The National tribune., 1908-02-20

position with such defenders, and that
sacrificed.
The Retreat Across the RappahannOck.
{ have already spoken of what hap
pened on the dismal Sunday following
the battle Monday, the next day, passed
in the same way, with somewhat less
of both cannon and musketry firing.
The skirmishers maintained their po-
sition in close proximity to those of the
enemy, and as the day wore on they
came to a mutual agreement to stop
the useless and murderous firing. This
cessation was confirmed by a flag of
hours in which to remove the wound
ed, who were lying SO near the fatal
stone wall that they could not be taken
away SO long as the firing was kept up.
Lee readily granted this, and all who
yet Eved- were put into ambulances and
transferred to the other side of the
river On Monday afternoon Burnside
at last recognized the impossible, and
issued orders for the withdrawal across
the Rappahannock to the old camps
around Falmouth. Gen. Franklin re-
cefved his orders at o'clock, and at
once telegraphed to Gen. w. +. Smith,
commanding the Sixth Corps. to make
the preliminary arrangements, COM
mencing the movement on the extreme
left. he began by sending his artillery
across the pontoon, where it went into
position to cover the retirement. This
was done by Capt. r. Il. Ayres, after
ward a division commander in the Fifth
Corps; Devens's and Torbert's Brigades
formed line to cover the bridge, the
pickets were called In, and the troops
moved back under cover of the dark
ness and the heavy storm of wind and
rain from the south, which kept the
noise of their movements from reach
ing the enemy. By a. m all the
troops and material were safely across,
and as the last straggler stepped on
the bridge the fastenings We're loosed,
and the bridge swung round with the
outgoing tide to the opposite shore
Gen. d. NJ. Couch, commanding the
Second Corps. withdrew his men with
equal success, and had his whole corps
On the north bank of the river by /
a. m. The Ninth Corps, under Gen. o.
y. Wilcox, had a little skirmishing on
Monday afternoon in repelling the at
tempt Of the enemy to get possession
OF a snail eminence from which they
could have an enfilading fire. Gen
Getty threw forward some troops Gen
Burns did the same, and these, with
200 OF Berdan's Sharpshooters easily
repealed the attack and when every
thing was redy the corps moved out in
perfect order, crossing its 10000 off
GERS and men with five batteries to the
north bank in about two hours, a feat
which shows the superb discipline and
organization of the men. Gen Wilcox
gives large portion of the credit for
this to MAJ. Crosby, 21st Conn, Provost
Marshal of the corps, and to his other
staff officers, who had their wagons all
ready 10 move in fcrfect cooperation
with ore another and the troops. Gen
Butferiield was put in charge of the
withdrawal of the Third Corps, and he
reports as 10 the way this duty was
performed:
"At $3.50 a. m. orders came to with
draw the command from Fredericks-
burg and recross the river, covering the
withdrawal of the bridges. Capt Weed
was directed 10 move all the artillery
Immediately, the provost guard ordered
to patrol the town, wake up all stray
glers, search all alleyways and byways,
and make every possible exertion to get
all absentees TO their commands Pre-
else and detailed orders in writing were
given for the withdrawal of tfis. forces
Under direction of Gen Sykes one of
MS brigades covered the whole. The
order was carried out in the most adj
Hurdpie manner. No confusion oc-
CURED: no haste or disorder
Contrary to my understanding and
without notice, ti.I engineers in charge
took up two of the pontoon bridges
before all the troops directed tn cross