The National tribune., 1908-01-30
A WARTIME PHOTO OF FRANKLIN'S CROSSING.
(The hills distance were occupied by the rebels)

before the crossing, Sumner called a
council to discuss what we were to do,
the corps, division and brigade COM
msnders being present. The result was
a plain, free talk all around. in which
words were not minced, for the con-
rersation soon drifted into a marked
disapprobation of the manner in which
Burnside contemplated meeting the
enemy.
Sumner seemed to feel bad that the
officers did not agree to Burnside's
mode of advance. That noble old hero
was so faithful and loyal that he want
ed, even against impossibilities, to carry
out everything Burnside suggested. 1
should doubt if his judgment concurred.
1t was only chivalrous attachment to
there were not two opinions among the
subordinate officers as to the rashness
Of the undertaking.
Somebody told Burnside Of our
views, and he was irritated. He asked
us to meet him the next night at the
Lacy House. He said he understood, in
general way, that we were opposed to
his plans. He seemed to be rather
severe on Hancock-to my surprise. for
did not think that officer had said as
much as myself in opposition to the
plan of attack. Burnside stated that
he had formed his plans, and all he
wanted was the devotion of his men.
Hancock made reply, in which he
disciaimed any personal discourtesy,
and said he knew there was line of
fortified nights on the opposite side,
M hot In .aft f.r
US to go over there and take them. 1
rose after him. knowing that was the
more guilty, and expressed a desire to
serve Burnside, saying, among other
things. that if I had ever done anything
;n any battle, in this one intended to
do twice as much. French came in
while 1 was talking. He was rather
late, and in his bluff way exclaimed, Is
this Methodist camp meeting""
On the Confederate Side.
Gen. r. e. Lee took up his position,
es at Antietam, on the highest point of
ground from which he could see most
of his own long line of battle and that
OF the Union troops. This point, which
was south of Marye's flights, was then
called Telegraph Hill, but it has since
been known as Lees Hill. Gen. Long
street also made his headquarters there
and was most of the time with Lee.
Gen. Longstreet says with regard to the
completeness of the preparations for
the battle:
IAN idea of how well Marye's Hill was
protected may be obtained from the
following incident: Gen. E. z. Alex
ander, my Engineer and Superintendent
Of Artillery, had been placing the guns,
and in going over the field with him
before the battle / noticed an idle can
non. / suggested that he place Ii SO
m no 1aip in ne r., =,
Hill. He answered, General, we cover
that ground now SO well that we will
comb it as with a fine-tooth comb A
chicken could not live on that field
when we open on it,"
In FredericIlsburg.
Cropping thru the dense fog which
filled the Valley of the Rappahannock
on the morning of Dec. 10, the troops
the bridges and at the masses forming
up in masses in the streets and wher-
ever open places could be found on
which TO pack the men. The Confeder-
ate artillery kept up an incessant fire,
directed as well as they could guess at
the bridges and at the masses ironing
in the tom. Fortunately few of their
shots struck near the bridges tho fire.
auently they came SO close that the
bursting shells threw showers of water
over the fast-marching troops.
Inc regiments, winch crossed during
the night and early morning, were not
allowed to make fires, tho these could
not have shown far thru the dense fog.
About 10 o'clock the rising sun began
10 dissipate the fog, and there was re-
yealed to the 1ookers-on of both sides
a wonderful manorama of war, with
men in blue clothes bearing glistening
arms, filling the valley as far as the
eye could reach. Not all of Summers
Grand Division in Fredericksburg could
be seen, since the view was INSTRUCTED
by the buildings. but Franklin's two
corps stretched out with all the glorious
pageantry of war upon the scar, brown
fields of the valley below the town. The
Second Corps. under Gen. Couch, was
pushed forward toward the foot of
Marye's Nights and the lower edge of
the town to connect with Franklin, who