The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-08

II u
ADDRESS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
| ually by each of us. and which seem to
have contained the prophecy of his I'M
| timely death and Of my own fate.
The Battle Of Fredericksburg.
My division was again the center of
the Confederate army, as 1t rested in
line of battle opposite Deep Run, full
OF spirit and impatient for action. The
following morning. after the fog had
disappeared. and at about 10 o'clock,
the heavy lines Of the enemy advanced
upon our right and against Jacksons
forces, hut were driven back beneath
the hre OF our guns posted on that part
OF the line. Again, at about l p. m. the
attack was renewed, and the Federals
penetrated into gap left in Jackson's
| front line. They were, however. speed
lily repulsed by his brigades held In re-
serve. My troops repealed with ease
the feeble attack made on their imme-
diate front, whilst Longstreet's remain
ing forces on the left drove the enemy
back repeatedly with great slaughter
near Marye's Hill.
I was directed In this battle. as at
Second Manassas, to obey the orders
either Of Gen. Lee, Jackson or Long
street About sunset, after the mus
kerry fire had nigh ceased. l received
instructions through an officer OF Jack
sons staff to join in a movement on
my right as soon as A. p. Hills Divi-
sion advanced. The order was accom-
panied with a message from Gen.
Jackson that he intended to drive the
enemy into the river. responded that
was in readiness to act, but, for some
reason unknown to me, these orders
were cOuntermanded.
About 10 O'Clock that night / rode
back to my encampment to procure a
cup Of coffee, and, Gen. Lees quarters
| being within a few hundred yards /
| walked up the ridge and presented
| myself at his tent. He Immediately
asked me what / thought of the attack
by the enemy during the day. I ex-
pressed my opinion that Burnside was
whipped; that no good General would
| ever make an assault similar to that
upon my right and left without intend
ing 1t as his main effort, and that the
heavy roll OF musketry i had heard
clearly convinced me that the hardest
part Of the battle had been fought. He
then remarked that he did not think
Burnside had made his principal at
| tempt, but would attack again the next
day, and that we would drive him back
and follow him up to the river. After
conycrsing a few moments longer. dur
ing which time he was in the highest
spirits, ] returned to my line, where /
The Next Day.
The morning Of the 14th both armies
still lay face to face, no aggressive
movement having been initiated by
| either side. when about noon Gems. Lee
| and Jackson rode by my position, and
invited me to accompany them on
| reconnaissance toward our right. We
soon reached an eminence not far dis
| tant from Hamilton's Crossing. on the
| railroad, and upon which some OF our
batteries were posted. From this point
| eral lines on their left, some seven in
| number. and each. seemingly, q mile in
| length. Gen. Jackson here turned to
| me and asked my estimate OF the
strength OF the enemy then IN sight
and In our immediate front. answer
ed $4,000. and he remarked that he
| had estimated their numbers at $1,000.
Strange to say. amid this immense
assemblage OF Federal troops not a
| standard was to be seen: the colors
were all lowered which circumstance
| induced me to abide by the opinion
| had expressed to Gen. Lee the night
previous. The two armies stood still
during this entire day, and the follow
| ing morning we awoke to find the enc
my on the north side OF the Rappahan-
| mock.
In this vicinity my division was quar-
| tered for the Winter, and my tent re-
NAMED near that of Gen. Lee. 1t was
my privilege to often visit him during
| his Hisure hours, and converse with
the freedom Of yore upon the frontier.
In one Of our agreeable chats. in COM
pany with Gen. Chiffon, his Chief OF
| Staff. he complained OF his army for
burning fence rails, killing pigs and
committing sundry delinquencies Of
this character. 1 spoke up warmly In
defense OF my division, declaring that
| ii was not guilty OF these misdemean-
ors and desired him to send Chiffon to
inspect the fences in the neighborhood
| Of my troops. Gen. Lee, who was
walking up and down near his camp
fire. turned toward me and laughingly
\ said: "Ah, Gen. Hood, when you Tex
ans come about the chickens have to
roost mighty high" His raillery ex-
i cited great merriment, and l felt I was
somewhat at stand; nevertheless,
urged that Gen. Chiffon be sent at least
to inspect the fences.
i Siege OF Suffolk.
i Time passed pleasantly till the early
Spring, when Gen. Longstreet marched
back to Petersburg. and thence toward
Suffolk movement l never could salts
factorily account for. and which proved
unfortunate, since 1t allowed Gen.
Hooker. who had superseded Burnside
the latter part Of April, to cross the
Rappahannock and attack Gen. Lee in
the absence OF one-half OF his army
The transcedent genius Of "Stonewall,"
by which he executed one Of his most
brilliant moves to the rear OF the as
sailants, once more thwarted the Fed
eral commander. who was hurled back
beyond the Rappahannock to seek ref.
uge upon Stafford Heights. But, alas!
at terrible sacrifice, an irreparable
loss to the Confederacy. the immortal
II Jackson.
i I had received information Of Hook
er's anticipated advance, and was most
! anxious to rsjoin my old chief, Gen.