high tribute to
Gen. Pender and also President Davis.
We take a few extracts:
'On the eve Of the memorable 18th,
as heretofore mentioned. lust before
dusk, | vas with Gen. Fender, at his
request, assisting in the command OF
his brigade. The firing had ceased, the
work Of the day, whether good or bad
had been done. The soldiers were eat
| ing their evening meal in contemplation
OF rest and sleep so necessary and sweet
to the soldier, after two DAYS Of intense
excitement and watchfulness. exposure
and severe conflict 4 courier rode up and
handed TO Gen. Pender an order from
from Gen. Jackson through A. L. Hill.
He read and re-read it., with a grave and
anxious face, and handed it to me. 1t
was in substance to hold his brigade in
readiness to advance at near dusk, (nam-
ing the hour, in connection with the
yrIalA 1T.a mo H. 1o TIT;
was issued, and though there was some
disappointment manifested, there was
40 grumbling among the troops, but all
prepared with alacrIty for the movement.
Pender and | discussed the Crder,-he
in the light of his military education.
and | in the light Of its common sense
and practicability. We botn agreed hat
the order was iniudicious and hazardous.
In an hour il was countermanded and
we slept. 1t has been said time and
again that such a movement on the
night Of the 18th or on the 18th should
have been made. This is not justified
by the facts or circumstances in the
case. Lee had but one army and if lost
it could not be replaced a night at
attack was most hazardous confusion
and uncertainty would inevitably attend
it. and the result might be disastrous.
What had been lone was at so little loss
to US, that we could form no idea of the |
damage, immense though it was to the
enemy. There were at least in our front
loo. 200 men, and at least 200 pieces OF
artillery, and most of them on Stafford's
height on the North side of the river be-
yond the reach of our guns. We did not
know that so many of their troops had
been actually engaged or the extent of
their Generalization. The Federal gov
eminent had insisted upon a vigorous
campaign against Richmond. There was
murmuring by reason of the many disas-
trous failures, and their people demand
ed il. To this end Mcclellan, who was
regarded as too slow, was removed and
Burnside substituted. These facts, to-
with many other circumstances
indicated that the onward movement
would not be abandoned, and that the
attack would renewed. Lees position
was almost impregnable, an assault by
the Federals on the 18th, similar to the
one of the 18th promised well for the
destruction of their army with compare
lively little damage to us. Gen. Lee
determined to await further de-
velopments. On the night Of the 18th,
Longstreet's line was strength
ened by works and reinforced by troops
IN front, so that by nex morning he says
that he could have beaten back the world
attacked over the same ground. There
were changes made also in Jackson's
line, and the weaker parts reinforced.
by 10 o'clock on the 18th. Gen. Long.
street, in a letter written at my request,
- slx 49, |
tack would not be renewed by Burnside.
and that Gen. Lee himself then coDsid- |
cred the question Of making an assault.
TO RE CnNTINuED |