The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-04-18
"Where tbe Battle was Fought"
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, March o.

FREDERICKSBURG VA, March 2i.-
All who have in mind the late civil war
can not but recall some of the scenes that
transpired around the Wilderness, lying
about twelve miles to the west of Fred.
ericksburg. Here, everybody remem.
bers, was fought the bloody battle of the
Wilderness, May S and 6, 1861, and in
the same vicinity the battle Of Chancel-
lorsville, in the Spring of the year 1868.
It was during this campaign of 1863 that
the Southern army suffered a great blow
by the loss Of one of its best. men-Gen.
"stonewall" Jackson.ss. he vas wounded
by his own men through their mistaking
him and his staff for tie. cavalry of the
Northern army. Three balls took effect
in his arms-two in his left and one in
the hand of his right. While be was
being borne from the. field one of the
litter carriers was shot down, causing the
litter to fall to the ground injuripg Jack.
son much by the fall. he was then
taken to the hospital Mt Wilderness Run,
where he died eight days afterwards.
His remains rest now at Lexington, Va,
which'was his home. Though both armies
lost valuable.men, all agree that 1Stone.
wall' Jackson was the most important
who fell here. The wilderness, as viewed
to-day, does not present much..s:.material
change since the days when so many
noble hearts ceased to beat in upholding
the cause which they believed to be right.
The growth of timber which stood when
the war began was mostly destroyed by
the camping of the two armies in its
midst during winter, but the growth
at present is,very dense-so dense that il
is nearly impossible to make ones way
through it. This great body of woods
may we'll be called the Wilderness, as it
embraces thousands of acres of densely
wooded land, unbroken by cultivation
except on the "old plank" road which
runs from Fredericksburg to Orange
Court House, a distance of forty miles.
It was on this old road that the armies
marched, after the battle of Fredericks-
burg, to Charlottesville. 1t was origi.
nally laid with what were called planks,
and from which it derived the name of
the "plank road" These plauks were
nothing more than logs hewn so that
they would ct closely together and we're
fiat on top, which made very smooth
road. Another great advantage derived
from such road was that it never be-
came impossible by reason of being cut
up during rainy seasons.by the constant
travel.
Since the running of the narrow gauge
railroad through this country the old
road has not been kept up, but in many
places one may see some of the old planks
strewn along the roadside. 1t was about
four miles above Charlottesville, on
this road, that Jackson fell. The spot
until very recently was marked only by
large white rock. This has now been
replaced by small but pretty monu'
ment of marble surrounded by q neal
iron railing. Near by still stands the
tree under which he fell from the litter
The visitor will be struck by the remark.
able preservation of the breastworks
which were thrown up during the war
They stand out in relief as plainly as
they did the day they were abandoned
Stretching along unbroken for miles these
old breastworks seem to stand as monu
ments to those who fell behind them il
the discharge oftheir duty. The mounds
of earth and logs behind which the can
non were placed are still to be....seen il
the same state ofpreservation. I do moi
know of any place which impresaes tht
visitor more than this scene of the battle
fields of the Wilderness. During th'
summer visitors to these spots often carry
home relics which they find in their wan
derings through this immense body o
woods viewing the old battle grounds
such as old muskets, bayonets, an ole
canteen or camp. kettle. One reason 70.
the remarkable preservation. of these
breastworks is the fact that there ha
been no effort made to clear up tn,
country for cultivation, but On the con.
trary, much of the land that was thel
cleared has since grown up in dense PIN
woods, with the exception Of a strip ex
tending along the railroad mentioned
before, running from Fredericksburg t.
Orange. Charlottesville, of which w,
have heard go much in connection will
the history ofthe war, presents exactl..
the same appearance to-day as it dit
when General Hooker, the commando
of the Army of the Potomac, made it hi
headquarters. It consisted of solitar.
house constructed of brick, with larg
porch, in which General Hooker wa
standing, leaning against one of tn
|
posts, when cannon ball struck it, stun
ming the General 30 much that all VIII
witnessed it thought he had been killed
The house is large one, built in simpl
style and situated in a small opening 0
the woods. This place presents charm
ing appearance to tie traveller who ha
been making his way through dens
woods for many hours when he sees tn
green meadow that surrounds This oil
house situated in a grove of trees.
few out-houses, such IS a stable, barn
&C., complete the scene of Chancellorz
vile.
The Wilderness, with its tract of bro
ken table land, extends southwark nearl.
to spottaylyania Court Housc-a smal
place composed Of few a frame dwelling
-aud, like Charlottesville, presents n