The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-31
THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
Viewed as a tactical operation, the pas
sage of the Rappahannock at Fredericks-
burg presented no formidable difficulties;
and, indeed, the configuration of the
ground is such that it is not in the power
of an enemy occupying the south side to
prevent it. On both banks Of the stream,
and parallel with it's course, there runs q
well-defned crest of hills; but that on the
northern side, named the Stafford flights,
approaches close to the rivers margin and
commands the opposite side, where the
nights stand at a distance of from three
quarters of a mile to a mile and a half
from the bank. Union artillery could
therefore control the intermediate plain,
and it was believed that it could neutral
ize the efforts of the enemy to oppose the
construction Of bridges. But the thought
of what must come after the crossing was
one to give pause to every rejecting mind.
During the night of the 10th, under d.
rection of Chief-of-Artillery Hunt, the
Stafford flights were crowned by a pow
erful artillery force, consisting of % bat
teries Of lat guns, destined to reply to the
enemys batteries, to control his move
ments on the plain, to command the town,
and to protect and cover the crossings. AT
the same time, the troops were moved
forward to positions Immediately behind
the ridge, and the pOntoon-trains were
been determined to span the stream by
five oon-bridges-three directly oppo-
site the city, and two couple of miles
below. On the former, Summers and
Hooker's Grand Divisions were to cross,
while Franklin's Grand Division was to
make the passage by the lower bridge.
Before dawn of the morning of the 18th
the boats were unshipped from the teams
at the rivers brink; and, swiftly and ST
lently, the engineer troops proceeded to
their work, amid dense fog that filed
the valley and water margins, and
through which the moving bridge builders
appeared as spectral forms. But no
sooner did the artifcers attempt to begin
the construction Of the bridges than they
were met by yolleys of musketry at short
range from the riiemen posted opposite,
behind the stone houses and walls Of the
river-street of Fredericksburg; and in
stantly the double report of piece of ord
nance doomed out on the dawn. This was
the signal-gun that summoned the scat
tered Confederate corps to assemble for
the long-expected attack.Q3)
Aware. from the con6guration of the
ground. that he could not hope to prevent
the passage OF the stream, Lee made his
dispositions to resist the advance after
crossing. 40 He, however, caused a cou-
pie Of regiments Of Mississippi rifemen to
be posted behind the stone walls OF the
river-street Of Fredericksburg, to resist.
as long as might be, the construction of
the bridges. An unexpected success at
tended their efforts. At the point as
signed for Franklin's crossing, two miles
below the town, there was no such protec-
therefore covered by rife-trenches near
the rivers brink. But Franklin soon sue
ceeded in dislodging this force, and by
noon two bridges were available for the
passage.
sHARPsHOoTERs STOP PoNTooN- BRIDGE
MAKERS.
The attempt to construct the bridges Cd.
posite the town, however, met q different
fate; for the keen-eyed marksmen opposed
SO vigorous an opposition to the laying
of the pontoons that the little band of en-
gineers, murderously thinned, was pres
emily compelled to slacken work, and then
cease altogether.Q5 Several hours
passed in renewed but unavailing efforts,
and it became clear that nothing could be
done until the sharpshooters were dis
lodged from their lurking-places. To ac-
complish this, Burnside, at 10 o'clock,
gave the command to concentrate the fire
Of all the artillery on the city and batter it
down. On this there opened from the
massive concentration of artillery q ter
rife bombardment that was kept up for
above an hour Each gun fired so rounds,
and l know not how many hundred tons
Of iron were thrown into the town. Of
the effect of this, however, nothing could
be seen, for the city was still enyeloped i'm
mist; but presently dense pillar of
smoke, defining itself on the background
OF fog, showed that the town had been
fired by the shells; and at noon the curtain
rolled up, and it was seen that Fredericks-
burg was In flames ut several points. Ap-
palling though the bombardment was as a
spectacle, 1t was Of very slight military
advantage; QG the hostile force Law ont