The National tribune., 1891-10-22
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
Continued from First page.l

shauoWsirom bleeding hcaTtsan desoiated homes.
Neither do they cure the wounded honor Of the
soldier; and most OF ALL in this ease. answer not
the demands Of truth. But suppose they did. who
Is responsible Tor the panicY Panics have their
laws. and they generally under the control Of
human forecast and seldom do they occur where
that important Eculty has presided The great gen
orator Of panic is surprise-surprise. Surprise es
peeaiy in bEoadday light, Is most hated by all mill
iary commanders. because in the majority Of cases
1t Is synonymous with
ISCoMPETENCY. STUPIDITY OR TEEACHEEY.
That one brigade (German) behaved badly is Rd-
mitted; that they panic-stricken through the
lines OF other brgades. .dsorganzing them Il true;
but that 1t was not their fault but that Of the com
manders. or commander. and that the result
must have been the same with any troops, OF any
condition Of discipline nationality. la from three
to five minutes, il most certain. as the public may
judge when 1 state the facts.
THE MARCH.
The march was the most remarkable one OF this
war, or any other. All the sick and doubtful cases
were lef behind. and the campaign undertaken by
the hardy and buoyHnt. With enthusiasm they
broke up their Winter camp. and full Of confidence
In Hooker, began march they hoped would be
crowned with decisive results for the country.
How patiently they tOiled beneath their KNAPP
sacks weighed down by eight days TatiOns,
marched by day md By nigh; through and
storm, are matters Of heroic record. And crossing
the Rhpidan without opposition concluding that
for once our plans aot revealed TO the enemy,
they became hopefully iubiIant. There were nu-
merous regiments which took into the fight every
musket with which they left camp. The latter
part Of the march was made on the plank road
leading from Orange Courthouse to Fredericks-
burg They continued the march on this highway
down 70 the point where the old turnpike leading
from the place joins H. distant from Chaneel
lorsyiile about mile and u half when the boys
= flied left" and cRuDed for the night mile from
the point Of juncture, aud slept in peace. Friday
was spent la making preparations for the decisive
hour. skirnishing and occasional eannonading
giving an earnest Of the coming fray.
THE LINE OF BATTLE TAKEN
by the Eleventh Corps was formed early Saturday
morning, and kept during the day IL WAS "A long
weak line, that might have been pierced at almost
any point; and, making it still feebler one brigade
was detached 10 pursue the retreating - rebels
No advantage Of ground WIS gained by thus ex-
tending Ii. Rihe-pts had been dug along the 'front.'
hhording our troops large measure Of safety while
firing upon the enemy attempting to sweep over
the open field before them.
Meanwhile the rebels were busy trying our line
in order To seize upon and profit by its weak points.
About noon 1t became quite evident they had made
their decision. for large bodies were distinctly seen
passing along the Katharpin road in the direction
Of our right flank. This road branches of from
the plank road eight miles from Fredericksburg
at "a place called Decker's. Al Ford's Tavern four
miles from Deekers, it receives Brooks's road
ming almOstat right angles with IT, and utersecting
the plank road and the old turnpike. a glance
at any one Of the published maps or diagrams Of
the late fight will show the great facility these
roadways gave for massing forces upon our rightly
Their course aud relation to each other ought TO
have suggested the probability Of the movement
aud caused such disposition OF forces as would
have enabled us to meet 1t promptly and effectu-
ally. But the wisest OF men seem flted TO seasons
Of stupidity. The commander OF the First Division
was not even Of the existence Of the roads
Of the topography Of the locality. When asked by
one Of his ablest TegimrnraI commanders: Do
you know where you sre?" he answered No
don't know as dot" do you know anything of
the roads Of this section?" "No."
This same regimenial officer then went 10 an old
resident
YANKEE CLOCK PEDDLER,"
and got n description Of them. and then made
rough diagram. and brought il 10 his undisturbed
General! But after this be failed appreciate
the Significance OF these numerous roads "a chan
mel FOR the rapid movement Of troops The day
wore idly away with while the rebels we're per-
fecting their plans. At about p. Capt Santer,
Co. y. 55th Ouio. out ON picket, sent in his FIRST
Sergeant with word that the enemy were massing
The extreme right with infantry and artillery.
Subsequently scouts from the 18th Ohio brought
the General intelligence that the enemy were in
full force right. After a while a cavalry
officer came dHshng down tie road, announcing
that the enemy were in force our right with
artillery These thriee-Tepeated warnings ought
10 have reused the most lethArgic keeper of such
holy interests were trembling In the balance at
that hour. But they fell upon ears that needed
hem 80 N was rle red No
adequate Instructions placed in the way OF
the advancing hosts The artillery all remained in
its former position ready TO repeI only front at
tack the front and flank skirmishers had not even
n line OF communication with each otheri Such
the position OF affairs with the First Division
occupying the extreme right. No woader the fear
became general aud painfully evident to every
| subordinate officer that
OUR FLANK WAS BEING TURNED
At6p. m. the attack commenced without premo-
niiion No mounted sentinel came gallopng up
with the news; but very little picket firing her
aided It. The first note Of warning that the shock
/ had come was the shock Itself! A tremendous
voley Of musketry Immediately followed by
deluge Of grape and canister. and the rebels were
/ upon ia overwhelming numbers IN three con-
| centric columns One was moving down the turn
| pike down Brooks's road, and the other
further to the left; and, their prisoners stated
ia full brigade line and forty deep, while section
i Of their artillery was brought up to a position In
the road commanding our line. which IL swept.
| What could 1900 men do with 3O.OOO? Their
| flank aud rear being entirely exposed to its foes
and their position enfiladed at that. But sure
Iy after this surprise In the rear, they will change
| front; common sense demands that, and military
/ science may well blush In shame II il be not in
| stantly done. The commander Of the 55th Ohio
/ his eye upon the right. detects It completely
hanked. Putting spurs To his horse, he hasteus TO
L l. IL D.. IL u. =