Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
EXAMPLE OF PATRIOTISM
NOT ExCELLED IN HISTORY
Without Niurmur or Protest, People
OF Fredericksburg Leave Homes
and Seek Refuge in Hills.
MANY UNDER ENEMY's GUNS
Survivor Of Conflict Tells Of Events
Leading Up to Famous Battle.
How Yankees Cross River and
Gain Footing on Southern Bank.

the Army OF Northern Virginia" was
Ncamped at Bunker Hill" and In the
vSlnity of Winchester, and remained
IN camp at the above named places un-
I'll about the middle of November.
On October s General Lee ordered
General Stuart to cross tho Potomac
above Williamsport with his comma nd
and endeavor to ascertain the position
and purpose of the enemy. General
Stuart crossed tho Potomac River at
"McCoy's Ferry" on October 10. and
proceeded at once to Chambersburg,
where he spent the night. The next
morning he made directly for Gettys-
burg, thence to Emmetsburg, thence
towards Frederick City, but before
reaching that point crossing the Mo-
nocacy. and thence lighting his way to
the Potomac. which he crossed at
whites Ford" thus making com
plete circuit Of the Yankee army. III
mention here that the Yankee army
was at the time encamped in the
vicinity of Sharpsburg. and the com
mander-in chief. General George B.
Mcclellan, had remained inactive with
his entire command OF $4,000 from
September 10. 1852. until about Novem-
Der !, when the different columns OF
his army began to CROSS the Potomac
east of the mountains and advance
southwark towards Warrenton. Va,
selling tho passes through the Blue
Ridge" az they were reached.
AVOIDS CONFRONTING
LEE AT 1DUSkEH HILL"
The reader will observe that General
Mcclellan avoided confronting General
Lee at Bunker Hill," and In the vicin
ty Of Winchester he kept to the left
and between General Lees army and
Alexandria and Washington. The enc
my gradually concentrated about War
t,t Ir,, I,.a
the Rappahannock River in the direc-
ton OF Culpeper Courthouse.
On November Z an order was issued
from the War Department at Washing
ton relieving General Mcclellan Of tho
command OF the Army Of the Poto-
mac" and directing General Burnside
20 assume command.
About the middle of November. Cen
eral Lee saw unmistakable signs OF
Il purpose on the part OF the Yankee
communicating chief to move to Fred
erlcksburg. On the nth. McLaws's
and Ransom's divisions OF Infantry.
brigade OF cavalry under General w.
n. +. Lee. and Lanes Battery OF ar
tillery were ordered TO proceed to that
point To ascertain more definitely the
purpose OF General Burnside and the
location OF his troops. General stuart
was ordered TO cross the Rappahan-
mock with hts cavalry and feel the
enemy. On the morning OF the 18th
no forced passage at Warrcnton
Springs and, after brushing aside
small force that was guarding the
ford. he proceeded to Warrenton. which
place he reached soon after the lhsl
OF tho Yankee army had left The In
formation then obtained confirmed the
reports previously received, and IT be-
came evident that the whole OF Burn
sides army was moving towards Fred
ericksburg.
On the morning OF the 10th, General
Longstreet was directed to march with
the remainder Of his corps for that
point. The advance OF Burnsidc's army
under General Sumner reached i'al
mouth. opposite FredericksburS, on the
18th General Jackson, meanwhile. in
pursuance OF instructions from Cen
eral Lee, had crossed the Blue Ridge
and moved 20 the neighborhood or
Orange Courthouse, and about Novem-
Der IS. as soon as Burns!de's purpose
was fully developed, he was directed
10 march to Fredericksburg.
CAVALRY IS STATIONED
TO GUARD UPPER FORDs
Our cavalry was stationed so az TO
guard the upper fords of the Kappa
hammock and portion was watching
and guarding the river near Port
ROYAL General Lees army now oc-
cup!ed line extending from the river
about one and half miles above
Frederick sburs along the range of hills
south and west OF the town to Hamil-
tons Crossing. on the Richmond. Fred
e.!ckseuyg and Potomac Railroad.
Genera! Longstroets Corps consti-
tutee the left wing OF the Confederates
General Jecksons Corps was posted
or the right Of General Longstreet.
and extending to Hamiltons Crossing.
our brigade (Fields's) OF A. p. HIS
vision. was on the extreme right
wing OF the infantry. and General
stuart's Cavalry on the right or the
Infantry line OF battle. and rendered
ene service in repelling any attack the
enemy might make from turning our
right wing. 49,
situation, so TO speak, OF Genera! Burn
s!de's March on 10 Richmond. me
Tine as thus established was to great
extent commanded by the heights on
the opposite side OF the river. crowned
with tho heavy guns OF the enemy, but,
after the construction of earthworks.
and the placing OF our artillery at
every point of vantage, IT was very
rood line for defense, and, on the left.
absolutely safe against an attack in
front. II ives deemed unwise to resist
in force any attempt that the enemy
might make to construct bridges and
cross the river. Only small force,
therefore. consisting OF General Barks-
aale's Brigade of General McLaw's d.
vision and two regiments from Gen
eral Anderson's Division, the Third
Georgia and the Eighth Florida, under
General Barksdale. was stationed in
the city for the purpose of picketing
the river front and impeding as much
as possible any attempt that the enemy
might make to cross the river
SURRENDER OF CITY
DEMANDED by YANKEES
II will be OF interest to many who
will chance to read this article. that
on November 81, 1862, General Sumner
sent a communication to the civil au-
tnorities OF fredericksburg, in which
lie made demand that the oity be sur
rendered at 5 o'clock that evening, and
notice was given that in the event of
a refusal of his demand the city would
he bombarded at 8 o'clock next morn
ing. The threat was subsequently
Withdrawn in view Of certain assur-
ances given by the Mayor. The city
vas not fred into Mt this time, but
later on, General Burnside did carry
This threat into execution. 1t was i'm
possible to prevent the execution of
The threat TO shell the city. as 1t was
completely exposed to the batteries
Of Stafford hills, which were beyond
our reach. The city authorities were
informed that while our forces would
MT use the place for military DIR