Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05

into splendid field general OF the most vigor-
GUS mien and distinguished bravery"
MUCH has been written Of the suffering Of
NA the soldiers in the engagement, but little
of the people of Fredericksburg, whose city
was selected for battlefield. We who live
today in peace and contentment cannot realize
what it means to be told military neces-
Sity to pack up our valu2bles and leave our
comfortable homes on just few hours no.
uce, and yet that is just what these people
were told. and they complied with the order,
for there was nothing else to do
Here is an order that must have come Ike
q thunderbolt out of clear sky. at tells It's
own painful story:
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac.
November 81, 1862.
sA6avor and Common Council of Fredericks-
burg Gentlemen: Under cover of the houses
of your city shots have been fired upon the
troops Of my command. Your mills and man
ufactOries are furnishing provisions and the
material for clothing for armed bodies IN re-
beliion against the Government Of the United
States Your railroads and other means OF
TRANSPORTATION are removing supplies to the
depots Of such troops. This condition of things
must terminate and, by direction Of Gen. Burn
SIDE I accordingly demand the surrender OF
the city into my hands as the representative
Of the Government of the United States &C
or before S O'Clock this afternoon.
trailing an affirmative reply to this de-
mand by the hour indicated 16 hours viii
be permitted to elapse for the removal from
the city of women and children the sick and
wounded and aged. etc, which period having
expired, I shall proceed to shell the town.
Upon obtaining possession of the city, every
necessary means VII be taken to preserve order
and secure the protective operation OF the
laws and policy of the United States Gov
eminent.
IT am. very respectfully. your obedient servant.
"E. v. SUMNER,
sBvt Maj. Gen, U. s. Army Commanding
Right Grand Division
ITO this communication the Mayor Of Fred
ericksburg replied rs follows:
Mayors once,
Fredericksburg,
November n. 1862.
@Bvt Maj. Gen. E. ". Sumner.
Commanding U. S. Army.
'6ir: have received at 4:40 O'Clock this
afternoon your communication Of this date. In
Il you state that, under cover of the houses Of
this town. shots have been fired upon the troops
AZ YOUR command; that mills and manu-
factories are furnishing provisions and the
material for clothing for armed bodies in re-
bellion against the Government of the United
states: that our railroads and other means of
transportation are removing supplies to the
depOts Of such troops; that this condition of
things must terminate; that, by command Of
Mai. Gen. Burnside, you demand the surrender
81 this town into your hands. as the representa-
tive OF the Government Of the United States,
at or before O'Clock this afternoon; that. fail
ing an Affirmative reply to this demand by the
time indicated. 10 hours win be permitted to
elapse for the removal from the town of the
women and children, the sick. wounded and
aged, which period having elapsed, you will
proceed to shell the town.
TN reply have to say that this communica-
ton did not reach me in time to convene the
Council for its consideration and TO furnish a
reply by the hour indicated (5 pm). It was
sent to me through the hands Of the command
ing officer of the armv of the Confederate