visions sent overland towards Fredericksburg.

A summons from the War Department, meanwhile, recalled all absent officers to the Army of the Potomac, while to give tone and character to the army in its movement, by impressing it with a sense of religious duty, and reminding it of the loftiest obligations of patriotism, President Lincoln, on the 16th of November, issued the following order :-"The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, desires and enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service. The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiments of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine Will, demand that Sunday labor in the army and navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. The discipline and character of the national forces should not suffer, nor the cause they defend be imperiled, by the profanation of the day or name of the Most High. At this time of public distress, adopting the words of Washington in 1776, Men may find enough to do in the service of God and their country, without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality.' The first general order issued by the Father of his Country, after the Declaration of Independence, indicates the spirit in which our institutions were founded, and should ever be defended: 'The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor | to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and privileges of his country.'"

The new movement was commenced on the 15th, by the right army division of General Sumner, the advance of which reached Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, on the 18th, when, if the pontoon trains ordered had been on hand, the passage of the river might have been securely effected, the communications kept

open, and an important advantage gained for the campaign, as there were few of the enemy at that time at Fredericksburg. General Sumner, knowing the military importance of the heights in the rear of the town, and anxious to occupy them, would have crossed at once by a ford; but as there was a prospect of a rise in the river, and the division might be cut off from supplies and from the rest of the army, their movement was forbidden by General Burnside. Thus early was the new march to Richmond arrested. Delay had occurred at Washington, and the non-arrival of the pontoons compelled the army, as it came up, to rest on the left bank of the river, while the enemy, by a parallel movement on the opposite side, moved in force to the rear of Fredericksburg, and occupying a range of hills a most defensible position confronted the Union army at that place. General Burnside, disappointed in his projected rapid movement towards the Confederate capital, and prospect of meeting the enemy before General Jackson, who, it was understood, had lingered in the valley of the Shenandoah, could come up with his command, was compelled for a time to watch the enemy on the opposite bank, while he laid new plans to bring the army of General Lee under inevitably disadvantageous circumstances for himself to an engagement. Both armies were now in easy communication with their respective bases: the Confederates by direct railway line with Richmond, sixty-five miles distant, and the intermediate depots; while the Union army, after a brief period of busy preparation, received its supplies from Washington by water to the storehouses at Acquia Creek, and thence over a railway of fourteen miles to the camp at Falmouth. The high grounds on either side of the river gave to each army an excellent defensive position.

On his first arrival in the vicinity of Falmouth, on the 17th of November, General Sumner had exchanged a few

PREPARATORY MOVEMENTS.

3

shots with a battery across the river, and the army well supplied with prowhich he had silenced. A few days visions, by the end of November. The after, on the 21st, we find him in corre- anxiously expected pontoons, moreover, spondence with the civil authorities of had at length arrived. Professor Low Fredericksburg, complaining of shots was also announced, "with an entirely fired under cover of the houses of the new set of balloon apparatus." The prescity upon his troops, of the employment ence of President Lincoln one day in of the mills and railroads of the place in camp, followed by a hasty visit of Genclothing and forwarding armed bodies in eral Burnside to Washington on the 29th, rebellion against the United States; "a looked to immediate action. The result condition of things" which, he said, of the General's interview with the War "must terminate." He accordingly, by Department was said to be entirely satdirection of General Burnside, demanded isfactory. He would now "be let alone the surrender of the city at or before five-allowed to follow out his own plans, in o'clock in the afternoon. Failing an af- his own time and way, free from bureaufirmative reply, sixteen hours were to cratic dictation at Washington, and conbe allowed for the removal of women and fident that he will have from the Governchildren, at the expiration of which time ment all the assistance he asks for."* he stated that he should proceed to shell The beginning of December saw the the town. Mayor Slaughter, having se- Union camps in active preparation for a cured the concurrence of the military movement upon the enemy, not without authorities, replied that the acts com- embarrassment from the inclemency of plained of should cease, and the threatened the weather winter setting in with bombardment was for the time abandoned. severity. The enemy, meanwhile, were The city, however, was not surrendered, growing more formidable in their init being understood that neither army trenchments-General Jackson, it was should occupy it for the present.

The question was, now, in what way should the attack upon General Lee's army be made-for an early demonstration of some kind was not to be long delayed, the removal of General McClellan absolutely requiring a show at least of prompt and vigorous action on the part of his successor. As General Sumner afterwards said of the military counsels of this period, in the Army of the Potomac, he was in favor of crossing the Rappahannock, "because I knew that neither our Government nor our people would be satisfied to have our army retire from their position, or go into winter quarters, until we knew the force which was on the other side of the river; and the only way in which we could learn that was by going over there and feeling of them." The bridges over the creeks, on the Acquia Railroad, having been rebuilt, and cars and engines brought down the Potomac, the line was in operation,

understood, having now joined the army of Lee. On the 2d, a picket of Pennsylvania cavalry, stationed down the river at King George Court-House, was surprised by a party of the enemy, who crossed the river in small boats, capturing Captain Johnson and a number of his officers and men. For his negligence in this affair, the Union officer was promptly dismissed the service by General Burnside. It was in the vicinity of this misadventure, at Skinker's Neck, some twelve miles below Falmouth, that it was first intended to cross the Rappahannock, and attack the enemy on their flank, and a movement for this purpose was commenced; but the intention was abandoned when it was found that the foe had concentrated troops on the opposite shore. General Burnside, however, kept up a demonstration in that quarter to draw off as many troops of the enemy as possible,

* Army Correspondence, New York Times, December 5,

1862.

while he projected a main attack upon The bridges below the city, in consetheir centre at Fredericksburg. "I felt quence of the batteries commanding the satisfied," says he, "that they did not opposite plain, were constructed with expect us to cross here, but down below; slight resistance; not so, however, those and that this was the place to fight the above, where the shelter of the buildings most decisive battle, because, if we could in the town gave the best opportunity of divide their forces by piercing their lines annoyance by the enemy's sharp-shooters. at one or two points, separating their left The work on the upper bridges comfrom their right, then a vigorous attack menced about four o'clock. The ponwith the whole army would succeed in toons were pushed out over the ice, breaking their army in pieces." In these which had been formed along the banks, movements, General Burnside had his and a number of them launched into the eye upon a road which the enemy had stream, were arranged in order by the constructed in the rear of the line of engineers, when the process was interheights on which they were so advan- rupted by a severe musketry fire from tageously posted behind Fredericksburg. the opposite shores. The firing of two To penetrate to and occupy that road signal-guns from the rebel batteries at would sever the rebel army, when, with this time, at five o'clock, announced the this movement on their flank and rear, a discovery of the meditated attack. The direct attack might be made on their attempt to cross the river had failed to front, the enemy be taken at a disadvan- be a surprise, and could now be accomtage, and their main works, it was ex-plished only in face of the most serious pected, be carried by storm. Such was opposition. To protect the bridge-buildthe general plan of the coming engage- ers, who were suffering severely, several ment, proposed by General Burnside, of the batteries, posted about a mile from and agreed upon by a council of officers the river, opened their fire. on the 10th of December. Preparations effect," says a correspondent in an elowere accordingly made that night for the quent account of the movements of the passage of the river at and in the im- day, "was singular enough, and it was mediate vicinity of Fredericksburg. The difficult to believe that the whole affair pontoons were brought down to the water was not a phantasmagoria. side, and a series of batteries, numbering still quite dark, the horizon around beabout a hundred and fifty pieces, were ing lit up only by the flash of projectiles, placed in position on the surrounding which reappeared in explosive flame on hills commanding the opposite sides of the other side of the river. Daylight the river, to protect the construction of came, but with it came not clearness of the bridges, and cover the crossing of vision for on-lookers. The mist and troops. There were six pontoon bridges smoke not only did not lighten, but grew to be thrown across the stream, which more opaque and heavy, hugging the was about three hundred yards wide; four ground closely. Our gunners, however, immediately in front of Fredericksburg, still continued to launch their missiles at within a short distance of each other, and a venture. The rebel batteries hardly the other two about a mile and a half be- returned our fire, and this chariness of low. In the passage of the river, the left their ammunition they preserved all day division of General Franklin was to use the latter, while the right and centre of Sumner and Hooker were to cross at the town. The work was well advanced during the darkness of the night, and was partially concealed by the morning's fog.

"The

It was

not a dozen rounds being fired during the whole forenoon. Towards eight o'clock a large party of general officers, among them General Burnside, the corps commanders, and many others of high rank, had congregated in front of and on

the balcony of General Sumner's head- obey. The artillery of the right-eight quarters, Phillips' House, situated about batteries-was commanded by Colonel a mile directly back of the Lacy House. Hays; Colonel Tompkins, right centre— The performance could be heard, but not eleven batteries; Colonel Tyler, left censeen the stage was obstinately hidden tre-seven batteries; Captain De Russy, from view, and all were impatient that left-nine batteries. In a few moments the curtain should rise. Aids and cou- these thirty-five batteries, forming a | riers came and went with messages to total of one hundred and seventy-nine and from the batteries and bridges. At guns, ranging from 10-pounder Parrotts half-past nine o'clock official notification to 4-inch siege guns, posted along the was received that the two bridges on the convex side of the arc of a circle, formed extreme left were completed, and Gen- by the bend of the river and land operal Franklin sent to General Burnside posite Fredericksburg, opened on the to know if he should cross his force at doomed city. The effect was, of course, once. The reply was that he should terrific, and, regarded merely as a phewait until the upper bridges also were nomenon, was among the most awfully completed. grand conceivable. Perhaps what will Meantime, with the latter but little give you the liveliest idea of its effect is progress was made. During the next a succession, absolutely without intercouple of hours half a dozen attempts mission, of the very loudest thunder were made to complete the bridges, but peals. It lasted thus for upward of an each time the party was repulsed with hour, fifty rounds being fired from each severe loss. On the occasion of one es-gun, and I know not how many hundred say, Captain Brainerd, of the 50th New tuns of iron were thrown into the town. York Volunteer Engineers, went out on The congregated generals were transthe bridge with eleven men. Five im- fixed. Mingled satisfaction and awe mediately fell by the balls of the rebel was upon every face. But what was sharp-shooters. Captain Perkins led an- tantalizing was, that though a great deal other party, and was shot through the could be heard, nothing could be seen, neck, and the 66th and 57th New York the city being still enveloped in fog and Regiments, which were supporting the mist. Only a denser pillar of smoke, 50th and 15th New York Volunteer En- defining itself on the back-ground of the gineers-General Woodbury's brigade- fog, indicated where the town had been suffered severely. It was a hopeless fired by our shells. Another and antask, and we made little or no progress. other column showed itself, and we presThe rebel sharp-shooters, posted in the ently saw that at least a dozen houses cellars of the houses of the front street, must be on fire. Towards noon the curnot fifty yards from the river, behind tain rolled up, and we saw that it was stone walls and in rifle-pits, were able to indeed so. Fredericksburg was in conpick off with damnable accuracy any flagration. Tremendous though this firparty of engineers venturing on the half-ing had been, and terrific though its completed bridges. The case was per- effect obviously was on the town, it had fectly clear. Nothing can be done till not accomplished the object intended. they are dislodged from their lurking- It was found by our gunners almost implaces. There is but one way of doing possible to obtain a sufficient depression this effectually-shell the town. At ten of their pieces to shell the front part of o'clock General Burnside gives the or- the city, and the rebel sharp-shooters der, Concentrate the fire of all your were still comparatively safe behind the guns on the city, and batter it down!' thick stone walls of the houses. You may believe they were not loth to

During the thick of the bombard

ment a fresh attempt had been made to amusing, in its way, than the result. complete the bridge. It failed, and evi- Instantly they see a new turn of affairs. dently nothing could be done till a party The rebels pop up by the hundred, like could be thrown over to clean out the reb- so many rats, from every cellar, rifle-pit els and cover the bridge-head. For this and stone wall, and scamper off up the mission General Burnside called for vol- streets of the town. With all their unteers, and Colonel Hall, of Fort Sum- fleetness, however, many of them were ter fame, immediately responded that he much too slow. With incredible rapidhad a brigade that would do the busi- ity the Michigan and Massachusetts boys ness. Accordingly, the 7th Michigan sweep up the hill, making a rush for the and 19th Massachusetts, two small regi- lurking-places occupied by the rebels, ments, numbering in all about four hun- and gaining them, each man capturing dred men, were selected for the purpose. his two or three prisoners. The ponThe plan was that they should take the toon boats on their return trip took over pontoon boats of the first bridge, of more than a hundred of these fellows. which there were ten lying on the bank You can imagine with what intense inof the river, waiting to be added to the terest the crossing of the first boat-load half-finished bridge, cross over in them, of our men was watched by the numerand landing, drive out the rebels. No- ous spectators on the shore, and with thing could be more admirable or more what enthusiastic shouts their landing on gallant than the execution of this daring the opposite side was greeted. It was feat. Rushing down the steep banks of an authentic piece of human heroism, the river, the party found temporary which moves men as nothing else can. shelter behind the pontoon boats lying The problem was solved. This flash of scattered on the bank, and behind the bravery had done what scores of batpiles of planking destined for the cover-teries and tuns of metal had failed to ing of the bridge, behind rocks, etc. In accomplish. The country will not forget this situation they acted some fifteen or that little band. The party once across, twenty minutes as sharp-shooters, they and the rebels cleaned out, it took the and the rebels observing each other. In engineers but a brief period to complete the mean time new and vigorous artillery the bridge. They laid hold with a will, firing was commenced on our part, and plunging waist-deep into the water, and just as soon as this was fairly developed, working as men work who are under inthe 7th Michigan rose from their crouch-spiration. In less than half an hour the ing-places, rushed for the pontoon boats, bridge was completed, and the head of and pushing them into the water, rapidly the column of the right grand division, filled them with twenty-five or thirty consisting of General Howard's comeach. The first boat pushes off. Now, if ever, is the rebels' opportunity. Crack! Crack! Crack! from fifty lurking-places go rebel rifles at the gallant fellows, who, stooping low in the boat, seek to avoid the fire. The murderous work was well done. Lustily, however, pull the oarsmen, and presently, having passed the middle of the stream, the boat and its gallant freight come under cover of the opposite bluffs. Another and another boat follows. Now is their opportunity. Nothing could be more ericksburg, Va., December 11, 1862.

mand, was moving upon it over the Rappahannock. A feeble attempt from the rebel batteries was made to shell the troops in crossing, but it failed completely.'

At the second bridge the New York Volunteer Engineers pursued their task with like gallantry, a detachment of Colonel Fairchild's 89th New York Regiment coming to their aid, crossing the river in boats, and rivaling the Michigan and

* W. Swinton, Correspondence New York Times. Fred