BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

897

LX.

army in motion; at length the patient President removed CHAP. him from the command of the army, and ordered him to report at Trenton, N. J., his home, and appointed General A. E. Burnside to succeed him.

1862.

Nov.

5.

General Burnside thought it better for the army to move direct to Fredericksburg, and crossing the river, force their way to Richmond. General Halleck, Commander-inChief, in an interview with Burnside disapproved of the movement, but finally consented and returned to Washington with the understanding that pontoon bridges should be sent across the country to Fredericksburg for the army to pass over. The army moved at once toward that point. while the enemy were deceived by demonstrations at several places; but when the army arrived opposite Fredericksburg Nov. the pontoons had not come; by an inexcusable blundering 15. the proper officers had failed to send them. The object was to seize the heights in the rear of the town, and if storms came on go into winter quarters and then in the spring push on to Richmond.

While Burnside was waiting for the pontoons General Lee arrived with Longstreet's division, soon followed by others, and began to fortify the heights. Meanwhile, rains came and the Rappahannock was much swollen. Finally, the pontoons were laid in the afternoon, under the fire of sharpshooters and artillery. The crossings were to be made at three points the next morning, above the town, opposite Dec. and below, and the attack to follow. The crossings were made in a very heroic manner, but under great disadvantages to the Federals from the position of the enemy and their numbers, for their whole army was on those heights.

The Federal right made a series of assaults upon the enemy's entrenched line, nearly five miles long and crowned with field artillery. The Union heavy batteries on Stafford Heights on the North side of the river could scarcely reach this entrenched line; between this line and the river was an open space within range of a double row of rifle-pits and

12.

LX.

1862.

CHAP. a strong infantry force concealed right and left. Against these the Union soldiers were led; it is marvelous that so few of them were killed, and that they inflicted so much injury upon the Confederates. Assault after assault was made, and the brave Union soldiers rushed heroically into this arena of death. In no other instance in the war were Union soldiers led so recklessly. Night came on and the conflict closed. Only about 25,000 of Lee's troops were engaged, and they behind entrenchments. Two days passed without any special movement being made by either army, except the Federal batteries on Stafford Heights kept up a cannonade on the enemy's entrenchments. The next night came on a violent storm, during which Burnside skillfully withdrew his army to the North side of the Rappahannock. The Confederates lost 4,101 killed and wounded, and the Union army 10,233.

Dec.

15.

CHAPTER LXI.

LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION-CONTINUED.

Invasion of Kentucky.-Buell's March.-Battle of Perryville. -Battle of luka.-Preliminary Proclamation.-Opposition; the Effect.The Slave's Hope.-Battle of Murfreesboro.-Confederate Failures -Expedition up the Yazoo.-Capture of Fort Hindman.— Galveston Occupied -President's Message.-Finances.-Northern Industries.-Confederate Finances Battle of Chancellorville.Death of Stonewall Jackson.-Withdrawal of the Army.

WE return to the West.

LXI.

The Union army took possession of Corinth, on the Memphis and Charleston Railway. The same day General Halleck sent the Army of the Ohio under CHAP. General Buell toward Chattanooga, an important strategic position on the same road in East Tennessee, two hundred 1862. miles east of Corinth; he also ordered General Grant to protect West Tennessee, and to operate from Memphis against Vicksburg. Buell was to pass along the road, put May it in repair, and by that route receive his supplies. General O. M. Mitchel had previously held a portion of the same road, and had advanced into North Alabama, occupying Decatur and Florence, and General G. W. Morgan had also seized Cumberland Gap, the gate of East Tennessee.

These commands, when united with Buell's force, amounted to about 40,000 men-not half enough to accomplish what was required. In truth, these commands were depleted to augment the army around Washington. Meanwhile, the Confederates planned to cause Buell's withdrawal

30.