The National tribune., 1908-03-12

the celebrated lines of Torres Vedras,
behind which Wellington with his small
army defied the hosts that Napoleon
sent against him under his ablest mar
shals. Along the crest of the hills from
United States Ford, above Fredericks-
burg to Skenker's Neck, distance of
% miles, there was a continuous line of
substantial infantry breastworks. The
two points of this line were SO well con-
nected by good roads that the troops
frc any part could be rapidly
con- .ntrated upon the point attacked.
Every available place for battery ection
was fortified with epaulements, from
which cannon could sweep the hiIlsides
and bottom lands as far as the river to
break up any assaulting column that
might form These epaulements We're a
sufficient protection to the cannon from
the return fire of our batteries. Before
the entire length of the intrenchments
stretched a heavy line cf abatis except
where there were swar2ps so impassab BILE
as to preclude attack. Still further in
front of the main line every hillock
and other elevation was fortified and ap-
proaches made to 1t so that strong
defence might be made before columns
would be allowed to reach the impreg-
nable main line. The same intrench-
ments clustered around all the probable
and possible crossing places of the river
The main line of intrenchInents ran
along the crests of the hills, from three
fourths to one and one-half miles back
from the river, but no part of the inter-
vening ground that could be fortified
was neglected, and the system of de-
fense was as perfect as the highest
engineering skill could make it.
While it was possible 20 cross the
river as it had been done under the
shelter of the tremendous artillery fire
from the Falmouth side, yet nowhere
could the columns hope to make pro-
gress enough to reach the main line
before they were shattered by the COM
bined artillery and musketry fire al
close range. Lee and his subordinates
fully realized the Importance of Fred
ericksburg as the gateway to Rich
mond, and neglected nothing that
would make their holding it more
certain.
Lee Reorganizes His Army.
Gen. Lee reorganized his army too
and greatly improved its efficiency
He divided it into two grand divisions
or corps, the first commanded by Lieut.
Gen. James Longstreet. Longstreet's
First Division was commanded by Mai
Gen. r. II Anderson, with Brig Gems
Malone, Posey, Wilcox, Perry and
Wright commanding his brigades
Longstreets Second Division was COM
manded by MaJ--Gen. Lafayette Nc
Laws, with Brig.-Gens. Kershaw, Simms
Wofford and Barkesdale commanding
his brigades. His other two divisions
We're sent off on special service Of
which / shall speak later. The Second
Corps was commanded by Lieut. Gen
Thomas j. (StonewalD Jackson. Jack.
sons First Division, which was as
strong as one of the Union corps, was
commanded by Maj.-Gen. A. p Hill
with Heth, Pender, Archer, MCGOWAN
Lane and Thomas commanding hi.
brigades. The Second Division wa.
commanded by Maj.-Gen. d. H. Hill
with Brig.-Gens. Ramseur, Rodes, Doles
Iverson and Colquitt commanding the
brigades. The Third Division wa.
commanded by Brig.-Gen. r. Z. Colston
with Paxton. Jones, Nichols and WEI.
iams commanding brigades. The
Fourth Division was under Maj.-Gen
Jnbal A. Early, with Rrig. Gems Gordon
hays, Smith and Hoke commandina