Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26

marching up the Valley to New Market
thence by Madison Courthouse 10 IN
vicinity OF Orange Courthouse. and thei
by road to Fredericksburg.
Both Lee ana Jackson would have mucl
preferred TO meet the new com
1 mander-in-chief of the Army OF the 20
tOmac near Richmond. possibly on tn
south side OF the North Anna, where IN
topography of the country was more
favorable for a complete victory; wher'
Burnside would be further from hi
stores. and be compelled TO detach larg'
bodies of men TO protect his line OF com
municaton. but the Confederate authofi
ties were welded 10 line Of defensive
/ operations and were unwilling TO perml
the Federal army 20 approach so nea
/ 10 Richmond. Therefore. Lee, always
Obedicnt 10 superior orders. prepared to
resist the further encrOdcnment OF th'
! Federal forces upon Virginia soil. Where
fore. Lee Immediately set 10 worf
: and selected and hastily i0rthed stiohi
line OF defence along the wooded
I terraces that overlooked the broad bot
toms of the Rappahannoek. thousands
of Lees army were Darefooted and desu-
i tute of clothing suitable for the rigors OF
early winter. and many were even With
. out muskets. set. Lee said, in letter
written al that time. that his army was
never JOB better health or better condition
Tor battle than now" Having thus been
T prevented from carrying out his inten-
Lous Burnsij. consumed much time in
mastering his 10000 men and $50 pieces
of artillery on the plateau north OF the
Kappahanu0ck, and known as stafford
Heights. from which be could look down
upon the historic town Of Fredericks-
. burc. which trcmbled IN expectancy OF
F. destruction between these TWO powerful
c0n,ending foes.
BURNSIDE WAS CONFIDENT
While awaiting the development Of
Burnside's movements and watching the
ways by which he might move 20 Rich
/ mOUd. Lee sent j.. H. Hills Division of
JaoksOn's Corps 10 watch the crossing
OF the RappahannOck at Port Royal
Ewens Division, now commanded by
Early was in camp next 20 ID. ii. Hill
Division. while the divisions of A. T..
Hiu and TalaferrO were placed near the
railroad leading from Richmond, where
they could move either TO The ala OF -.
IT, Hill or LOngstrCet as the eNigencies
of the occasion might demand. Jackson
established himself near Guiney's sta
ton on road which led both to
A. Il. Hnfs headquarters and to the
headquarters OF General II. T.. Lee, the
latter being established Oh the Old Tele-
graph road leading 10 Fredericksburg
Burnside issued twelve days rati0ns TO
his army, and confidently expected TO
make the next issue at Richmond. On
the morning of the nth of December,
under the cover of a dense fog, Burnside
attempted TO throw pontOOn bridge
across the RappahannOck opposite Fred
ericksburg i'm order to permit tranklins
Corps to cross the Rappahannock.
CROSSED IN THE NIGHT.
was assigned the duty Of defending the
crossing of the Bappahanhock in front
OF fredericksburg. These brave and
daring fighters well performed their duty,
and shot down many of the Federal pom
toon-builders. and frustrated nine sue
cesslve attempts To lay the bridges.
Burnside. becoming irritated and eXaspe-
rated by the delay, turned loose his heavy
guns, and soon the city of Freder-
icksburg was i'm flames and one body of
infantry crossed the Rappahannock. But
Barksdales Division Of rihemen had
matched one day of anticipated victory
iIOm the oVer-coniident Burnside. Under
cover of the darkness of The night of the
18th of December. and assisted by the
heavy winter fog of the next morning.
about 1900 infantrymen and no guns
under Franklin, crossed the pontoon
bridges below Fredericksburg and We're
spread o. few miles along the line Of the
railroad towards Richmond, while Sum
ner led 81 900 into Fredericksburg by the
upper pontoon bridges.
AS the fog lifted on the 18th of Deem
Der and Lee looked out from the high
HIN i'm the centre OF his position chosen
by him for his headquarters, and saw
mis- great most stretched for miles TO
his front and TO his right Ia brave battle
FL h.. I.
manGer had chosen the peIllous plan Of
% direct attack Lee had already made
preparations TO meet such an assault.
and he promptly directed Jackson TO con-
ccntrate his men on the right of the
army and take command of the right
wing. our own gallant and beloved fell
/ lOW-citiZon that brave soldier and
patriot whom We all know and admire;
that sanity man of God whom We see
among us every day, the Rev. James T..
Smith of JacAson's staff. late in the
evening rode eighteen miles 10 ID. ii.
/ Hil's headquarters down the river That
able commander, by marching eighteen
! miles over the same rugged road
] that night, placed his men in position on
/ JacksOns right 10y the dawn of the 18th.
/ and, by doing this, Lee was ready to
( receive the assault before Burnside was
] ready TO commence il.
THE CONFEDERATES CONCEALED.
! Not informed ass TO the movements Of
! Jacksons men, and supposing from the
| Information ne had gathered from the
| balloons sent up that the greater portion
| OF Lees army was down the Rappahan-
| mock, Burnside attempted TO turn Lees
/ right and secure the highway TO Rich
J mond and defeat him boy flank and rear
attack. But "a large forest concealed the
Confederate right and the Federal com
mander was greatly surprised, when he
began the execution of his thanking move
ment with Franklins Corps. 10 find
jackson in position at Hamilton's Cross
ing and that y. T.. Hills 10000 veterans
were Drawn up IN double line, with four
teen pieces Of field artillery on his right
+ and thirty-three ON his left; while
/ Early's and Ialiaferro's divisions were
I In order of battle in A. L. HIPS rear and
/ ID. Ia. Hills Division was in reserve.
Z Stuarts cavalry were in advance of Jack
sons right ana played havoc on the Fed
cral lines as they advanced.
Marye's Heights were crowned with
batteries while under them, I'm front.
there was a thick fence Franklin was
ordered 10 begin the attack on the Con-
federate right Under cover Of Il dense
fog he deplOyed 5000 men on the plain
in front OF jackson. and when the fog
lifted. that chill December day. the Fede-
| raj lines. infantry and artillery, were re-
INa.I Nt To-