General's preliminary report of the battle of Fredericksburg. Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, maintained the contest against an intrenched foe, and the consummate skill and success with which you crossed and recrossed the river in the face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of popular government. Condoling with the mourners for the dead and sympathizing with the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is comparatively so small. I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the thanks of the nation.' Simultaneously with the publication of this letter, it was announced that the President had declined to accept the resignation of General Burnside, which he had tendered.

by the passage of the river, he candidly "I have just read your Commanding assumed the whole burden of the affair. "But for the fog and the unexpected and unavoidable delay in building the bridges, which gave the enemy twentyfour hours to concentrate his forces in his strong position, we would," he said, almost certainly have succeeded, in which case the battle would have been, in my opinion, far more decisive than if we had crossed at the places first selected. As it was, we came very near success. Failing in accomplishing the main object, we remained in order of battle two days-long enough to decide that the enemy would not come out of his strongholds to fight us with his infantry -after which we recrossed to this side of the river unmolested without the loss of men or property. As the day broke our long lines of troops were seen marching to their different positions as if going on parade—not the least demoralization or disorganization existed. To the brave officers and soldiers who accomplished the feat of thus recrossing the river in the face of the enemy I owe everything. For the failure in the attack I am responsible, as the extreme gallantry, courage and endurance shown by the brave officers and soldiers was never exceeded, and would have carried the points had it been possible. To the families and friends of the dead I can only offer my heartfelt sympathies, and for the wounded I can only offer my earnest prayers for their comfortable antl final recovery. The fact that I decided to move from Warrenton to this line rather against the opinion of the President, Secretary of War and yourself, and that you left the whole movement in my hands, without giving me orders, makes me responsible."

The entire Union loss in this battle of Fredericksburg was reported at 1,128 killed; 9,105 wounded, and 2,078 missing. The corps of General Couch, in Sumner's division, and that of General Reynolds, in Franklin's division, suffered most heavily; the former losing 377 killed, and 3,068 wounded; the latter, 279 killed, and 2,217 wounded. The entire loss of Sumner's division was 5,311; that of General Hooker 3,548; that of General Franklin 3,452. Hancock's division lost 1,870; Meade's 1,624. As, according to the estimate of General Sumner, there were hardly 50,000 of the Union army under fire, excluding, of course, the troops held in reserve, it would appear that the casualties amounted to nearly one-fourth of the entire number in action. General Burnside estiIn response to this letter from Gen- mated the number of the rebel army at less eral Burnside, President Lincoln issued, than 100,000. General Sumner thought on the 22d of December, the following that the forces on both sides were about address to the Army of the Potomac equal. The Confederate loss, though hea* General Burnside to General Halleck, Falmouth, De-VY, was doubtless much less, the enemy being greatly protected by their works.

:

vy,

sula before Richmond, in General McClellan's campaign, and subsequently promoted to the command of Ord's brigade, on the departure of that officer for the West, was actively engaged with the Army of the Potomac in the recent battles in Maryland. He died a soldier's death on the battle-field, pierced in the head by a rifle-ball, while leading his troops in a charge.

A sad record of mortality this, summing up the result of another great indecisive battle of the war. Posterity, reading the fearful story of the rebellion, and contemplating its train of calamity, will yet shudder at the record of the fruitless slaughter, when many of its horrible details-for all will never be written-shall be fully brought to light. In this chronicle, hurrying from one battle-ground to another, we can pause only over a few The Rev. Arthur Buckminster Fuller, of the fallen brave, whose rank in the of Massachusetts, a Unitarian clergyman field, or previous history, demands par- of distinction, brother of the eminent ticular notice. The Union army lost in authoress, Margaret Fuller, was with the the battle of Fredericksburg several dis- army as chaplain. With earnest entinguished officers. The eminent cavalry thusiasm he offered his services, in a officer, Brigadier-General George D. military capacity, at the first crossing of Bayard, who had been actively employed the river in the occupation of Fredericksin the recent campaigns in Virginia, fell burg. Accompanying the 19th Massaat a critical moment of the engage-chusetts Regiment, he had taken a musket, ment on the left. He had just reached and was employed as a skirmisher in the General Franklin's headquarters, when, principal street, when he was struck by as he was sitting under a tree, he was a rebel ball, and survived but a few mostruck by a ball on the thigh. Learning ments. He died at the age of forty. that the wound was mortal, he calmly Educated in his youth by his distinguishresigned himself to his fate. "He was ed sister, he had graduated at Harvard, perfectly sensible," says a correspondent and commenced his public career as the on the field, "and never once lost that principal of an academy in Illinois. Beself-possession which has always charac- coming a Unitarian minister, he had terized him on the field of battle." Gen-charge at different times of several eral Bayard was a native of New York, a graduate of West Point, of 1856, when he commenced his military career as 2d Lieutenant of the 4th Cavalry. In 1861 he was promoted to a Captaincy, and about the same time was placed in command of the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, attached to General McCall's reserve corps. In June, 1862, he was appointed a Brigadier-General of volunteers commanding cavalry.

Brigadier-General Conrad F. Jackson, who fell in the same action, a citizen of Pennsylvania, and civilian before the war, also entered upon the war the colonel of a regiment in McCall's reserve corps. He was attached to General Ord's brigade, before Washington, and took part in the battle at Dranesville, in December, 1861. He was in the penin- |

churches in Massachusetts, resigning a pastoral charge to enter the army out of a pure spirit of devotion to his country. He is said to have been "one of the most génial of men," his humanitarian services. on the battle-field being equally rendered to- friend and foe.

Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bridgman Curtis, a young officer of promise, fell at the age of twenty-six in this battle-another offering to the patriotic cause of an honored family in New York, he left the desirable position of engineer of the Central Park, of that city, to engage in the war with a volunteer regiment. He was subsequently with the North Carolina expedition, and distinguishing himself at Roanoke Island, was promoted, at General Burnside's request, to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 4th Rhode Island.

CHAPTER LXXXI.

GENERAL FOSTER'S OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA,

TO DECEMBER, 1862.

lery, which they had found inadequately protected.* The Union loss in this affair was eight killed and thirty-six wounded, and that of the enemy thirty-three killed and about one hundred wounded. It was in consequence of threatened depredations of this nature that General Foster, at the beginning of November, led an expedition through the eastern counties of the State, the details of which are related in his report to General Halleck of November 12th. "The 1st brigade, under command of Colonel T. J. C. Amory, together with the artillery, cavalry and wagon train, were marched from Newbern across the country to Washington; the balance of my forces, including the 2d brigade, Colonel Stevenson, and the 3d brigade, Colonel Lee, were embarked on transports, and landed at Washington, where they were joined by Colonel Amory's command on Saturday evening, the 2d inst. Sunday, the 3d, all the forces, including artillery, left Washington, under my command, for Williamson. On the evening of the same day we encountered the enemy, posted in a strong position at a small creek, called Little Creek. I immediately ordered Colonel Stevenson commanding the 2d brigade, who was then in the advance, to make all haste in driving them from the opposite side of the creek, and push on at once. The engagement lasted one hour, when the enemy being driven from their rifle-pits by the effective fire of Belger's Rhode Island battery, retired to Rawle's Mills,

WHEN General Burnside, in the pre- | carrying with them four pieces of artilvious summer, left North Carolina with a large portion of his army to reinforce General McClellan before Richmond, the charge of the department was placed in the hands of his former division commander, General Foster, who was about the same time promoted to the rank of Major-General of volunteers. There was little of special interest, beyond an occasional reconnoissance into the interior, for some time occurring in the region, the efforts of both parties being concentrated on the grand movements in Virginia. Additional troops were from time to time sent from the new levies in New England and incorporated with the force at Newbern. It was always an efficient command, and, in the hands of General Foster, was not likely to lose its former prestige. The necessity of a proper support of the department was shown in a rebel attack of cavalry and infantry upon the small Union force holding the town of Washington on the Pamlico River. The assault was made on the 6th of September, at early dawn of a foggy morning, when a party of Union troops had just left the place in another direction. The town, taken by surprise, was swept by the rebels before its defenders were fairly aroused. Vigorous resistance was then made by the garrison and the returning troops of the expedition, and opportune aid was rendered by Captain Renshaw, in command of the gunboat Louisiana in the river, who shelled their position. A second gunboat, the Picket, was accidentally exploded in the action. Notwithstanding they were thus harassed, the enemy succeeded in making good their retreat,

On

* Correspondence of the Boston Traveller, Newbern, N. C., September 7, 1862. Rebellion Record, v. 609. Report of General Halleck, November 25, 1862.

oners, who were paroled at Williamson. The loss or our side consisted in six killed and eight wounded. The expedition was instrumental in saving the town and forces at Plymouth from destruction and capture, as I found upon my arrival at the place that the enemy's forces, while lying in the vicinity, besides being engaged in foraging, had reconstructed a bridge over the creek, three miles outside the town, for the transportation of their artillery to the opposite bank. I also learned, from information gathered on the spot, that an immediate attack was to have been made on the place; but upon hearing of my advance from Washington, and seeing the danger of their capture, they beat a precipitate and hasty retreat."

one mile further on, where they made another stand in a recently constructed field-work. Belger's Battery and two batteries of the 3d New York Artillery were immediately ordered into position, and after a spirited engagement of half an hour succeeded in driving the enemy from their works, and across a bridge, which they burned. That night, while the pioneers built the burnt bridge, the forces bivouacked on the field and proceeded the next morning to Williamson, where we arrived about noon. We started from there, after a short rest, in pursuit of the enemy, bivouacking about five miles from that place. On the following day we reached and occupied the fortifications at Rainbow Banks, three miles below Hamilton, and then pushed on to Hamilton. There we expected to The next military movement of imfind some iron-clad boats, said to be in portance in the department was set on the process of construction at Hamilton, foot simultaneously with the attack debut discovered nothing of the kind. On scribed in the last chapter, by General the 6th we left Hamiltca, in pursuit of Burnside upon the enemy at Fredericksthe enemy towards Tarboro', and encamp- burg. This was an attempt to break the ed on the same night within ten miles of line of the important coast railway passthat place. It was my intention to pur- ing from Richmond to Wilmington and sue the enemy towards Tarboro', but the thence to Charleston and the other chief exhausted condition of my men, most of cities of the Southwest. Goldsborough, whom had been sick during the last two one of its chief stations lying about fifty months and had not yet recovered their miles to the northwest of Newbern, strength, and the provisions being en- which contained the head-quarters of the tirely exhausted, so that I had to sub- Union army, was the point aimed at. sist the command by foraging, as well as General Foster having welded his mixed the fact that the enemy were being levies into efficient fighting brigades, set largely reinforced by rail, changed my out on the morning of the 11th of Deplans, and on the following morning, the cember, a cool and clear winter day, 7th inst., I countermarched the column, from Newbern with a force embracing making Hamilton the same night, where General Wessells's brigade of General we remained till the next morning, when Peck's division, the brigades of Colonels we marched for Williamson in the midst Amory, Stevenson and Lee, the 3d New of a severe snow-storm. At William-York and 1st Rhode Island batteries, son we remained a day, in order to give the men an opportunity to rest. At daylight the next day, the 10th inst., we started for Plymouth, where we arrived that night. The following day the troops were all reëmbarked for Newbern. During the engagement at Rawle's Mills and at Hamilton we captured five pris

with sections of the 23d and 24th New York Independent batteries, and the 3d New York cavalry. Fourteen miles were made the first day on the main road by Kinston, when further progress was found to be obstructed by felled trees for half a mile and more. This compelled a halt, the army bivouacking for the night on a