Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-21
,ho General replied. II will do my best to

the General replied. II will do my oes' 70
Jackson's Corps, Mr.. Hayden rays, LEFT
the Tabernacle little:after sun-up." AL
day long 1t was marching past tho front OF
Hooker's army. General Dickinson says
that the movement was repeatediy op
served by the Union troops. and that now
ard, who commanded the rlght nahx, wa.
frequently cautioned. he thought tnat ~
was Lees army retreating toward kich-
mOnd.
Jackson's guide said that they were re-
peatedly in sight OF the Union line, while
making the movement. although Jackson
eLdeayored to keep under cover ~ inucn
as possible. He struck Howard's hank
about shutdown. IL was IN thick woods
There wers no pIckets out and the division
on the flank was getting ITS supper.
TO use the words of General Dickinson.
The instant jackson struck Howard his
flank was in the air." The whole Eleventh
Corps flowed back past the Chancellor
House like stream of water and turned
down the road 10 the ford. There was no
rallying il. IL made q determined break
for United States ford, where II had
crossed tho river. Sergeant Mannion says
that section OF battery was placed 80 as
TO command the p0ntoons. witn orders TO
fire upon the mob If they tired To cross
pahannock until SedgwIck had Withdrawn
from the south side Of the river and taken
position near the ford. where ne could
protect Rockers retreating army II neces-
sary.
THE BATTLEFIELD.
Within n circuit of ten miles from the
Chancellor House -. f3G men fell. killed ana
wounded It IS the centre OF several vast
battle-feids. Spotsylysnla Courthouse ana
Fredericksburg are each Ten miles distant,
the Bloody Angie eight miles and the
Wilderness Tavern five miles. The Cham
cellor estate is now owned by the Chancel-
lorsville Battle-F Field Association, OF which
General Dickinson is president. tho
rough survey of the property has been
made. showing the lines OF the rlfie-pits
and breastworks. The estate comprises
934 acres. The woods are now being
cleared, so that the positions ana move
ments of the contending armies can be IN
telligently traced.
While a woodsman was making a clear
ing on Tuesday he laid down TO drink
from a stream IN the thIckest part OF the
woods. While drinking he saw IN the
sand what looked like piece OF IRON hoop.
He reached for 1t and found that It was
fast 10 something and succeeded IN bring
inc to light an old musket. The lock was
up and rammer rusted in its socket. The
barrel was rusty aud the rust had eaten
the lock out of shape. The breech was
worm-eateu. and what he had taken for
hoop was the iron shoulder piece. Inc
musket had evidently been thrown INTO
the stream by some retreating soldier
twenty-nine years ago. IL looked like
relic OF Rip Van Wrinkle.
Every day men employed in clearing up
the woods are unearthIng shells. belt
prasses. buttons SOLID shot. grape, cannis-
ter eases. Confederate canteens, and other
curlOsitles.
The narrow-gauge road running from
Fredericksburg TO Orange Courthouse
passes within a mile of the battlefield.
When the Grand Army meets in Washing
ton in September some arrangements VIII
probably be made by which Its members
can visit the battle field at small expense.
Meantime the battlefield association Is
building a circular road around its proper
ty. laying off avenues and streets and
marking the points OF interest.
To a survivor of the Army OF the PotO-
mac the field has fascinating interest. lie
has no difficulty in finding his line of bat
tie and his camp. The roads are a. yellow
aud dusty as in the days OF yore. The
Chancellor meadow Is a. green as when
Sickelss pickets took their intervals and
first swept over It,. The sky Is as garish
shade of the old mansion | rested my head
against the family grindstone and went 10
sleep. Iawoke with a start. The booming Of
cannon hlled my ears. IL came from the
spot where the Confederate Lannes fell.
Inc sunlight had gone, and the SKY was
overcast. Black clouds were banked over
the Jackson monument. The roaring was
from the artillery OF heaven. and not from
that of Stonewal. The wind swirled
around the mansion, swaying the trees, and
scattering blossoms over the dOOryard.
The mating birds stopped twitterlng, and
drops of rain began 10 fall. IL was
counterpart OF the storm that accOmpa-
MED Rockers retreat. The old soldiers IN
our party marked 1t aud drew parallels
from II.
The DAYS of the fight are recalled at
every turn. There are still little green
lizards darting over the dead wood. and
the night air is filled with the music OF
whippoorwills and the piping of frogs and
turtles. Jobs coffin still surveys the field
from the starry skies and tho drumming
of the woOdpecker at early morn al
nounces the hour for reveille. All are
here except the bones OF the dead. They
have been gathered from knoll and valley
and massed IN an ever-sleeping army corps
OH the Heights of Fredericksburg.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS.