The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-03-05

Kappahannoek river 4, Fredericksburg
n. t~onssII4aiea as II oops II That NJ
entity. and as soon as surnsiuc had
crossed the river he was reaQy To re-
slst his further advance. The federal
army marched across the river on
pontoon bridges and deployed on the
south side in grand style ready 20
sweep as.d. any opposition. But tho
Federals were badly disappointed,
when. alter repeated and determined
assaults, they were not able u push
aside Lees veterans, VINO successfully
rspelled every attack made that cold
December day. Larry in the morning
there VAS 4 heavy fog that obscured
To . considerable extent the move
nents cf the federals. as they crossed
the river. but soon the sun am out
and the deadly work Of destruction
began when the Federals attempted 10
drive away the Con1ederates.
Inc main attack Of the Frderals
tanu where they suffered the mosJl
was at Aarye's Heights, nea- the Con-
feOeIate centre, which they charged
several times with great courage but
all in vain, being repuiScd every time
with heavy loss. Gen. Robert RANSOM,
of this state. commanded two brieades
at that place and greatly distinguished
hinlsei. in repulslng the enemy's as
Saults- Column after column OF the
enemy advanced to the assault and
charged most desperately. but eacn
time was hurled back with terrible
slaughter. Inc C~onfederates having
successfully resisted every attack
Burnside finally dcsistcd and night
covered with darkness the CORY field
Of arnag with nothing ga.ned by
him to compensate for his heavy loss
eS. Next day the c~onfcderateS await
ed and expected a renewal Of the bat
tlN lttt Rry~rct|a and Hic rr-N had
been sufficiently amused and after
spending that day idly. with W on
the third day back to the north side
Of the river which they had crossed
with such high hopes on the morn
ing Of the 18th OF December. 1862.
In this battle the Federal army, Lc-
cording to official reports. lost 1853
in killed. and prisoners, and
the Confederate loss was 4.201. OF
course, as was usual in all the battles
fought by the Army Of Northern Vir-
ginia. certain North Carolina reg!-
ments suffered a heavier loss han
those Of any other state. The heaviest
loss Of any Confederate regiment was
: that Of the G-th North Carolina and
;. the mex heaviest was shat Of the 18Th
North Carolina regiment. This was
:. the first fight in which the 57th had
: been engaged and il greatly distin-
: guished itself. Alone 1t charged the
I enemy in q railroad cut and drove
/ them out after other troops had failed
TO do SO, and no seasoned veteran:
could have acted better. Gen. john
B. Hood. who commanded then the
division to which the 57tn was at
ltached. highly complimented that reg
imen1 in his official report, sayins
1T is with much pleasure that l cal
= your attention to to the gallant bear
ing Of both the officers and men o.
the ~Fiftysevcnfh North Carolina regl
ment, Col. A. &. Goodwin c~Ommandias
in their charge on a superior force y
! the enemy posted in the strong posi-
) ton he had gained" General HooC
also complinnented the 54th Nnrti
c Carolina regiment very highly.
The battle and victory at Freder
icksburg closed active operations Q,
both armies for the Year 1852. an'
the ConfederaIes certainly needed ant
d deserved a rest after the bloody anc
]. arduous campaign Of that year. "heI
General Lee was given command .
the Army Of Northern Virginia on tn
first cay of June, 1862. the FEEDER
army under Mcclellan. was Utmost i
sight of Richmond. nearer TO that cit
= than it ever was again during the en-
n tire war. until the evacuation on IN
night OF April 2. 1865. When IN
Re years campaign ended at ~Frederlcks
"a burg the Confederate army vas ab0u
N as near Washington as the Federa
a, army was near Richmond and duFln
a. that campaign Lee had not only dTV
a. en~the Federal army away from Hl"h
nond but had carried his army mort
+ Of the Potomac river and had alarme
re the federal authorities for me sa1et
r. Of their own capital.