The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-03-08
EREDERlcksRuRG

The battle of Fredericksburg took place
Dec. IS. 1t was a disastrous day to the
Union arms Burnside's plan OF attack was
for Sumner and Franklin to storm the forti-
fed Confederate heights above the town, all
along the line, and carry them by assault.
In the midst of dense fog, Dec. 10, Sum-
ner's grand division had crossed at the upper
pontoon on the right, Franklin's below on the
left. The First, Second, Sixth and Ninth corps
were the troops that had crossed. They were
commanded respectively by Gems. Reynolds,
Couch, W. F. Smith and Wilcox. They
formed their lines parallel to the river, except
Gen. Meade's division of the First corps,
which was at right angles toit. Gen. Double
days division was stationed as a reserve in
the rear of Meade on the left.
The fogs of Dec. IL continued to the 18th.
Added to this, the weather, for Virginia, was
bitterly cold 1t was the first experience Of
some of Lees soldiers with northern winter,
and the night of the 18th some Confederate
sentinels froze at their posts.
Fredericksburg is another Of the battles Of
the civil war about which there has been
much dispute. 1t is said on the one hand
that Burnside's order to Franklin as to the
beginning of the fight was ambiguous in mean
ing. On the other, Gen. Franklin has been
blamed for not pushing the fight solidly on
the Federal left, at Hamilton's crossing.
After crossing the Rappahannock, Franklin
whole command in position for rapid move
ment down the old Richmond road. Burn
side was by no means so well informed of the
strength of the force opposed to him as Lee
seems to have been about Burnside's army
Franklin's corps began the fight early In
the morning, Dec. Is, with Gen. George G.
Meade in the advance There were two lines
of Confederate Notifications along the heights.
Franklin'S attack was on the Confederate
right, against Stonewall jackson. A fearful
storm of shot and shell met the Federals. A.
p. Hills advance Confederate line was driven
back, however, but Gregg, Early and Stuart
closed in and repealed charge after charge.
More than 40 per cent. of Meade's command
fell. Reynolds came to his aid with re-en-
forcements, and Reynolds lost 1000 But
they finally drove the Confederates back
somewhat to Massaponax creek. The fight
between the Federal left and Confederate
right continued two hours.
Summers grand division formed the Fed
eral right. To it fell the task of storming
Marye's hill, the most formidable of the Con-
federate works. Lees officers say that when
their general discovered that Burnside was
about to attack his works on Fredericksburg
heights he was greatly rejoiced. He felt that he
could hold them well nigh against the world.
Longstreet's chief of artillery said to him the
morning of Dec. IS, as they looked over the
ground in front of Marye's hill:
General, we cover that ground now so
well that we will comb it as with fine tooth
comb A chicken could not live on that field
when we open on it.
There is one fact connected with this time
which renders it exceedingly difficult to get
at the exact truth in its history. The reports
and accounts given by army officers and con-
temporary correspondents are manifestly
tinged with the pro or anti-McClellan parti-
sanship. The position of neither Pope nor
Burnside as commander of the Army of the
Potomac was a pleasant one, and that fact
needs to be borne in mind constantly.
Brig. Gen. J. F. Reynolds commanded the
First corps in Franklin's left grand division.
Franklin considered that three divisions of
Reynolds corps were sufficient to carry out
Burnside's order, which he understood to
mean that he should make a reconnaissance
rather than a serious attack. To Reynolds was
deputed this task, and to his corps belonged
Meades division.
- So