The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-22

why, General" be said, "You can't rake
your head with a fine-tooth comb any cleaner
than can comb that plateau with the artillery
already in plaee!"
at was terrible slaughter There was
only one fence on the plateau, and it was liter
ally torn TO pieces by the fire of the two armies
i went down there when the flag of truce
came for an armistice TO bury the dead, and it
was shocking to behold the havoc. / did not
have more than 5000 Of my men engaged. /
had battery on Lees Hill which swept the
railroad, and as the poor fellows attempted TO
flee they rushed for the railroad cut, thinking
TO find shelter there, but instead they were
Just cut TO pieces. Ny position was simply i'm
pregnable. One of my pickets captured
Union officer in the night down there, who
had an order in his pocket to the effect that
Burnside was going to renew the attack
the next day. OF course j felt happy over it.
Noon came, however and still he didn't attack.
] said TO Lee that was beginning to lose my
confidence in Burnside. / made up my mind
that if he did attack / would follow him down
into the town and possibly to the river.
" Lee said that he had ordered Jackson to be
ready TO sweep Franklin into the river. He had
just received three long-range guns, which he
was placing in position TO open upon the Union
batteries on Stafford Hills; but when Jackson
was ready the next morning, Burnside was
beyond the river, and it was well for him that
he was"
sEDGwICK's ATTACK.
General Newton explained Sedgwick' attack
in the battle of May, 1868, spreliminary TO
Charlottesville Sedgwick crossed the Rap
pahannock on pontoons st the same point
where Franklin crossed in December. He had
little brush with skirmishers below the
town. General Early held tbs heights with
about 5000 men. Hooker had expected Sedg-
wick to carry the heights at once, and by early
morning 10 be laundering on Lees flank and
rear at Charlottesville.
Ii was o'clock on q thick, foggy morning
when Sedgwiek began his movement, guided
| by q negro. The fog was so dense that Newton
was within pistol shot of Early's skirmishers,
and could hear the conversation goiug on, and
yet he was not discovered. He withdrew to
form his line. The Confederates had taken up
the planks of the bridges crossing the canal,
which runs back of the town. His engineers
repaired the bridges.
| Newton's plan of attack, approved by Sedg-
wick, was to display wide. front, which
would compel Early TO expand his line. New
/ ton then would launch two columns against
Early, throwing them like lances, 70 pierce his
/ line. He placed Gibbons division and Eustis'
! brigade of his own division out on the right to
demonstrate against Taylor's Hill, formed
| Shaler's brigade in one of the streets in column
of TOURS for his right lance he placed his
| light division under Colonel Burnham, of the
stone wall TO draw the fire of the Confederates
there; formed the 9TH Massachusetts,, under
| Colonel Johns, with the Both New York, in col
umn Of fours, 10 charge up the road, as his left
lance; then Howe's division upon the plateau
| IN front of the cemetery. He deployed Wheat
on's brigade between Howe and the light
division.
This formation caused Early to send Hayes
| brigade from his right to Taylor's Hill to con-
front Gibbon, but Gibbon could not get across
the canal.
THE ATTACK.
It was Sunday morning. Fredericksburg
wss silent-the inhabitants all within their
houses. The tine had come for the launching
4 Of the columns. The sth Iowa, with Colonel
] Spear ct It's head, started upon the run. Down
upon il poured terrible fire. The head of the
! column melted away instantly-Spear and q
/ large number of his men being killed. The
left column went upon the run up the road.
| Two howitzers opened. Twice the head of the
column YVES broken. Johns fell badly wound
ed, but Colonel Walsh, of the Both New York,
! with Colonel Jackson, of Newtons staff, raj
he'd it. and the column, with hurrah, went
mp over the Confederate works, piercing Ear
lys line st the center-carrying the heights,
| which Burnside had in vain tried 20 take. The
Confederates, seeing what had happened, fed
precipitately towards Charlottesville. leaving
several pieces OF the Washington Artillery in
The hands Of the Tictors.
SALEM CHURCH.
| In this article give no plan Of the battles
no detail OF description-but aim only TO re-
cord what was brought out by the visiting
party.
On Friday morning the military visitors and
few ladies took carriages and rode up the
road leading 10 Charlottesville. The first
halt was st Salem Church, where the Confed-
erstes retreating from Marye's Heights, made
stand, and where Sedgwiek came upon them
just before sunset on that Sunday night.
The church is plain brick building, on the
south side Of the road, about four miles from
Fredericksburg. Its northern side and eastern
end are thickly marked by bullets. About one
hundred and fifty feet east Of the church is Q
log SCHOOL, ouse-6oor, door, windows gone
rendezvous for sheep now, but in which q
company OF Confederstes found shelter, as did
q second company In tho church. Ten feet
east Of the church the Line Of Confederate
rifs-pits is still to be seen.
TIE CONFEDERATE POSITION
Colonel Herbert, who commanded the 9th
Alabama, said that WilcoT's division, which
had been holding Banks Ford, started thai
morning for Fredericksburg, but before they
reached Maryes Heights 6edgwick had Dos
session. They had thrown aside their KNAPP
sacks, and were obliged TO leave them In tn,
sudden retreat. He formed his line by the
church. They had two pieces Of artillery. The
companies IN the school-houEe and the church
were of the 9Th Alabama There were tire.
I regiments and one brigade south Of the road
two regiments and Semmes' brigade north Of 1t
The Union troops charged through the wood
. right by the church, breaking the Confederat,
line and capturing the men In the school, house
who threw down their guns; but regimen
IN reserve few rods west Of the church cam'
} to the rescue and the Union line was fcrceC
, back through the woods, the men IN the school
house picking up their guns and pouring in
nrs once more.
TIE UNION LINE.
Colonel Jackson. who Was on General New
toms staff, explained the formation of TIL
Union line-Brooks' division In front, thel
NsTton's and Howe's and Gibbons The ct
tack was not renewed by ssdgwick who wa
compelled TO swing round 70 Psnke Ford 4
make his way 70 Hooker.
Colonel Jackson stated that though terrif
EEht was going on &C Charlottesville, 81,
! miles distant with ali the terrible uproar O
cannon, not sound reached the ears Of III
: NEE at Sslem Church.
THE RETREAT.
Colonel jackson went out In the night b
draw of the pickets. Sedgwick was In tigh
place and great caution was necessary. TIL
order TO withdraw was whispered; the canteen
{ were not 20 be ratified. In silence the picket
7 were withdrawn but before reaching Banks
Ford the withdrawal wss discovered. Thel
came the familiar yell He saw two rocket
7 rise in the air, and the Confederate artiller,
/ H.,