Semi-weekly herald., 1912-12-16
FREDERICKSBURG
sEMI.CENTENNiAL-

burg The battle was one of the sever
est of the civil war and the resultant
victory one of the most notable achiev-
ed by the arms Of the Confederacy.
Fredericksburg lies on the south
bank of the Rappahannock river, 65
miles north of Richmond, and on the
shortest railroad route from that city
to Washington. Besides this fact,
the vicinity of Acquia creek, on the
Furnishing an excellent
base of supplies-made movement on
Richmond by way of Fredericksburg
more feasible than by any other route.
After the battle of Antetam, Cen
eral Mcclellan, still in command of
the army of the Patomac, occupied
Harper's ferry. After a delay Of over
month he crossed the Potomac in
pursuit of General Lee, who rapidly
retired to the Rappahannock. The
town of Warrenton about fifty mile
southwest of the national capital was
the place selected by General McClel-
Ian for the concentration of his army.
On November seventh General Nc
Clellan was relieved of his command
and General Ambrose P. Burnside
reluctantly accepted it. General Nc
Clellan's plan of campaign was chang
ed. After reorganizing the army into
three grand divisions under Generals
Hooker, Summer and Franklin, Cen
eral Burnside began the famous move
ment against Fredericksburg, the pur-
pose being to cross the Rappahannock
of the Confederate army in detail,
as they were at that time fully two
days march apart.
By November 10 General Burnsides
army occupied the heights opposite
Fredericksburg, but delay of nearly
week was occasioned by the delay
of the pontoon-train to arrive from
Washington.
The Confederate army had how
eNei Deeii Juol do idpiu III ilo hioNe-
ments and had seized and fortified
the heights behind Fredericksburg.
General Burnside noting the changed
aspect of affairs, since the enemy
was now combined, hurried to Wash
ington and expressed doubt as to the
advisability of attempting to cross
the river, since General Lees force
had not been separated. He was urg-
ed, however, to go on, and returned
to conduct the advance.
1t was not until Dec. IL, owing to
/ the incessant rain, that General Burn
side gave the order to cross the river
at Fredericksburg, and attack the Con-
federates. The pontoons were laid
with great difficulty and loss, nearly
the entire day being consumed in the
effort, thwarted by the fire of the
Confederates concealed in houses in
Fredericksburg.
General Franklin crossed below
Fredericksburg, without loss, on the
morning of the twelfth. The two
armies were ranged opposite each
other south of the city, the Confeder-
ate lines occupying the naturally
| strong position along the crest of the
hills, with an open plain in front.
Their forces numbered 10000 strong.
General Longstreets's corps occupied
the height knows as Mary's hill,
! while "Stonewall" Jackson lay further
to the right in front of Franklin's S
grand division.
! The Federals were formed with Cen
eral Summer on the right, General
| Hooker in the center and General
Franklin on the left. The battle was
opened by Franklin about nine o'clock
in the morning of the 18th, and con-
tinued in series of Intellectual at
tempts to dislodge the Confederates
until night.
On the morning of the 14th Cen
eral Burnside was only prevented from
renewing the attack by the united
disapproval of his corps commanders.
On the 14th and 18th the armies were
quiet, truce being obtained by the
i Federals to bury the dead On the
night of Dec 18th the Federals retired
across the river, and on the 10th the
/ Confederate again occupied Fredricks-
burg.
The Federal losses in the engage
ment were l.1S0 killed, 9,02S wounded,
2,l45 missing, total of 1888. The
! Confederates lost 593 killed, 1851
wounded and 653 missing, the total
being 5,207
AS result of the great disaster
much dissatisfaction and insubordina-
ton were manifested among the Fed
eral troops, which increased until
: General Burnside felt compelled to
issue an order subject to the presi-
dents approval dismissing several
officers from the service and relieving
others from duty. This, however, was
not approved, and shortly afterward
General Burnside gave up to COM