Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-17
CROSSING THE RIVER.

CROSSING THE RIVER.
mand Of the Army Of the Potomac. He
WIS determined to capture Richmond.
His plan Of operations had not been ap-
proved entirely by hissuperiors. Final
~ President Lincoln told him to go
ahead, provided he would move quickly.
lie saw possible chance for success.
Burnside's plan was to occupy Fred
ericksburg, and with that as base to
move against Richmond. When most
Of Burnside's troops arrived opposite
Fredericksburg, in the latter part Of
November, there was only small gar
rison in the town. There was great de-
lay, owing to misunderstanding and
bad roads, in the arrival Of the pontoon
trains, and this gave Lee opportunity to
move up his army from the south, and
to fortify himself on long ridge d.
rectly back of the town. Fredericks-
burg lay close to the river, on low
plateau. Burnside stretched his artil-
lery along the crests Of a double range
Of hills opposite the town. Lee was
compelled to remain in his fortifca-
tions back OF the town. To come down
to the river would have been almost
suicidal.
Burnside made feint Of crossing the
river Is miles below fredericksburg,
but the position Of his artillery showed
clearly to Lee what his plans were. On
December 10 all the pontoon material
was in readiness for use. Brig. Gen. D.
F. Woodbury. was in charge Of the en-
cheering work. 1t was decided to lay
four bridges-one a mile below the
town, one at the lower end Of the town,
and two opposite the center Of the town.
Work began on these bridges at three
o'clock in the morning Of December II.
The night was bitterly cold. A mist
almost as thick as u fog enveloped the
operations. A regiment Of infantry
supported the pontoniers Of each
bridge. The artillery lay behind, on the
crests Of the hills. Work had gone on
smoothly In the darkness, but at six
a. nj. there came check In buildings
near the river front, behind walls and
other distractions, the confederates
had placed numerous sharpshooters.
The ravine-like character Of the river
bed prevented the use Of artillery By
Lee to destroy the pontoon bridges. His
plan was to harass the pontoners as
much as possible, but he could not hope
to check them completely.
In the haze of the morning 1t was
possible to see about 300 yeards. Each
Of these bridges was only about 400
feet long. The bridge u mile below the
town was finished early in the morning,
after slight suspension ofwork caused
by an attack by the confederates. The
bridge at the lower end Of the town
and one Of those opposite the center
were each about two-thirds finished at
six, o'clock, when the confederates be-
gan q raking fire on the unarmed men
at work anchoring the pontoons and
laying the flooring. The men we're
compelled to leave. Gen. Woodbury., in
speaking Of this necessity, said, later:
ut is generally considered a brave
feat to cross bridge Of any length
under fire, although the danger may not
last more than minute or two. How
much more difficult to build bridge,
exposed for hours to the same murder
Gus fire, the danger increasing as the
bridge is extended!'
The fog was SO dense that the artillery
on the hills could not silence the fire Of
the sharpshooters, who were practic-
ally secure in their shelters, one Of
which was loopholed block house,
only few yards from the spot where
one Of the upper bridges was to end.
One captain was killed and two wound
ed in that daybreak fire Of confederate
sharpshooters. Burnside was behind
his schedule time. Only one Of the four
pontoon bridges was in working order.
Every hours delay gave Lee an advan-
tage in forming plans to repel an at.
tack. At ten o'clock volunteers were
called for to finish the work on one Of
the upper bridges. Eighty men from n
Connecticut regiment responded. One
half of them were held in reserve and
the others detailed to finish the bridge
work. Several Of these were shot down
as soon as they set foot on the bridge;
and then all refused to work further,
mitch to Gen. Woodbury's chagrin.
Soon after noon the fog cleared and
the heavy fire Of Furnishes artillery |
soon checked the attacks of the con-
federate sharpshooters and silenoed
most OF them. Several Of their sheifers.