The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-09
RIyER RUNNING BLOOD.


The beautiful Rappahannock, soon to
be tinged with the blood Of heroes Of both
armies. ascends towards our left to TIL,
narrow valley for three miles, where 1t is
crossed by Banks Ford. six miles further
up by tho United States Ford, not far
from which is its confluence with the
Rapidan. which river is passable at Ely
and Gcrmania Fords by roads convergins
Jon Charlottesville, situated eight or
more miles to our rear as we stand on
Narye Heights facing Fredericksburg.
Over these rivres and along these roads
the remainder Of Hooker's army-93,O00
men-marched, and by the list of May
$1,000 were entrenched around Chancel-
louisville awaiting Sedgwck's attack in
the rear at Fredericksburg. This leaves
s 600 still on the north banks Of the Rap
pahannock, with 1850 cavalry raiding
towards Gordonsv;lle Ir front of these
| Is coo men at Characteristic General Lee
(aftcr sending Jackson With $1,000 arourt.
to the Federal right fank), sits down
win 1eGft men cite Of Lee General
Long, page o55); While Jackson is march
ing around Hooker's right flank, and Lee
is confronting $4,000 Federals with 1900
true and tried men of NcLaws' and An
'derson's Divisions, Longstreet's Corps
(six men apart and the lines of battle
and plan of manoeuvering for the battle
of charlottesville is being developed,
let us return to Fredericksburg, and from
Narye Heights took upon the 27G0O men
under Sedgwick, and 5000 men under
EARLY, these opposing forces are separated
by the Kappahannock. Earlys lines OK
tend six miles. reaching from Banks
| Ford on the left to Hamiltons Crossing
on the right. Early in person comma nds
the right. and Hayes the left wing, while
| Barksdale commands the centre Here
OH Marye's Hill are four pieces of artil-
lery (for two have been removed). two
OF which are my own, and two of the
Washington Artillery, concerning the
latter I will have more to say later on.
Barksdale's Brigade. 5000 men, has the
centre of the line Of battle and extends
Its thin line for three miles from Taylors
Hill on their left to Howison's House on
the right. In front and on the right Of
| Marye's Hill there is the 18th and 18th
Mississippi. In the stone wall below us
is only one regiment, 18th Mississippi.
commanded by Colonel Griffin and three
companies of Twenty-first Mississippi. in
all not over 400 men; while on their left
is the 21st Mississippi. extending to the
Plank Road. This thin line Of Confed-
crates, entirely detached from the army,
with no chance Of support from the same
is to be assaulted five times by Sedg-
wick's 1900 men, for Hooker has ordered
its advance, and uHon it's success by
certain time depends the enforced re-
treat of Lees army and the conse-
cuent Federal victory at charlottesville.
OH the dreadful suspense of May End,
as lines are formed and ready to deliver
battle with forces so unequal, Lee OPP
posing 5000 with 12,ooo-nearly eight to
one while jackson with 1900 swings
away from support to attack 5000 men.
nearly four to one; and Early at Fred
eric1.sh1re opposing 1900 with only g. 600
nearly four to one; and these without
support.
CLEVER DECEPTION
b All day May. Cd Sedgwick is Vancouver
ing, and SO completely deceived us by
marching his men in circuit along the |
front of Stafford Hills to Falmouth and |
thence back by the rear Of Staffords Hills |
pretending to be marching to Hooker. I
that on the dawn of the morning of the /
3rd Of May. Sunday, when it was be-
lieyed he had gone to Hooker. he having |
crosSed the river below town, suddenly |