New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
TWO DEATH-DEALING GUNS.
THE GREATEST DESTRUCTION OF LIFE
BY ARTILLERY

WOUNDED ONE THOUSAND MEN OF
sEDGwICKs CORPS AT
FREDERICKSBURG.
From The Athens Banner
few years since General Fitzhugh Lee. now
American Consul General to Cuba, lectured In
Athens on THE Battle Of Fredericksburg' In
the course Of his lecture giving all the details Of
this battle he stated that the greatest destruc-
ton Of life by artillery during our whole war
was by two guns a section Of battery In
this battle OF Fredericksburg. and, reading
from the Federals own report of this battle
stated the number to have been one thousand
killed and wounded
The General, then addressing his audience.
said land, fellow citizens of Athens, those
guns were section of the battery which went
from your own city of Athens" The facts and
history Of that engagement are as follows
General Scdgwicks Federal corps was occu-
plying Stafford or Falmouth Heights just below
Fredericksburg. and on the opposite side OF
the Rappahannock River from the Confederate
position. He had been ordered to occupy these
heights and watch for opportunity, by at
lacking the Confederate forces In his front, to
turn General Lees right flank. who was en-
gagged in battle with General Hookers army at
Charlottesville. The Confederates Immediately
in front Of General Sedgwick were under the
command OF General Barksdale, Of Mississippi
and consisted Of his brigade or two COM
panies from General Hayes's Louisiana brigade
the Washington Artillery from New-OrleanS
and the Troup Artillery.
This force occupying a line Of about three
miles between Fredericksburg and Hamilton's
Crossing the Richmond and Fredericks-
burg Railroad. They were. Of course. very much
scattered or stretched out in attempting to hold
a line Of such great length. The Washington
Artillery occupied Mayre's Heights just in front
OF Fredericksburg. The Troup Artillery occu-
pied position considerably to the right and In
advance Of the Washington Artillery and just
opposite Deep Bottom Run. on the Rappahan.
mock River. The infantry disposed OF
by companies best to hold and protect the
intervening extent Of our line.
General Sedgwck. discovering the weakness
of our line threw his whole corps across the
river and, attacking General Barksdale's line
at Mayres Heights captured a regiment and
n half Of his infantry brigade and two batteries
Of the Washington Artillery battalion. which
occupied these heights The Troup Artillery, be-
ing to the right and in advance of Mayre's
Heights. thus cut off from the main force
and placed I'm a very critical position. the Fed
eral troops then being in its rear on the left
The colonel in command of the artillery battal-
ion ran the gauntlet. and. reaching the position
command Of that battery of his COZ lltion. and
ordered him to retreat in the direction Of Ham,
ilton's Crossing and get out as best he could
Just at this juncture brigade OF General Sedg-
wick's corps. and which had crossed the river
at Deep Bottom Run appeared in front OF the
Troup Artillery. and formed line OF battle Tor
the purpose Of charging and capturing THIS bat
ter. The officer in command Of the 'Troup Ar
tillery realizing the situation and knowing
that II he then attempted retreat with this in
fantry force Immediately and so closely In his
attend the retreat Of his battery. he and his
whole command would be captured, refused to
obey the order so far as retreating with his
whole battery So sending To the rear and in
the direction Of Hamilton's Crossing his long
range guns and his heavily loaded caissons so
as TO get them out Of the way. he then took n
section ~ Napoleon guns. and. advancing in the
direction ~ The Federal brigade until within easy
canister range. opened fire upon the enemy
with his guns double-shotted with canister.
The slaughter Of this brigade fearful. But
~ IraxF la
OF battle when the artillery officer repeated his
fire Of canister shot with equally destructive eff
feet. The enemy then falling back somewhat
reformed but observing that the artillery officer
was advancing with his section Of guns to re-
peat the fire. they broke and rushed pe-mell
into a ravine just to their left. This artillery
officer then obqued his guns, and, reaching tho
head Of the ravine. poured a terrific and stin
more destructive fire upon the now budding
enemy.
which 80 endangered his retreat. he then had
his guns imbered up to the rear and made safe
his retreat, overtakirg the balance Of his COM
mand near the Richmond and Fredericksburg
Railroad. where his command came up with
portion Of General Jubal Earlys command,
which was marching to the relief Of General
Barksdale
As a result Of this artillery firing the Federal
officers the next morning reported one thousand
killed and wounded This Is the engagement
and the results which General Fitzhugh Lee al
luded to in his lecture here In Athens and which
facts are on file with the records of the war In
the War Department at Washington City.
II Is but due to the Troup Artillery to say in
this connection that the services OF the battery
on this trying and critical occasion were such
as to induce General Robert f. Lee after the
battle Of Charlottesville to issue a general
order to the Army OF Northern Virginia, In
which he said: 1T is again the duty and pleas
TIRE Of the General In command to thank the
Troup Artillery for It's gallant services In again
saving the Army Of Northern Virginia from
serious disaster. II not defeat"