Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-01-07
Two Death Dealing Guns.
The Greatest Destruction OF Life by Ar
tiIIery ON Record---How 1000 Men OF
SedgwIck's Corps Were Killed or
wounded ut FrederiCksburg.

Inc NrtatfHN ny
tilIery on Record---How 1000 Men OF
Sedgwick's Corps Were Killed or
wounded at Fredericksburg.
From the Athens Ga Banner
A few years since Gen. Ftzhugh Lee,
now American consul-general to Cuba,
lectured in Athens on The Battle OF Fred
ericksburg." In the course Of his lecture,
giving all the details Of this battle, he stat
ed that the greatest destruction of life by
artillery during our whole war was by two
guns or a section of battery in this bat
tie of Fredericksburg, and, reading from
the Federals' own report OF this battle,
stated the number to have been 1000 killed
and wounded. The general, then address
ing 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:
Gen. Sedgwick's 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 order
ed to occupy these heights and watch for
an opportunity by attacking the Confed-
crate forces in his front, TO turn Gen. Lee 5
right flank, who was engaged in battle
with Gen. Hooker's army at Chancellors-
vile. The Confederates Immediately in
front of Gen. Sedgwck were under the
command of Gen. Barksdale Of Mississ-
ippi. and consist ed of his brigade, one or
two companies from Gen. Hayes's Louis
ana brigade the Washington artillery from
New Orleans and the Troup artillery.
This force was occupying line of about
three miles between Fredericksburg and
Hamilton's Crossing on the Richmond and
Fredericksburg railroad. They were, of
couIse, very much scattered, or stretched
out, in attempting to hold line of such
great length. The Washington artillery
occupied Mayre's Heights, just in from. of
Fredericksburg. The Troup artillery &C.
cupied position considerably to the right
and in advance of the Washington artil-
lery, and just opposite Deep Bottom Run,
on the Rappahannock river. The infant
~ were so disposed of by companies as
best 10 hold and protect the intervening
extent of our line
Gen. Sedgwick, discovering the weak
ness Of our line, threw his whole corps
across the river and, attacking Gen.
Barksdale's line at Msyre's Heights, cap
tured regiment and a half of his infant
~ brigade and two batteries Of the Wash
ington artillery battalion, which occupied
these heights. The Troup artillery, being
to the right and in advance OF Mayre's
Heights, was thus cut of from the main
force and placed in a very critical position,
the Federal troops then being in its rear on
the left. The colonel in command of the
artillery battalion ran the gauntlet, and,
reaching the position of the Troup artil.
lery, notified the officer in command of
that battery of his condition, and ordered
him TO retreat in the direction of Hamil-
toms Crossing and get out as best he could.
Just at this juncture a brigade of Gen.
Sedgwick's corps, and which had crossed
the river at Deep Bottom Run, appeared
in front of the Troup artillery, and form
ed line of battle for the purpose of charg-
ing and capturing this battery. The Off
Ger in command of the Troup artillery,
realizing The situation, and knowing that
if he then attempted a retreat with this
infantry force Immediately and so closely
in his front, and under the difficulties
which would attend the retreat of his bat
/ terry, he and his whole command would be
| captured, refused TO obey the order so fal
as retreating with his whole battery. So
sending to the rear and in the direction o.
/ HamiltOn's Crossing his long range gun.
| and his heavily loaded caissons, so as u
/ get them out of the way, he then took
section OF Napoleon guns, and, advancin!
in the direction of the Federal brigade url
I'll within easy canister range, opened fir,
upon the enemy with his guns double-shot
ted with canister.
! The slaughter of this brigade was fear
full. But the enemy, bIavely rallying, re
formed their line of battle, when the ar
( tillery officer repeated his fire of caniste
shot with equally destructive effect. Tn
enemy, then falling back somewhat, re
formed, but, observing that the artiler
officer was advancing with his section 0
guns to repeat the fire, they broke AM
rushed pel-mell into a ravine Just to thei
left. This artillery officer then oblque,
his guns, and reaching the head of tn,
ravine, poured a terrific and still more de
structive fire upon the now budding enc
my.
Having effectually crippled the Fedora
force which so endangered his retreat. b.
then had his guns limbered up to the rea
and made safe his retreat, overtaking tn
balance of his command near the Rich
mond and fredericksburg railroad, wher
his command came up with portion O
Gen. Jubal Early's command, which wa
marching to the relief of Gen. Barksdale
AS a result of this artillery firing tn
Federal officers the next morning reporte,
1000 killed and wounded This is the en-
gagement and the results which Gen. Fitz
hugh Lee alluded to in his lecture here il
Athens, and which facts are on file witt
the records of the war in the war depart
ment at Washington