The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-12-19
Il II II II X Il II
:, THE. DEADLY
It :, -
= STONE WALL
+ II II II II II II
Copyright, 1902, BY G. L. Kllmer.I


II ID on the opposite banks of the
Rappahannock. A bridgeless
and unfordable stream rolled
between the hostile camps. Lees
guns frowned from Marye's hill, dar-
ing the Federals to attempt crossing
the river into Fredericksburg. Burn
sides cannon stood in grim rows on
Falmouth heights, with their muzzles
trained on the town and the south
bank of the river The situation was
a deadlock. Burnside had marched
his troops to the crossing place, eX-
pecting to pass over and march be-
You'd on the road to Richmond before
Lee became aware of his movements.
But the pontoon boats for bridging the
Rappahannock had not arrived at the
date fixed, and, although the troops
were ready. they could not cross.
While the Federals waited for boats
the Confederates massed men and
guns on the heights back Of the town.
Only a handful of men, Barksdales
Mississippians, were stationed at the
river bank to dispute the crossing of
the enemy. The Mississippians, known
as Hornets" took cover in and around
the houses and played havoc with the
workmen who attempted to lay pom
toon bridges. All day the 18th the en-
gineers and pontoniers labored in
vain to lay the bridge Even showers
of Federal shells could not dislodge
the Mississippians.
AT the close of the day forlorn hope
composed of three Federal regiments
marched down to the river under fire
and embarked in boats, which were
poled across in the teeth of the "Hor-
nets" After a lively battle in the
streets the Mississippians were pushed
back out of sight of the bridge build
ers. During the night three bridges
were laid, and the right wing of Burn
sides army under General Sumner
crossed into the town. 1t was be-
lieved that Lee only made a feint at
stopping the enemy from crossing, for
the advantage in a battle for him
would be to have Burnside on the
south bank under his guns on the
heights Meanwhile the left wing of
the Federal army under General
Franklin had crossed a few miles be-
low the town, and on the 18th Burn
side gave his orders for a desperate
attack by both wings on the 18th.
Lees marshals We're all in the field,
Longstreet on the heights confronting
Sumner and Jackson defending the
Richmond road against Franklin.
Franklin's attack was CALAMITY made
by General Meades troops, and for
moment Jackson's line was broken.
But the gap was closed by the heroic
6ghtipg OF Jackson's men, On the
right, trepchs division led by Kim
balls brigade, made a dash from the
town through the suburbs to the base
of the hill where Lees troops lay.
After marching 200 yards Kimbalrs
line came to q wide canal. which could
not be crossed without breaking the
formation into column.
During the Federal delay at the
canal the Washington artillery, sta
toned on Marye's hill, rained shot and
shell upon the assailants. Beyond the
canal KimbalPs men reached slight
rise of ground, and as their heads
showed above the crest the Confederate
gunners redoubled their fire But in
spite of the screaming shells Kimbalps
line rushed on, battering down fences
with dubbed rifles as they ran. The
Confederates changed from shell to
canister and cut great gaps in the dar-
ing ranks, but the survivors pushed
forward until staggered by a volley OF
musketry fired into their faces
The second obstacle to the march III
the height was a sunken road anC
stone wall so well screened by the sod
ded terrace that from the Federal side
it looked to be one smooth stretch OF
ground. Behind the wall lay Cobb''
Georgia legion, holding its fire unit
the enemy came to close range. Hal
of Kimballs men had fallen, and thu
shattered regiments planted their col
ors in the ground and lay down to es
cape the whitening fire from above.
Following on the heels of Kimball
the brigades of Andrews and Palme
met the same fire at the canal thu
ridge aud the stone wall and halted t
lie in their tracks awaiting REINFORCE
ments. But the dead line of the Fred
ericksburg slaughter pen was not We
reached by the gallant soldiers wh'
had been ordered to storm Marye's hill
Hancock's division next took up tn
fight. unappalled by the fate o
French's men, Cooks brigade dashe'
along across the canal and over tn
ridge, gathering up the PROSTATE sol
diers of French's regiments to replac
the men shot down on the march u
the slope. looks line recoiled at tn
stone wall after getting within pistc
range.
On the right of Zook marched tn
Irish brigade cheering at every steI
the green flag of Erin plainly visible {
the ready gunners on the heigh
Meagher. the chief, rode at the hea
of the gallant Sixty-ninth by the sid
of Colonel Nugent At the outskirts c
the town that morning. is the lin
passed a lockwood hedge, Meagher too
a sprig of green and placed it In hi
cap. Every man in the ranks initiate
the example. thus unconsciously pu
ting on a badge by which the dea
would be recognized as members {
the Irish brigade. and in the end
good line OF them lay among the for
most near the stone wall.
After the wearers of the green Ii
brigade of Caldwell swept onwar'
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The Opfnion