The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-19

i've effect. The advancing force was visi-
bly, staggered, but, consisting of the main
body Of Franklin's Grand Division, sup
ported by a portion of HOoker's Grand
Division, continued to press forward, and
the struggle became fierce and sanguin-
airy. Before A. Z. Hill closed the inter
val between Archer's and Lanes Bri-
gades it was penetrated, and the enemy
pressing forward in overwhelming num-
bers turned Lanes right and Archer's
left. Thomas's Brigade, Trimble's Bri-
gade, Gregg's Brigade, Brockenbrough's
Brigade, Lawtons Brigade, Taliaferro's,
HOke's, Walkers and Atkinson's Br-
gades all joined in driving the enemy back
to the railroad"
1t will be observed that all this oc
CURED south of the railroad, and that II
brigades of the enemy were engaged, and
that this is Stonewall Jackson's own tes-
timOny. Now, the best map L have seen
of the Fredericksburg battlefield is that
made by the Confederate engineers, and
that shows-and shows the truth-that no
Union troops except Meade's Division
fought Dec. 13 south of the railroad in
Jackson's front; and SO the II bTigades
mentioned by Jackson fought nobody but
Meade's troops south Of the railroad. And
so what seemed to StOnewall to be 1.-THE
main body of Franklin's Grand Division,
supported by portion of Rockers Grand
Division" was Meade's three small bri-
gades, numbering no more than 1850 men
all told.
The Comte de Paris tells what hap
pened to Stonewall both north and south
of the railroad. Hear him:
"Meade's Pennsylvanians were well-tried
troops. AS they advanced the Federal ar
tillery remained silent, for fear Of injur-
ing them, and the Confederate guns COW
cred them with grape. Nothing, how
ever, could Etop them. The first line of
the Confederates was pierced. Sinclair's
dispersed Lanes soldiers, while on his left
the Union, Gen. JacksOn's (Third) Bri-
gade, having penetrated into the interval
of the enemy's line, flanked Archers left
drove it back in disorder and pushed on
as far as the military road, where it en-
countered Gregg's Brigade. In the mean
while Meade's right, after driving Lanes
Brigade before it, had become engaged
with Thomas's Brigade, which made
stand before him. The Pennsylvania Di-
vision had completely exhausted it's
strength. Birney's Division had not come
upon line with the point occupied by
Meade before the attack. Meade's 5000
soldiers, deprived of timely support, were
about to lose in an instant all the adyan-
tages gained by their courage.
"A portion of Archer's Brigade, the SOL
diers of Lane, Gregg and Brockenbrough,
rallied at the appeal of their officers, and
there were three strong divisions in their
rear that had not yet been in action,
which were fastening to their relief
Whilst Paxton's Brigade and Taliaferro's
was advancing and stopping the Federals
in front, Early, who on this occasion com
manded EwelFs Division, fell upon their
left flank with three brigades. 1t was
impossible to withstand such superior
forces-four or five times Meade's (origi-
nab number. The latter were driven
back upon the railroad and crossed it in
disorder. Early, at the head of his divi-
sion, and the debris of A. z. Hills
crossed in pursuit of them"
Comment here would be superflous, but
the debris" of A. =. Hills Division is too
good to let pass without emphasizing if
Lane and Archer together report n loss
Of 30 in killed, wounded and missing. or
course, none of the other II brigades en-
gagged with us lost so heavily as these.
ana hill reports the entire loss in his di-
vision as only 1913. Meade's loss was
I,S9o-more than 40 per centum of his
entire force.
neglected to say at the proper place.
among my own personal recollectious
that Gen. Lee thought the racket made
Dy Meade sufficient to warrant him Qee)
IN making personal inspection of the
situation; and, SO, as / with the other can
lures OF that day, was being taken buck
across the ground we had just fought
over, won and lost, near the military
ROAD, 1 passed within q few feet of Gen
Lee, who sat On his gray horse survey.
ing the field from position where he had
full view of the whole plain embraced
between the Massaponax on the east.
Deep Run on the west the Rannaban