The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-06

paddles. and when loaded down with men
il was exceedingly mwicldy. But as we
sailed hundreds OF rebel soldiers fired thcir
muskOts "a as az very short range, and hence
the excitement of our voyage. Pont0on boats
were carried along with tie troops on wagons
drawn by that iaiih.ul patriot, the army nulc.
i=a pant Of his comprehensive preliminary plan
:CE the ChanccilursvIlle campaign, Gen Hooker
ordered the First Corps 10 cross the river below
Frederick sburg and occupy the attention of the
enemy while greater movements were being
made elsewhere.
Tho troops left thcir Winter camps near Belle
Plain. Va. about noon APRIL -, 1853. and
marched toward the Lappahanuock at Pollock $
Nall. or Fitz lIHgh's Crossing. IS the place Is
more commonly called When near the river
halt WAS made until after midnight The
troops wcIc then aroused and marched forward
20 execute plaza tor crossing the river ri the
hT-i bush Of dawn, as Gen. Pcpc would SAY.
aud surprising the enemy. Bot mules are not
20 be relied upon for secrecy. rs their iuCessant
and voCi .crOGs " wce-hawiug" gave the enemy
ample notice OF our approach. and destroyed all
hope II surprising Anybody. Ii was daylight
before the Engineer Corps had more than half
If their boats I'm oadcd from The wagons and
iaEched into The water. WHOM crack came { lie
mGsEeiTy 81 tie rebels, who were In rilr-pis
beyond the river. Such a skcladllc OF mules
".th p0ltOou boats ot negro drivers. aud *. r.
duty men, who plunged toward The river as we
losSad the track Cor them, YVES not often seen
~ Uir. be project for surprising the enemy
bad failed. The river is here about POO yards
wide and very deep The hanks are steep and
high. There MAS but one thing left 0 do, and
fHat WIS 10 cross the river in the boats IN face
a .Le fire OF the enCiay Our regiment 9th
y was selected 10 lead in this peTiluus enter
Prise il was very honorable distinction, bus
mast, rs workable historian. say that VIC
would willingly have resigned the proHcrgi
HorOTF tEt they dd nos do things that wav in
battle. kuaIsacks we're unslung aud piled
uqoa the ground; men were selected from each
company 10 act rs oarzmCn. and instructed i'm
their duties Col. L. s.. Bragg briefly stated
what was expected. aud the plan for the mos G.
meat. Tie plan was simple: Troops were 20
.r moved forward 10 the edge Of the river bank.
aud batteries or artillery 70 be planted on a
range o. hiils behind U.s. Both were TO fire
vigorously - Tie enemy IN the rife pits while
We ran into tie boats, rowcd them across the
r.vcr scrambled mp the bank and dove The
rebels ont, or held Tie ground II we could un.il
boats could bring over more men 10 help us.
These additional boats would be carried 10 tive
river Ca tic shoulders Of the men who came
after rs.
Dispositions were soon made, and we moved
our uFon the plain in line Of battle. We had
% pass over an open field aad down q storing
T.yer aEGing cut in the bank. 10 reach tie
heats. and were compelled 20 sustain the Ere Of
tie enemy ~ short range during this march aud
tie pas age OF the river. When our bat,le-liue
appeared upon the plain the rebels turned their
fire on rs. aud the batteries ou the hill behind
1s opened q tremendous FIRE on them Now
ior Il. men, By the right uf companies to
tie iTgut- lnn-March were the orders
ciyea ID sharp. ieTay emphasis by Col Bragg.
Tic evolution was performed like clockWork.
and the companies started Tor the boats OF
dead run. ] WIFI illustrate.