Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-04-04
A TERRIFIC CHARGE.
General Mende's Gallant Advance On
Jackson at the Hattie of
Fredericksburg.

The battle of fredericksburg was, as
we all know, one of the most sangui-
nary of the civil war, and on that dark
day of disaster the virtues of the union
soldier never shone more brightly, nor
did the devotion of those noble women
who gave their lives to the welfare of
the nations defenders ever rise to q
higher or more unselfish plane.
Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, who SUI
perseded Gen. Mcclellan, in command
of the Army of the Potomac soon after
the battle of Antietam, began at once
an advance on Richmond, says Wom-
ans Home Companion.
When his army reached the Rappa-
hammock river he found that of Gen.
Lee confronting him on the heights
south of Fredericksburg. He resolved
to give battle, and on December II he
began laying his pontoons across the
river; but two regiments of Barkdale's
Mississippians, who lay concealed in
the town, picked off the workmen so
rapidly that the attempt had to be
abandoned. Toward nine o'clock he
| tried it again, and again the sharp
shooters shot down the bridge builders
almost as rapidly as they could be sup
piled. Thoroughly angered by this hor-
nets nest Gen. Burnside at ten o'clock
| opened a terrific cannonnade from 147
pieces of artillery upon the town and
for hours the streets were swept by
perfect storm of shot and shell. The
| town was soon ahame, and as n high
wind drove the billows of fire from
building to building, and the thunder
of artillery fairly shook the earth, the
doomed city presented picture of
tragic grandeur which fortunately is
| seldom seen even in war. Toward night
the attempt to cross was again re-
newed. A force was sent over in
barges, and before it the enemy re-
treated, when the pontoons were COM
pleted, and by the evening of the 18th
Gen. Summers corps was in possession
of the town. Bprnside's plan of bat
tie was to turn the confederate's right
near the Hamilton house, which was
held by "Stonewall" Jacllson's triple
line of battle, finaked with numerous
heavy artillery, and at the same time
seize the left at Marye Heights, where
Longstreet's corps was intrenched in a
position almost impregnable.
At ten o'clock Gen. Meade's splendid
division CALAMITY advanced to the
charge. They were suffered to APP
proach within few hundred yards,
when Jackson's artillery poured upon
them n terrific fire of grape and cam
lister, which threw them into tempo-
rary confusion; but quickly rallying
they dashed forward like an avalanche,
shattered A. p. Hills line, and were
rushing up the slope, when Jackson's
second and third line met them with
fire so terrifically destructive that
nothing could withstand it. They were
forced back down the hill and across
the open fields, while all the artillery
of Jackson's corps rained grape and
canister upon them in showers that
moved down whole companies; but
: the gaps We're closed up as rapidly as
made, and through this uproar and tu-
multi of death there was no panic, no
undue haste, no excitement. Gen
Meade had lost more than third of his
division, but the survivors were yet
: ready for anything. At almost the
: same time Gen. French's division. sup.
ported by Hancock, charged Marye
Hill in column of brigades, and lost
half of his command in few minutes
AS French fell back a concentrated
artillery fire was poured upon his men