Year: 1863

VARIOUS PLANS.


kbout this time council OF was hct u dr'eilne
In what manner should attack the eleinN ~"
inv Inc river n WIS determined. as - p sed-for
left e council with that ,mpress'olthst we snodo ~
tack them without any separation or 'iv on ~ Tue amy
aftactiog The rnen,y on their right below hetc. That
| MS what advocated-ihe keeliL the army iogeiher
and turning the enemys right. did approve the
attemt 20 pierce strong line two points when one
| would bo a. much would be lkey 10 succeed IN n
prisoner German had been taken and brought INTO TINS
very General summers headqusFers) This prI
SAID he had no digestion 20 communicating every
thing that he knew IN regard TO the reoe forces pro
vlded the rebel authorities wee not informed o. H.
lie had been impressed into tr service and wanted 10
quit Has appearance and his story we're such as 70
carry conviction the minds OF every one who heard
him He told us precisely OF the arrangements for dc
fence they had made the right, but IN rogad 70 'ne
lett he knew less He said that Il was ,or US
te carry this position lie informed US o the patterles
they had the positions they had taken ana tne
they had thrown up and sad that tne rooes
General nsde said that his favore place OF attack
was tho telegraph road. said he, "Ihat has always
been my favorito place OF attack" The army was &C
ccrdiugly divided to make two attacks.


THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.


The night before the attack two OF my divsons-and
they were my iayorite divisions for the di-
vision which had educated myself and the other was the
that kearny had commanded, and Of those two
mand-these two divisions were sent down 10 support
Franklin They left here under orders to hold the bridge
was standing here on this roof with General Burnside
when word brought that those two divisions had
been ordered forward with Franklin. ! said 70
would have nothing act with, and that did not
General Franklin to aght my divisions that the next
hre. He assured me that they should not cross the
bridge down there that they ordered supports to
10 20 into battle with him. Soon after received order
another Of my divisions to relieve General How
ards division, in the upper end OF Ereaercksolg ny
bridges this sde ready 70 cross at moments notice
About O'Clock that day received orders TO send
another of divisions 10 support General Sturgs and
about the same time received order from General
Burnside my other two divisions and attack
the enemy the telegraph r0ad-the same position
had been buting against all day long. As soon
ceived the order, my divisions commenced crossing
rode forward to see what could learn from the officers
General Wilcox. General Couch and General Han
cock. Their opinion with one exception, was that
the attack should not be made on that point. Alter
comforting with Them went to examine the position to
ascertain whether not could be turned Discovering
point and seeing that many Of the troops that
had been already engaged in the attack consdera
bly, demorazed and fearing that should the enemy make
an advance even Of but small column nothing but dis;
burnside say that advised him not attack at that
place. He returned that the attack must be made
had the matter ach at heart that put spurs to
horse and rode here myself, and tried TO dssuade
General burnside from making the attack. He insisted
on its being made. then returned and brought every
available oAttery in the CITY, with view break away
their barriers by the or artillery proceeded against
The barriers Is would % n,. sganss and en-
hope to enter Before that the attack along the line,
seemed to me- had been too genera-not sufficiently CON



of the road, within four hundred yards Of the
position upon which the attack 10 be made,
and had other parts Of batteries posted the right
OF the road at the distance Of I'VE hundred hundred
yards. had all these batteries playing with great vgor
until sunset upon that point but with no apparent effect
part cannonadng had given directions TO General
Humphreys division to form under the fheer which
small hill afforded, column for assault When the fire
of the artillery ceased gave directions for the enemys
works be assaulted General Humphreys men took of
their knapsacks ovcrcoas and haversacks. They were
| racted 40 NAL
time there TO load and fire. When the word
was given the men moved forward with great mpetu-
Osity. They and hurrahed, and encouraged by
great good feeling that pervaded them The head Of
General Humphreys column advanced to within, perhaps
advanced position which the rebels held, and then they
were thrown back as quickly as they had advanced
not occupy fifteen minutes. They left behind as was
reported to me, 1,760 OF their number out OF about
1000 may As we'll state here that sykes division was
phrey should succeed could throw forward all the force
that had leftsykes division, about 1000 meno hold
the position in face Of 80 900 mon who were massed be-
hind that wall. That why did not like TO make the
attack because, even II successful, could not hold the
position and assigned that the did think
L advisable 70 make the attack. a !
| < THE NIGHT AFTER THE BAIrLn. a


was now just dark Finding that had lost IS many
attack, and directed that the sheud hOd for the
advance line between Fredericksburg and the enemy
ditch along about midway between the enemyi


lines and The city and which would afford shelter iOI
the men, will say that in addition to tho musketry





hilk surrounding Fredericksburg form almost somf
circle, and thess Allied with artillery, and the
That focus Was within good canister range, though


do not think any canister wss thrown on my men that
day AL these difficulties were apparent, and perfectly
were known also TO other officers. General French said
to that the whole could not take that pon and
picket line returned reported General burnside
what had done. He dissatisfied with the line had
taken my picke and said that they must be cstab


shed Al the advanced position that had held during
the day We had some men lying down on their bellies
s ae na On sns sns
session Of at any time Immediately sent word for my
pckes to advance TO that place. and make that the line
OF the pickets General Burnside had ordered. Gen
burnside said that II back to the ditch have
spoken Of, It would be falling back Of army pu
the men were lying there on their bellies my loss IN
General Sykes command two hundred and four men
my men were wneIs nsy ny could 1nt % we az p
there might have been half dozen casualties during thu
day.


That night, after seeing General Burnside, returned


and took command OF the forces there.


placed General Butterhed the upper end Of the
enemy. AT the south end Of the town placed Genera
Couch requested Of General Burnside that all Of Tho
troops there but two divisions might be withdrawn
to this side OF the river because the enemy should
throw shell into the city II could not fall amss with al


those troops there Many OF the troops In such
| condition that they gave additional strength. II
mas reported through rebel that great dis
satisfaction Is felt at our not having been sheed while
our troops were 10 the city and have court:
martial being he'd among the confcderates TO
anime into matter aud that at time they were


actually heating shot In their furnaces 10 throw into the
city while thcrc. We remained there until Mon
day night and Tuesday morning, when orders were Is
! sued FIRST, for General Summers command 10 be with


drawn afterwards, between three and four O'Clock
the morning. for my own command to be withdrawn.


A COUNCIL OF WAR.


| ought to say here that the morning after we hat
made our attack orders issued fo another attack
| be made In the place but the officers who In,
.lea IN iha
| not carried into execution.


Y Had you made any impression, In the meantime
up their wcrksr A. Not the slightest no more thai
YOU could make upon the side OF mountain Of rock
the day following the attack another councA OF
held and the question submitted, how that plac
could be taken When think OF II, the council was he'll
ON Monday, II | am not mistaken II was composed o
tie generals commanding the grand dvisions--all Du
General Franklin, who said he could not leave town.
he was expecting attack-and or the corps com
manders The opinion Of most Of the connc that tn
place could not be taken a, all Ny own opinion was that