Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

more than the guns: Hooker had been
compelled TO fall back on defensive po-
sl r Inc 1eehng became widely prev
alent That the 9Th Corps would Ina
compelled to take care OF itself Al .irst
II was cautiously whispered that Hooker
had tailed. and soon the worst was st,r
missed and IT was concluded that no help
could be expected from him His dash
promptness and confidence as division
ana corps commander were gone.
Lee that night withdrew his troops
flushed with their brilliant success. from
the 'front.' OF Hooker. with the excention
of Jackson's corps. and marched s~ain.t
oeogwlck. Still Hooker remained inar
1--WE; with a force greatly i'm excess OF
the enemy in his front. he made no efrort
TO relieve Sedgwick from his ne-ilous
position. Works wer. thrown nm nv go
enemy along the Salem Church ride
ana they extended their right until ON
MohGay morning, May 4. Marye's Heights
and Fredericksburg, won AT So eraa,
sdrrlhce, We're again theirs
Sedgw1ck's position, as finally es,ah-
iIStteu' was IN the shape of a horseshoe
poth hanks resting on the Ranpahan
ii me line covering Banks Ford. His
me OF battle was between five and sty
miles In length. Frequent attep,nts bad
peeh made during Sunday morning 10
communicate with Banks Ford ana 60
1l,ecl me laying OF pontoon bridges, but
ioI SOME time rowing bodies OF Confed-
crate cavalry frustrated this Col ITan,,
w. arrar. on the staff OF Sedrwick
MiIe carrying message for this mr.
,, "aS captured and taken 10 Rich
l,oIo me 18th of May dragged wea,ily
shIrfnlShinS continued all daN ,ha ,,,aa.I
er was hot. Sedgwick's rosition u.s -.
CRITICAL. and the keenest anNictv ~. 81,
i - was IN our front with a force much
Idlser tnan Sedgwicks then availahIa
command of 1900 mon ana 81 ..,
was Homentarily expected hut for,,,
Lee consumed the whole dav i'm
1anao ms lines. The greatest vigi
rance and activity We're eyercisad ~ g.
men IN throwing up rifle pits WI
fooker sent word to Sedgviclr 20 LII.
wen 10 the safety Of his CORPS and either
W IAN nack upon Fredericksburg or re-
he oo,, al 5ahks Ford; he also added that
ne could do nothing to relieve him Sa5g.
WICK Accordingly intrusted Newton with
.ue arrangements for the withdrawn
Newton quickly made himself acouaiptad
WIN me roads leading to Banks Ford
ana succeeded in establishing communica-
lon with Gen. Henry w. Renham u,ho
place. at t"at
All u O'Clock in the evening the enepv
attacked Brooks and Howe on the center
ana left, with the design of cutting off
Sedgw1ck from Banks Ford Howe not
only maintained his position until night
Iaii' nut also made several counter
charges, capturing several hundred nris
ohers Brooks also held on until dark
Out In retiring was closely pursued by the
enemy: The whole corps then success
iully fell back to Banks Ford, and the
Iong ana painful suspense of the day was
over. ' was
The picket line in front and on the left
OF salem ridge was withdrawn by Gen
David A Russell in person / had been
airected TO assist him. That sterling SOL
fnd mo-
saying. Quietly, men, quietly: don't
make any Noise; but the Jingle of the
canteens and other unavoidable sounds
on the evening air revealed the movement
TO the Vlg1lant enemy. and they followed
closely, yelling and firing until the dou-
ble-quick step brought us to our main
column on the march. about a mile dis
tant.
Several of the enemy's scouts penetrated
almost to the ford and threw UP rockets
to mark our position The enemy's artiI-
lery responded to the signal. Smelling both
troops and bridges, but with little injury
during the night we recrossed the river
ana took position to meet the enemy
should they. as expected at the time.
cross to the north side to renew their at
tack. We captured five battle flags and
hfteen pieces or artillery, nine of which
were brought off. Fourteen hundred pris-
oners Were taken, including many officers
of rank.
With sedgwick out of the way. Lee pre-
pared TO advance against Hooker on the
9th, but the latter in the midst of a
heavy storm. hastily withdrew across the
river, and the disastrous Charlottesville
campaign. of which great things had been
expected by the north, was at an end. And
the next time the Army of the Potomac
and its old adversary met was at Gettys-
burg, Lees success at Charlottesville
having embroidered him to invade Penn
SyiVania.
Copyright. 1911, by the Century Company