Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-02
18 81
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About the 18th or eth il became evident
that Fredericksburg would be the scene
Of battle. and we advised the people
who were stiil IN the town TO prepare to
leave. as they would soon be in danger if
they remained. The evacuation of the
place by the distressed women and help
less men was a painful sight Many We're
almost destitute and had nowhere to go,
bit. yielding to the cruel necessities of
war, they collected their portable effects
and turned their backs on the town.
Many were forced to seek shelter in the
woods and brave the ICY November nights
to escape theapproachlng assault from the
Federal army.
Very soon after | reached Freder.cks-
burg the remainder OF my corps arrived
from Culpeper Court House. and as soon
as it was known that all the Army of the
Potomac was in motion for the prospec-
tive scene of battle Jackson was drawn
down from the Blue Ridge. In a very
short time the Army of Northern Vir-
clnia was face to face with the Army of
the Potomac.
At a point just above the town a
range of hills begins. extending from
the river edge out a short distance and
bearing around the valley somewhat in
the form Of crescent. On the opposite
side are the roted Stafford heights, then
occupied by the Federals. At the foot
of these hills flows the Rappahannock
river. on the Confederate side nestled
Fredericksburg. and around it stretched
the fertile bottoms from which fine crops
had been gathered and upon which the
Federal troops were to mass and give
battle to the Confederates.
On the Confederate side nearest the
river was Taylor's hill, and south of 1t
the now famous Marye's hill Ghe scene
IF ~ IL.
Next was Telecraph hill the highest of
the elevations on the Confederate side
1ater known as Lees hill, because dur
ing the battle Gen. Lee was there most
of the time,. where ] had my headquar-
tiers in the field. Next was a declina ton
through which Deep Run creek passed on
its way to the Rappahannock river, and
next was the gentle elevation at Hamll-
tons crossing not dignified with a name,
upon which Stonewall Jackson massed
10000 men. 1t was upon these hills that
the Confederates made their preparations
to receive Burnside whenever he might
choose to cross tie Rappahannock. The
Confederates were stationed as follows:
On Taylors hill, next the river and
forming my left. r. III. Anderson's d.
vision: on Maryes HILL Ransoms and
McLaws' divisions: on Telegraph hill.
Pickett'S division; to the right and about
Deep Run creek. Hoods division, the lat
ter stretching across Deep Run bottom.
On the hill occupied by Jackson's corps
We're the divisions of A. p Hill, Early
and Talaferro that of ID. II. Hill being
in reserve on the extreme right To the
Washington Artillery. on MaTye's hui.
was assigned the service of advising the
army at the earliest possible moment or
the Federal advance. Gen Barksdale,
with his Mississippi brigade. was on
picket duty in front of FREDERICKSBURG
the night of the advance.
The hills occupied by the Confederate
forces, although overcrCwned by the
heights OF Stafford, were SO distant as
10 he outside the range Of effective fire
by the Federal guns, and. with the lower
receding grounds between them. formed
defensive series that may be likened TO
natural bastions. Taylor's hill, on our
left. was unassailable. Marye's hill was
more advanced toward the town was of
gradual ascent and of less height
than the others, and we considered it the
point most assailable and guarded IL
accordingly. The events that foIoWed
proved the correctpess of our opinion on
that point. Lees hill, near our center.
with its rugged sides, retired from
Marye's and. rising higher than its com
panions. was comparatively safe.
This was the situation of the h,'Ooc
Confederates massed around Fredericks-
burg, and they had twenty odd days IN
which TO prepare for the approaching
battle.
The Federals, on Stafford heights,
carefully matured their plans of advance
and attack Cen Hunt, chief of artillery,
skillfully posted 14I guns to cover the
bottoms upon which the infantry was
to form for the attack and at the
same time 10 play upon the Confed-
crate batteries as circumstances would
allow Franklin and Hooker had joined
Sumner and Stafford heights held the
Federal army, 10000 strong. watching
the plain where the bloody conflict was
soon to be. In the meantime the Fed
erals had been along the banks or the
river looking for the most avaiiabie
points for crossing. The soldiers of botn
armies were in good fighting condition,
and there was every indication that we
would have a desperate battle. We were
confident that Burnside could not dis
lodge US, and patieatly awaited the at
tack.
ON the morning of the 18th OF Decem-
ber 1862 an hour or so before daylight.
the slumbering Confederates were awak-