Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
Fragments of Valuable Information the
Historians Have Neglected.
rwRIrrEr FoR THE nIsP ArcH1

WRITTEN FOR THE D1SPATCH.1
It is said that the defense of the river
crossing in front of Fredericksburg, Va,
during the War Of the Rebellion, was not
able and wonderful feat of arms, challeng-
ing anything that happened during the war.
General franklin, in plain view of the
enemy, advanced in two lines against jack
sons front, marching in magnificent order,
though his men were apparently doomed to
destruction. No percepitble check could
be observed in the advance, and the first
line in good order entered the woods. Scarce
had it entered than crash of musketry and
the thunder of artillery told of a desperate con-
fict. but it was of short duration. Soon
masses of brave Union men were seen emerg-
ing from the woods in retreat, In good order
and very deliberately.
80
AFTER the retreat from Fredericksburg Gen.
eral Burnsides sent flag of truce to General
Lee, asking permission to send a detachment
to bury our dead. The flag was carried by q
Lieutenant Colonel and two soldiers, who wait
ed in a boat for General Lees answer. OF
course the request was granted. The message
was delivered to the Lieutenant Colonel by q
staff officer of General Lee, who asked where
Burnsides was. He answered.: Just up the
hill across the riverunder an old persimmon tree
awaiIing the dispatch"
my regards to the General and say to him that
thought he was TOO familiar with the sur
roundings of Fredericksburg to butt his brains
out deliberately against our stone walls"
General Burnsides replied: Tell my old
army friends on the other side that / am not
responsible for the attack on Fredericksburg
in the manner in which it was made; that
myself am under orders and am not more than
figure-head here" or words to that effect
IS
THE night Of the day of the battle of Fred
ericksburg was bitter cold one, the thermom-
eter must have fallen to zero and the bodies of
the slain froze fast to the ground.
-.
On the sth of November. 1862 General
Mcclellan was removed from the command of
the Army of the Potomac. General Couch
writes thus briefly about the charges: "Just at
dark had dismounted, and, standing in the
snow, was experimenting the camp arrange
ments of my troops, when Mcclellan came up
with his staff, accompanied by General Burn
side. Mcclellan drew in his horse and the first
thing he said was: Couch, i am relieved from
the command of the army, and Burnside is my
successor
II stepped up to him, took hold Of his hand,
and said General Mcclellan, am sorry for
it, Then. going around the head of his horse
to Burnside. 1 said: General Burnside, I con-
gratulate YOU Burnside heard what said to
General Mcclellan; he turned away his head
and made broad gesture as he exclaimed
Couch, don't say a word about it,"
=.
leave of the army. General Fitz John Porter
sent notes to the corps commanders, informing
them that Mcclellan was going away, and sug-
gested that they ride about with him. Such
scene as that 1eave-taklng had never been
known in our army. Men shed tears and there
was great excitement among the troops, for the
retiring commander was greatly admired. His
troops and majority of his generals would
have followed him anywhere.
-.
PRESIDENT LINcoLN's famous letter to Gen.
eral Mcclellan, dated October l3 1852 reads as
follows: "My Dear Sir You remember my
speaking to you of what I called your over |.
cautiousness. Are you not over-cautious when
you assume Iha you cannot do what the enemy
is constantly doiny? Should you not claim to
t be at upen sas ths s in po asd
tIons with the enemy, and think you
not he would break your communication with
dread his going into Pennsylvania; but if he
does so IN full force, he gives up his commun-
cation to you absolutely, and you have nothing
to do but to follow and ruin him. Exclusive
of the water line, you are now nearer Richmond
than the enemy is, by the route that you can
and he must take 1t is all easy il our troops
march as well as the enemy, and it is unmanly
to say they cannot do it. This letter is in no
sense an order"
GENERAL HOOKER was placed In command
of the Army Of the Potomac January % 1863
Ee had fine qualities as an officer, but not the
weight Of character to take charge OF that
army. Nevertheless under his administration
the army assumed wonderful vigor. President
Lincoln, with his wife, spent few days with
Hooker General Hooker gave dinner party,
at which all the corps commanders were pres
and also Mrs Lincoln. The President would
talk to the oficers'on the subject that was up
'permost in his mind-how TO get the better of
the enemy, and his last induction was:
gentlemen, in your next battle, put in all
your men,"
Had this simple injunction been obeyed at
the battle of Charlottesville that battle would
have been one to our credit, instead of a very
disastrous defeat. UNION SOLDIER.