Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-22
PLUNKETT AND WOLSELEY.
Battles Of Fredericksburg and Gettys'
burc-The Old 5Ian Thinks He Knows
More than General woiscley.
ATLANTA Constitutional

ITS mighty easy for General Wolseley
TO talk from across the ocean about what
General Lee ought to have done az Frede-
ricksburg or about what lac ought not 10
have done az gettysburg
So spoke piunkctt as he threw his paper
on the porch floor and lifted his feet on
the banisters
THE circumstances az Fredericksburg
were one thing and the circumstances at
Gettysburg were another thing" con-
tinued The old man.
General Wolscley wasn't at Fredericks-
burg | reckon ho wasn't. II he was he
wasn't ar private he don't know what
the necessities Of Lees army was.
" Il was in the dead Of winter.
The Confederate soldiers were naked.
Snow kiyerad the ground on the morn
ing that LOngstree.'s signal-gun sounded
out and announced 10 Jackson that Burn
sides was crossing the river. Molseley
didn't hear that gun-ho was IN England,
sleek and fat and warm. He didn't hear
Jacks0ns answering gun which announced
ready.
Then the bugles bowed and the drums
beat and the barefooted and naked soldiers
of Lees army rolled out from their earth
covered huts or stretched blankets. fell in
line, and dOuble-quicked 20 the heights on
the south side Of the river which divided
the two armies.
"Lonestreet's corps took position above
andin front fredericksburg. Tom Cobb,
a noble Georgia soldier, had his command
behind a rock fence that wound into the
CITY Ground the foot Of Marye's Heights,
and there it was that this brave man give
up his life. seed his horse squat and
trcmble when the shell busted TINT shiyered
his leg Woiseley didn't see it-never seed
no SIGH fighting, and | hope he never Will.
An Irish brigade, the flower of Burn
sides army, were charging the fence when
Cobb fell For sixteen successive times
did these brave men make an attempt TO
drive the Conicderates from that fence.
"Gcueral Lee rode 90 the batteries on the
heights. and looking down upon the car
maze in the valley he said:
49, I wish Burnsidcs had command of the
whole Yankee nation and would bring them
ergin l0n1street down thcre.'
History may not say anything erbout
this incid mt, but 1t Is so. | was there
behind log and besides the artillerymen
told that wa what hc said. Anyhow, |
know darncd we'll that know and seeder
heap more than ever W0lseley saw.
Them Yankees were well dressed and
we'll fed, and. might say, well whiskeyed.
The COnfedoratcs who ht them were
naked, starved. and hareiOOted. When
the fight was over the Yankees were
stripped OF every vcstige Of wearing APP
parel and their nude bodies lay exposed
upon the snow-coycred field Of battle.
These are facts
"Not only this. but while Longstreet was
90 successful IN fyont Of Fredericksburg,
Jackson had or terrible tussil down the
river. Some of his men throwed rocks 10
hold q railroad cut and If ever you seed
Yankees dodge II was then.
Lees army was in 10 condition to
cross that river and follow up his victory.
AT Gettysburg the whole Yankee ma
ton wore stirred up. The Confedcrates
were on their ground at their doors. |
don't know so much crbout that place, but
know they fit and Ut mighty hard. The
old soldiers sold there was er difference IN
invading and being invaded.
" / love General Leo love his memory.
love to hear the name Of Jackson, but It
makes me mad when any little old fell-4'
from erway crcross the ocean says tmngs
in disparagement Of Longstreeto war re-
cord" SAEGE.