The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-06-06
WAR STORIES.
Events in the Battle of Fredericksburp.
Conf edeTate Veteran.

jackson has taken Harper Ferry and
will join US tomorrow. We halted
at the foot Of the mountain and Gen.
Lee had tent pitched. In few mo-
ments detail of six men were called
tor to report to Gen. Lees tent. I
Was one of the six; and when We re-
ported. Gen. Lee called US into the
tent. lie asked US how We were
mounted and what we had in our hav-
ersacks. lie then said to US: "Gen-
slemen, am sending you tonight to
Gen. jackson. who it on his way from
11arper's Ferry - join US. He is
coming On t:-s Virginia side of the
Potomac, and you will find him on the
road. You go from here to Sharps-
burg and cross the river at that point,
thence down the river toward Harper g
Ferry. It is more than probable that
you will fall in with the enemy to.
night, but you must make your way
through by some means. If the bearer
OF the dispatch is captured, he must
Immediately destroy the dispatch; by
no means let it fall into the hands of
the enemy. It is OF great Importance
that it be delivered to Gen. jackson
with all speed"
Gen. Lee Yves evidently much de.
pressed, the first and only time I eyer
saw anything Of the kind in him. We
Immediately set out, and in half on
hour had run into the enemy in the
streets OF sharpsburg. This body Of
the enemy turned out to be the eour
hundred cavalry that had escaped
from Hsrref's Ferry, and were making
their way up the north side OF the
river. They were resting in Sharps.
burg when We ran into them, and evi-
IDENTIFY thought that the whole Of
Stuart's osvalry was upon them. In
fact, Stuart's cavalry vas only mile
away, and they had good reason to
think so; at least, they sosmpe.ed of
at headlong gait and left us masters
OF Sharpsburg, and Jackson marched
on the field OF sharpsbarg early the
next morning. This body Of cavalry
was the same that struck Lees uu.
garded ammunition train on the Will.
Transport road after they haa left
Sharpsburg, and it has always been a
historical query Why they did not csp.
ture the train instead OF riding through
1t and leaving the whole train e.
escape over the river. The explana.
tion has always been simple to me.
They were fleeing from Harper's Fer.
~ and expecting every moment TO en-.
counter stuart's cavalry; and when
the little adventure I have related !, &C.
oarred, they we're sure the whole Of
Strast's cavalry wss upon thsm.::::: :.
The battls Of shArpsburg, which oc.
ourssa the next day, is q matter Of
history. After that battle we were
concentrated at. On!p !pspsr @. n. Gen.
Rurnside was now il command Of tl,e
Federal army, and Lee, Uncertain "a
to what move he would make, had as.
aumed . mastery strategy, ready e
meet any possible contingency. As il
we'll known. Gen. Burnside deter.
mined TO- msroh: upon Richmond by
way OF fredericksburg. Scarcely had
he commenced his movement when
Lee broke camp and, marching three
miles to his one, whipped around ovel
the Rappahanpook and faced him al
Fredericksburg With his concentrated
army, Gen. Burnside spent three
weeks recovering from the surprise o.
finding Lee ip his front when he
thought he had left him up at Cui.
PEPPER @. a., and then commenced
crossing, having bombarded and burnt
a large portion Of the city, preparatory
thereto. .s ~ .....:.
The line Of battle Of the Coufeder.
ates was on range Of hills about q
mile and half from the river and
parallel 70 it. Between this range Of
hills and the river ia . level plateau
about fouE miles long. Upon this the
Federal army formed, near the river
and below: the city, the city. being
their extreme right. Opposite and
forming the Confederate left was Ma.
rye'a HILL. Around che front IN
Marye's Hill ran a road and a stone
fence, or wall, some four feet thick
and about four aud one.half feet hiRh.
| Behind this stone wall Ne we're s n,,uaisssed 81
swo brigades in triple lines.S On :ths
top Of Marye's Hill, Just abovs the d
stone wall, was che bastsliop 81, !, &c, &c,
Washington ARTILLERY. .of4 Nes,s, (, 4 81
leans, under Lieu. Col. SW alton.
Msryes . Hill rises imnadi lately fro,,mr rom
NE road \ and a,oas wall, ma ;saaui.s
stesp. b The snsmy ,hsa stoas s,,S 5
As.M |. ~ ~ 10 4