The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-12
rRRnER1oKsRaRa Va. SATURDAY., DEoEMBER IL l9os.
cANNoNaOE OF FRsDtRICKSBU &c,
DECEMBER 1lTH, 1867
a memoir by Col. Chas. Rlcharison.)
"Tell ye your children oi II.

[ TQpul'llf w WI NAN"f
Tell ye your children oi H.
During the afternoon OF November
18th. 1862. Gen. Sumner. commanding
the right grand division Of the Uuion
army. arrived at Falmouth WIN his
force1 -33 900 men His cavalry rehcL-
ed Falmouth about 3 y. IN, but "as
ba IN q in their attempt 20 eros th'
river by the Confederate force und r Col
Ball. Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry, four
companies Of Mississippi Infantry aud
Lewis battery oi artiilery, (-ays Gen
Lee, Nov. Is, 1862.
The Conf ni,derate Central Long-tres I
arrived with his cOrIs-the divisions ol
In Fl. Anderson, McLsws. Ransom,
Pickett. Hood and their artillery Nov
10Th aud the 20th. These divisions
were assigned positions along tht
heights In rear OF fredericksburg. An
derson's left resting on DR.. lay o. = NIL
and extending 10 the Orange PlanA oed'
McLaws' IRON Plank road u HO" Is me
housi. Pickett next On th' rght u
r ynolds farm, Hood next, whore righ'
touched HamlltOD's CrOssi0g ktaSoIn' 4.
division was held Ia reserve nahr Gen
LupgstIe, Is headquarters (Lee's HID.
Oa arrival Il Gsa JacksOhs cJrls
Hood was closed on Pickett.
On the 21st Instant Gen. Sumner sent
note to The Mayor and Common
Coun II oi Fredericksburg, in witch be
said: Under cover Of the houses q
your city shots have been iied upon th'
troors OF NY command. Your m'iis auo
manufactures are furnishing provision
and the material Tor clothing Tor arm q
bodies in rebellion against The Z 'yerL-
ment oi the Uaited states lOuf rait
roads and other meaus Oi transrOtta-
tion are removing supplies q the drlots
Of euch troops. This condition OF ihi X
must terminate. and, by elect Il q
Gen. Burnside, | accOrdif gy dsinsuo
the surrender Of the city into my h3i d.
at or before D O'Clock this afie aoun
Failing an affirmative reply TO this DE-
mand hy the hour inlig ated, s'xt.er
hours will be- permitted 70 e.sps- iIr tn
removal from the city of wOm' 1Sd
children. the sick aud wounded aLd
aged. which period having exi i7ed
shall proceed 10 sh-ll the town.
The Mayor OF FIR dsricksburg Mr
MONTGOMERY Slaughter did not receive
Gen. Summers communication unit 40
O'Clock that afternoon, which dld not
allow hun time TO convene the council
for the confederation Of Gen Sdaneis
d. mand by the hour indicated. MsyOi
Slaughter forwarded the letter to GeI
Lee. Upon the reference Ot this com
munlcation 10 ne" says Gen l. o. "as
was unable to prevent the city fr IA b.
Ing canuonaded, requested Gen. Long
street to inform the authorities that tn!
might say that wouli not occupy OF
use the city for military purposes. but J
would resist Its occupation by the enemy
aud recommend that the women and
children be st once removed Our
wagons and ambulances have been em-
ployed all last night. 2lst, and today,
22nd, In accomplishing this Object.
Gen. Sumner, Nov. 22nd, IN aetDOwl-
edging the Mayors reply, said, Il sn
authorized to say that. so long as nc
hostile demonstration Il made from tn
town, il will not be sheled. | have also
to say that there will be no tiring upon
the cars before l a m. tomorrow, the
train had been fred upon previously
Gen. Giobon. writing to Gen. Burnside,
Nov. 30th, say 8: 1T Is now pretty well
established that the main body OF rebels
Is 10 position around Fredericksburg, and
intend to dispute the passage OF the Rap
pahannock. The original intention on
our part was undoubtedly, TO surprlse a
passage OF the river and at least get 3
position on the other side brfJre the
rebels could be apprised OF our Intention
The Union army In inll force. now be-
ing on the other side OF the river oppo
site Fredericksburg, a battle was immi-
nent. A line OF pickets was established
from Banks Ford to Talcott's fort, 4
milts below Fredericksburg.
On the 9th inst, the 18th Mlssissippi
regiment OF Bsrksdale's brigade was Or
dered into the city to strengthen thr
Picket line; on the night OF the 10th and
early morning OF the 1th the 18th, 18Th
and 21st regiments Of Barksdale's bri-
gade were also sent into the city.
At 3 O'Clock, the morning OF the lltb,
Federal engineers commenced to con
struct pontoon bridges across the river.
1t was q stsr-lit night, but dense fog
obscured the view OF the pontoDiers
At dawn the Misslssippisns opened Ore
and drove them away; several ineffsctuai
attempts were made to resume thl
bridge-buiding At length, about 8
O'Clock, six batteries OF fisld artillery and
two regiments OF infantry were brought
near the river bank and opened a hot
FIRE upon the Mis- .issippiane, but those
sturdy men, undaunted, stsod their
ground.
Now. every cannon on the Stafford
bill, that could be brought to bear open
ed upon the town. Chimneys and wall
crumble and fall, clouds OF gloomy smoke
roll upward and hide the sun, angry
flames lick out OF windows Kissing, and
burst from house-tops roaring and rush
ing upward, seeming to scorch the azure
skies. Brayely the Mississippians hold
the town till, night settling, they were
ordered to withdraw.
And now as the soughing OF the win
ter's wind the murmur Oi unhappy voices
distrt sses the sulphureous night, out OF the
stricken town come the remnant OF wo-
men and children and decrepid old men;
there were only lew score and
they OF the humber class. All the
day they had clung to their homes
amidst crumbllng walls and burning
houses; shrinking In dark cellars, praying
hoping, iamishing-;bey had no other
refuge; the universe was the lowly home
where they were born. The Northern
bordes. serging over the bridges. infest
the town and frighten the poor creatures
from their covert-creeping, limplpg.
struggling from the touch OF the insidi-
ous foe.
Out OF Hanover street and William
street they, sorrowing, come, knowing
not whittier they go. But the thin gray
line OF Confederetes, ON the heights, open
ranks and receive them:-"take thisl"
"take thatl' thus the hungry Johnnies,
handing their scant haversacks, and
speaking words OF sympathy.
YEARLY they drag along the uncertain
road, fge miles away, to Salem church.
Salaml Peace be within thy walls" and
they said: "Let us go into the house OF
the Lord" and they fell on their knees