Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26
A MIGHTY CONFLICT.
A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
RATTLE or FREDERICKSBURG.
HON. JOHH A. labs FINE PAPER.
Read Before The sons of Confederate
Ncfcrnns-Scnutingi I'm the EncmH's
Described.

4 valuable paper on the battle OF FgcG
erlcksbure was read 10y the Hon. John A.
Lamb az % recent meeting OF r.. j.. Lee
Camp. no J. sons OF Confederate Note-
rams. I'm pursuance OF custom now in
vogue I'm the camp OF having some battle
OF the war between the states discussed
by one or more Of IT'S members each Mon
day night. The paper ELECTED much
praise from those present. among whom
wer0 several of the delegates 90 the
United Daughters of the Confoderacy
and Mr.. LAMB was. by unanimous vote
requested 20 present the MS. TO the camp.
and allow 10 % Doe published. The text Of
Mir. Lambs discussion of this famous
baltic was as follows:
Description of the Battle.
The battle OF Sharpsburg of the 1cth
and 18th OF september 1852, was over. the
Army OF Northern Virginia had rccr0ssed
fhe Potomac. and was camping upon its
native soil in the Shenandoah valley,
where the COmmander-iW CHIEF was try
ing TO recuperate his forces. ON the 25th
OF September General Lee suggested TO
president Davis tnat the best move for
his army 20 make was TO advance upon
Hagerstown and fan upon Mcclellan
from that direction. saying: 81 would
not hesitate 20 mako it even with our
diminished forces did the army show its
former temper and disposition"
Lee had hoped that Mcclellan would
cross the Potomac and offer battle i'm the
lower Shenandoah. but this overcautious
commander was unwilling to try third
issue with the bold Confederate leader.
STUART COT THE HORSES.
In order TO engage McClellon's atten-
ton and gather a supply OF fresh horses
from the farmers Of Pennsylvania. ON the
10Th Of October Lee dispatched the gall
liant and raid-loving Stuart. with 1900
horsemen, across the Potomac into Penn
sylyania. and 10y noon OF the 18th of Oc-
tober he again rccr0sscd the Potomac,
not only with fresh supply Of much
needed horses. but with full Information
as 20 McCieilan's movements. This bold
and doring ride so irrtated and excited
tho Federal Government that fl poemp-
tOrily ordered Mcclellan 10 choose line
OF attack and move against Lee in Viz
ginia This meant the second cry, con
10 Richmond"
Tho experiences Of the Federal forces
in tho great Valley. both I'm Virginia and
Maryland. did not give them confidence
10 undertake "a new campaign i'm that all
termlned 90 draw Leo from the valley by
crossing 90 the east of the Blue Ridge
and then following along its eastern foot.
Crossing the Potomac on October 23d. Nc
Clellan successfully occupied, with 0e-
tachments, tho gaps Of the Blue Ridge,
and made demonstrations towards the
shenandoah. thus guarding his TANKS as
his army marched southwark.
GENERAL LEES PLANS.
Lee at once comprehondcd this plan.
and Immediately sent Lougstreet with
the First Corps 90 check The front of Nc
Clellan's advance. Jackson with the Sc
cond Corps of the Army of Northern
Virginia. was left in the Shenandoah Val
ley 10 remain so long as he thought pru-
dent With his usual boldness. Lee did
not hesitate to post the two wings of his
army sixty miles apart in straight line
Mcclellan now occupied POpe's former
position behind the RappahaunOck. with
fully I2500O men-l00.0oO men holding the
defenccs Of Washington ana 5000 watch
Ing the shenandoah In the vicinity of
darpcrs Ferry. Lee had less than 1j,0k
in the two corps of the Army of North
ern Virginia and in his cavalry corps
under Stuart. ana. with this disparity
or numbers, he was again 10 meet tho
great Army of tho Potomac.
Not satisfied with the leadership Of
Mcclellan, Lincoln placed Burnside in
command at Marrenton. ana he al once
FASTENED 10 execute an "on 10 Rich
mond." by way OF Fredericksburg think
Ing that by taking advantage of a short
or route he could reach the capi-
fsl Of the Confederacy without being
intercepted by Lee; but when he attempt
ed TO force his advance towards Freder-
scksburg, the ever-watchful Stuart
promptly reported his movements 10 Lee,
who ordered Bongstrcet from CulDeper
and placed him at Fredericksburg across
Furnishes track in a strong position on
the south bank OF the Rappahanuock.
JACKSON'S MOVEMENTS.
Jackson. who had been busy i'm the Val
ley destroying the line OF the Balu-
more and Ohio railroad and keeping the
federals in state of uncertainty as 10
his whereabouts. with his usual prompt
ness obeyed an order given him by Lee
and followed Longstreet TO Fredericks-
burg Making demonstrations at Ches-
ter and Thornton gaps. he misled those
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