The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-12-18

In the center of the group stands George
Gordon Meade. Dec. 10 is the anniversary
of the battle of Fredericksburg, which &C.
Cured in 1862, and at which time General
Meade commanded the Pennsylvania Re-
serves, the, 4, 800 strong, part of General
Franklin's Grand Division, which crossed
the Rappahanock on pontoon bridge three
miles below The city, Dec. IL, and on the 18th
was directed to lead the charge and break
the right Of the Confederate line under COM
mand Of Stonewall Jackson. The histories
of the war tell that it was accomplished !;
that the rife pits were taken and lines pene-
trated even to Jackson's camps and held for
nearly ole hour. But "some one had blum
dered," and no support came. We have
never seen 1t stated, but we believe it was
less than50O men who penetrated those lines
through fhe neck of forest and held the posi-
ton for that time, while 10000 men remained
idle within guDshot in their rear, and the
battle was thereby lost. The Reserves that
day lost $40 men out of 4 ,500-nearly 40 per
cent thu 18th regiment, in which the writer
served, lost nearly GO per cent, and his COM
! I
was a warm encounter, and most of the cas-
nalties occurred in less than five minutes.
When it is added that it was after this the
lines were penetrated and held as long as
ammunition lasted, and until enveloped and
getting / red-hot on both TANKS, as we'll as
in front, and no support coming up, 1t might
be reasonable impression that this handful
Of ~ had
that day and were justified in retiring from
the presence of probably ten thousand Of
Lees veterans, who had got mad about
something, were "on the fight" and coming
a running" We have an impression that
we retir,d-somewhats ulkily, it Is trae-but
with steady and graceful diffidence that
soon brought US out of the timber into the
open fieh. 1t was here that Gen. Meade
rode up TO perhaps a hundred of the Re-
serves who had rallied in a scattered group
at the railroad track, and instead of congrat-
ulating th.m on their escape, as they might
have anticipated, he drew his sword, and in
wildly exdted terms, as he dashed about,
ordered the squad to "charge them % "charge
them, men !; the battle is won; charge them !!
Forward Forward ~ 1t was too late. The
enemy ware upon us In serried lines, and a
battery three hundred yards away that had
been silepced and abandoned. was again re-
manned and was giving us case and canister
accompaniment to rafting musketry, which
was bad enough of itself. 1t was a glorious
kind of anger that swayed General Meade,
and the boys would have liked very much to
have apIeased it by obeying, but the job
was too Zig, and there was scarce a cartridge
left. Offers and men looked at each other
nqairiagly whether they should 60 back to
certain death or capture, and still the lines
of gray CAME on and shot and shell fell
thicker. General Meade was splendid SOL
der, but he vas not noted for amiability,
and he probably was never "hotter in the
collar" land ty the way he wore the old reg
ulation leather stock) than he was for the
few minutes hat ensued between his arrival
there and the time when looking back to the
batteries and seeing no support coming,
while the very air grew full OF hostile lead
and iron, he turned his horses head and rode
sadly back up the slope to his own artillery
line with part of the little band who had
been through the lines struggling after him.
II that charge had been supported the Union
army would have been victorious at Freder-
icksburg, 70, 1t broke the Confederate lines,
and FrankLn's Grand Division could have
taken the dty in the rear in an hour and
rendered successful the otherwise hopeless
direct attack of Marye's heights.
And so, although it was sad day, and a
fatal and fruitless charge, the picture of
Meade, who made his army admire him for
his sturdy fighting qualities, even If he was
little cross came as welcome souvenir
and reminder to enc of his boys, twenty.
three years after that day, on the field at
Fredericksburg We were one of the "Trav-
elers' ito the rear) that day ourself, and an
accident policy" would have commanded
premium anywhere IN the vicinity of Fred
ericksburg,