USA > Rhode Island > Memoirs of Rhode Island officers who were engaged in the service of their country during the great rebellion of the South. Illustrated with thirty-four portraits > Part 4
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The country in the rear of the Rappahannock was admirably calculated for defence. Like the banks of most American rivers, the land rose in suc- cessive natural terraces, cut here and there by little streams, making their way to the main channel. On the first of these, immediately upon the bank,
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but sufficiently high above the river level to escape the inundation of the spring freshets, lies the chief part of the city of Fredericksburg, regularly planned, with the streets running at right angles with each other. The plain which it occupies is about a mile and a half in length by a half-mile in width. Two bridges once spanned the river; one belonging to the Richmond, Fred- ericksburg and Potomac railroad company, the other the continuation of the county road. The railroad bridge was a half-mile below the public bridge. Both had been destroyed in the course of the war. The railroad, after cross- ing the river and passing through the town, followed down the bank for a distance of two or three miles, then turns southward towards Richmond. From the lower part of the town, a road runs out near the river towards Port Royal. About two miles below Deep Run, another road strikes off to the right, crosses the railroad and Massaponax Creek, and thence makes a connection with a road leading to Richmond. It has thus received the name of the old Richmond road. Its point of crossing the railroad is near the edge of the hills, and is known as Hamilton's crossing. The county road, after crossing the river, is continued through the town, under the name of Han- over street, then becomes a plank road, which climbs the hills, and, turning to the west, extends through Chancellorsville to Orange Court House. Half a mile beyond the town, after ascending the gentle acclivity, a road diverges to the left, turning southward, and gradually reaching up to the second ter- race. A gentleman's house and spacious grounds stand above this road, near the northern extremity of the first fortified line of hills. This is "Marye's." These grounds are supported, where they come down to the road before spoken of, by a heavy bank-wall of stone. On the opposite side of the road from the lawn is a similar wall, in length nearly half a mile. This road, after leaving the plank road, winds along the edge of the second terrace, with a gradual ascent, then crossing a small stream called Hazel Run, climbs the third terrace, and extends into the country beyond in a southerly or south- westerly direction. It is called the telegraph road. The lawn beyond the stone wall was crossed by a line of rifle-pits, and the southerly portion of the grounds was occupied by a small redoubt. Other rifle-pits and small earth- works were raised on the northerly . and westerly side of the plank road. Southeastwardly from the telegraph road, nearly parallel with the river, and two miles distant from it, rises the second terrace. This is cut by Deep Run, which, after reaching the plain, makes a long curve towards the town, and flows into the Rappahannock a mile below Hazel Run. One mile and a half
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below Deep Run, the Massaponax cuts the terrace, makes a long eurve in the opposite direction, and flows into the Rappahannock four miles below. The plain which is formed by the first terrace is about six miles in length, from the upper part of the town to the Massaponax, and varies in breadth from one to two miles. It slopes nearly up to the edge of the second terrace with almost the gentle incline of the glacis of a fortress, except that it is broken here and there by low ridges, small ravines and garden fences. A few houses are scattered over it. A part of it is cut by a canal, which runs from the dam at Fal- mouth to a point just within the upper portion of the town. The second ter- race was crowned with earth-works and rifle-pits, which were armed with field artillery and a few heavy guns. The natural position was very strong, and could be defended by a resolute force against double its number. Beyond the second terrace rose a third, of a similar character to the others, but of much smaller dimensions. The third crest was fortified to some extent, but by no means so strongly as the second. Upon the two lines of defence, there were twelve or fifteen large and small works, lunettes and redoubts, connected with rifle-pits. In the rear of the first line of works, from the old Richmond road to the telegraph road, the enemy had construeted another road, begin- ning near Hamilton's crossing, connecting his right with his left, and affording easy communication between the two wings.
Above Fredericksburg, the range of hills which General Lee had fortified subsides as it approaches the river, and four or five miles further up, the country becomes less broken. But beyond that, is an extensive tract of forest land-the Wilderness. Into this country, a way is opened by means of two fords, Banks's, about five miles, and United States ford, about ten miles distant from Fredericksburg. A mile above the latter ford, the Rapidan empties into the Rappahannock. A mile beyond this debouche, is Richards's ford, crossing the Rappahannock, and, four miles above, crossing the Rapidan, is Ely's ford. The road from Richards's to Ely's ford may be considered as the base of a triangle, whose two sides are formed by the two rivers. These fords were all strongly guarded by the rebels. Twelve miles above Richards's-or twenty-four miles from Fredericksburg-is Kelly's ford across the Rappahannock, and four miles above Ely's, across the Rapidan, at Germania Mills, is still another good ford. But these two latter points were considered by General Burnside as too far from Falmouth to make a successful demonstration against the enemy's line in that direction. Moreover, none of these fords were practicable at that time for crossing a large force without pontoons.
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Below Fredericksburg, the Rappahannock gradually widens, and the country on the right bank is comparatively open. But the river deepens as it widens, and is indeed navigable for steamers and other vessels of light draught. A crossing at any point below Falmouth must be made by means of pontoons. Just above Falmouth, a dam is built across the river at the head of tide water, and immediately below the dam the deep water com- menees. Eighteen miles below Fredericksburg, are the two towns, Port Royal, on the right, and Port Conway, on the left bank of the river. The gun-boats of the Potomac flotilla could easily reach that point. Thence to Bowling Green is a good road. The distance is fifteen miles. If a successful crossing could be made in the neighborhood of Port Royal, the rear of the rebel army would be threatened, and the entrenchments at Fredericksburg would be of little value. Here then was an important point. General Burn- side turned his attention to it and gave it a careful examination .. Viewed by an eye not strictly military, it seems as though Port Royal or Tappahannock - twenty miles further down the river-would be a better point for turning the rebel position at Fredericksburg than any point above. General Burnside so considered it, and decided to seize Port Royal, if possible, with the purpose of turning the enemy's right, without hazarding his own communications. He disposed his troops accordingly. General Franklin, who had been stationed at Stafford Court House, was ordered to move his command down the river within convenient distance of Port Conway. A portion of the Potomac flotilla, under command of Lieutenant Edward P. McCrea, proceeded up the Rappahannock and took a position in the river between Liberty Hill and Port Royal. On the 1st of December, our lines extended from King George Court House to Stafford Court House, thence with guards upon the road to Alexandria. General Sigel was at Fairfax Court House. General Slocum was in command at Harper's Ferry. General Morell commanded the defences of the Upper Potomac.
Upon this side of the Rappahannock, the topographical features of the country differ but little from those upon the south bank. Opposite the plain upon which lies the city of Fredericksburg, is another plain, very similar to the first, though much more limited in extent. From the river bank extends the first terrace, crescent-shaped, and sloping gently upwards to the crest of the second plateau. This plateau commences at Falmouth, a short distance from the bank, and sweeps around in an elliptical curve,-broken, about the centre, by the railroad that runs up from Aquia Creek-and reaching the
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river bank again, nearly opposite the mouth of Deep Run, two and a half or three miles below Falmouth. Upon the two extremities of this semi-circle were established batteries; that at Falmouth known as Pettit's, that below as Tyler's. About midway between them, upon the lower terrace, somewhat nearer to Falmouth than to the point below, and nearly upon the bank of the river, stood the Lacy house, an old mansion, surrounded by all the appur- tenanees of a wealthy Virginian planter. At a point about two-thirds of the way below Falmouth, upon the edge of the upper plateau, stood the Phillips house, a large, beautiful and costly mansion, elaborately decorated and richly furnished. It was distant from the river about half or three quarters of a mile. It was occupied for the permanent head-quarters of General Summer, and became the head-quarters of General Burnside on the day of the battle. It commanded an entirely unobstructed view of the town of Fredericksburg and all its environs, and it dominated the first and second terraces upon the opposite side of the river. This point was also the central signal station of the army during its encampment in the vicinity. In times of peace, the prospect from the Phillips mansion must have been particularly charming and delightful. The two houses were doubtless the abodes of a generous hospitality. What was once a smiling landscape of green fields and waving grain, of peaceful towns, and the verdant slopes of forest-crowned hills, was now almost a waste, desolated by the ravages of war. The turf was trampled by the feet of man and beast, the lawns and hill-sides were broken by rifle- pits and redoubts, the forests were fast losing their pride and glory, the fields were bare. The cruel hand of war was reaping an abundant harvest of destruction and deatlı.
Beyond the second terrace, the land stretched back to Aquia Creek in an undulating plain, broken by occasional hills, some of which were heavily wooded, and produced an agreeable diversity in the landscape. This plain was divided into two nearly equal parts by Potomac Creek, which, flowing through a deep ravine, emptied into the Potomac at Belle Plain. This creek was spanned by a bridge, which, for strength, rapidity in its construction, and its adaptability to the uses for which it was built, was a miracle of engineer- ing. The first bridge built by us during the war, was constructed in May, 1862, while General McDowell was at Fredericksburg. It was composed chiefly of round logs, and the legs of the trestles were braced with round poles. It was in four stories, three of trestles and one of erib-work. Its total height, from the bed of the stream to the rail, was nearly eighty feet. Its length
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was about four hundred feet. It bore, daily, from ten to twenty trains with supplies, and successfully withstood several freshets. It contained more than two million feet of lumber, and was constructed in nine days by the soldiers, under the superintendence of General Hermann Haupt, chief of railroad construction and transportation. This bridge was destroyed or dismantled upon the evacuation of this section by General Burnside in August. It was rebuilt, substantially in the same manner and according to the same plan, in six days after General Haupt recommenced work upon it, on the 18th of November.
The month of November had passed in cold and storm. December, at its first coming, had brought no more genial weather. Ice began to appear in the Potomac, in Aquia Creek, and in the Rappahannock. Affairs began to look doubtful for any movement for several months to come. The gun-boats in the Rappahannock were even in danger of being caught and frozen up. Still General Burnside continued to make his preparations, carefully keeping his secret, and looking forward hopefully to the future. As December went on, the weather moderated. The ice disappeared. More genial suns shone down upon the hostile camps. An Indian summer took the place of winter, and it seemed as though October had returned. With the advent of a milder temperature, fogs began to prevail. They crept up the river in the after- noons, and retired most reluctantly before the mornings' sun. This circun- stance was both favorable and unfavorable. For, while it concealed our movements from the enemy, it also threatened to become the occasion of con- siderable confusion among our own troops when they should be brought into action. Still, through all, General Burnside kept up his courage and faith, and dared to hope for success in the conflict which he was now determined to hazard.
To replace the command of General Franklin, at Stafford Court House and vicinity, General Sigel was ordered down from Fairfax Court House; to occupy General Sigel's vacated position, General Slocum was ordered from Harper's Ferry, of which General Morell took charge. Finally, all was ready. But meanwhile, the enemy had not been idle. General Lee had concentrated all his available forces around his position in the rear of Fredericksburg. He seems to have suspected that General Burnside contemplated crossing at or near Port Royal, and General Jackson was sent to that point with a large force, to act as circumstances might determine-either as an army of obser- vation or to dispute the passage of the river. Indeed, the largest part of the
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rebel forces was stationed at the threatened point. The plan of crossing at Port Royal was abandoned, while yet feints were kept up in that direction. Then General Burnside conceived the bold plan of throwing his bridges across the river, a part immediately in front of Fredericksburg itself, and the remainder at a point two miles below, between Deep Run and Massaponax Creek. It was supposed that the main body of the enemy's force was in the vicinity of Port Royal, and that an attempt to cross immediately in front of our position would be a surprise. There was another circumstance which doubtless had its weight. The town was an admirable tete de pont. It had a rebel popula- tion. It was rebel property. General Lee's batteries upon the hills could not prevent the crossing of our troops without destroying the lives and property of the friends of his cause. He would naturally hesitate before committing such an act. But, on the other hand, the town lay at our mercy. If the houses of Fredericksburg should become a shelter for the enemy's infantry, which alone could operate against our troops, our artillery was at hand to demolish them. The town, once occupied, afforded shelter to our own forces. For General Lee would still be restrained from destroying it by his reluctance to injure the property of his friends. Moreover, our columns, after crossing, could quickly pass through the town and advance over the open ground to the works, by which the heights were defended. General Burnside did not expect to meet with much difficulty or opposition in crossing the river. That was comparatively an easy task. The chief labor was to be performed after the crossing had been effected. There was a difficulty, however, which may not have been properly appreciated. It is possible, that it had in it an element of great weakening influence for our own troops. It consisted in the occupation of a town, from which the inhabitants would have fled, by a hostile army. The unoccupied houses and stores-many of them belonging to persons of considerable wealth-would offer opportunities for plunder which could not well be missed. It was a great temptation, and there was in it an influence of demoralization, which was not to be disregarded. This . may be thought a minor consideration. But upon matters of less moment have the most important movements turned. Beyond the town lay the slope which I have before described. Above the slope, frowned the enemy's bat- teries. The main task was to carry those heights, bristling with bayonets and dark with cannon. It was a hazardous enterprise. . For the first time in its history, the army of the Potomac was to "move on the enemy's works" for a determined assault. It had shown itself unequalled for defence. Could it
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successfully take the aggressive ? The answer to that momentous question was to be given in fire and blood !
What assurance of success had General Burnside, in carrying his plan into execution ? By the consolidated morning reports of the army of the Potomac for the 10th of December, it appears that there was immediately in front of the enemy an effective force of one hundred and eleven thousand eight hundred and thirty-four officers and men, of all arms. The artillery consisted of three hundred and twelve guns of different calibre; mostly field pieces. This foree was divided into three grand divisions, of two corps each, the left under the command of General Franklin, the eentre under the com- mand of General Hooker, the right under the command of General Sumner. The artillery of the centre grand division was under the command of a Rhode Island officer, Colonel Charles H. Tompkins. The left grand division num- bered forty-six thousand eight hundred and ninety-two officers and men, and one hundred and forty-eight pieces of artillery, consisting of two corps, com- manded respectively by General J. J. Reynolds and General W. H. Smith, and comprising the divisions of Generals Meade, Gibbon, Doubleday, Newton, Brooks, and Howe. The centre grand division numbered thirty-nine thou- sand nine hundred and eighty-four officers and men, and one hundred and four pieces of artillery, consisting of the two corps of Generals Stoneman and Butterfield, comprising the divisions of Generals Sickles, Birney, Whipple, Sykes, Humphreys, and Griffin. The right grand division numbered twenty- two thousand seven hundred and thirty-six officers and men, and sixty pieces of artillery, consisting of the two corps of Generals Willcox (the Ninth) and Couch, comprising the divisions of Generals Getty, Burns, Sturgis, French, Hancock, and Howard. The brigade of engineers, numbering one thousand one hundred and five officers and men, was under the command of General D. P. Woodbury, to whom was assigned the duty of laying the bridges for the crossing. A Rhode Island officer, Captain Samuel T. Cushing, commanded the signal corps, numbering one hundred and fifty officers and men. General Patrick's provost guard numbered about two hundred officers and men. Gen- eral Ingalls' quartermaster's department numbered one hundred and fifty officers and men, and the head-quarter escort about two hundred officers and men. A certain portion of the whole army was occupied in guarding the railroad, and performing pieket and outpost duty. There was probably, in round numbers, an available force of one hundred thousand men, who were either actively engaged in battle or were exposed to the fire of the enemy at some time during the day of the battle of Frericksburg.
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At last the time for action came. On the 10th of December, the army was concentrated along the river front, but concealed from the enemy by the undulations of the land. During the night, the artillery was posted along the edge of the plateau, from Falmouth to a point opposite the mouth of the Massaponax. Orders were issued to the engineers under General Woodbury, to be ready for work at three o'clock on the morning of the 11th, and a sufficient force of infantry and artillery was detailed to cover the crossing and protect the working parties. Three points were selected for throwing the bridges :- the first, at a short distance above the place where the county bridge once stood ; the second, opposite the lower end of the town; and the third, about a mile below Fredericksburg, near the mouth of Deep Run, and nearly opposite the mansion house of a planter named Bernard. At the first of these points, two; at the second, one; and at the third, three bridges were to be laid. Upon these six bridges, the army was to cross the Rappahannock, occupy the town, and move rapidly to the assault. The left was to pierce the enemy's line near Captain Hamilton's house, seize the road in the rear, and compel the evacuation of the batteries on the crest. Then the right and centre were to sweep the crests, and pursue along the telegraph or the plank road, according to the direction of the enemy's retreat. The success of the plan of attack was to depend upon the celerity and vigor with which it was put into execution.
The morning of the 11th dawned raw, cold, and foggy. The engineers were promptly at work upon the bridges. But little opposition was made to the operations of General Franklin's working parties below the town, and, after considerable labor, his three bridges were laid, secured, and strength- ened. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, he reported to General Burnside, that he was ready to cross his grand division. But, operations had not pro- ceeded so satisfactorily immediately opposite the town as General Burnside had hoped, and General Franklin was ordered to hold his bridges but not to cross his troops till the upper bridges were completed. An unlooked-for delay here occurred. As the sun came up, the whole design of crossing was revealed to the enemy's forces in the town. These were distributed among the houses along the river bank, and the sharpshooters of General Barksdale's Mississippi brigade, that held the town, at once opened a well-directed and destructive fire upon our working parties, who, by this time, had accomplished about two-thirds of the distance across. Then our artillery opened along the whole line opposite the town. Amid the deafening roar of cannon, the 6
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shrieking and bursting of shells, the crash of falling timbers as solid shot pierced the walls, our men attempted to finish the bridges. Soon the exploding shells set several houses on fire, and a portion of the city was in flames. But the persistent sharpshooters of the enemy obstinately held their position, and poured in a withering fire. Our engineers were brave, but they were unable to work in the jaws of death, exposed to the deliberate, deadly aim of riflemen that rarely missed their mark. General Woodbury reported to General Burnside that the bridges could not be built. "They must be built," replied the chief. "Try again." Once again our men engaged in the useless endeavor. Once again they were obliged to desist. Even our well- served artillery could not dislodge those Mississippian riflemen from the shelter of the houses and rifle-pits which they occupied. General Woodbury again reported his inability to complete his task. At noon the fog lifted, and the enemy's fire became more deadly. General Burnside had been at the Lacy House through most of the morning, anxious and impatient to put his troops across the river. Upon receiving the last report of General Woodbury, he immediately went down to the river-side himself. He at once saw the difficulty. He also saw the remedy. Consulting with General Hunt and others, he decided to call for volunteers to cross the river in boats, drive out those obsti- inate riflemen, and hold the town till the bridges should be laid. Soldiers from three regiments sprang forward at the call, the seventh Michigan, the nine- teenth and twentieth Massachusetts. Men of the fiftieth New York were ready to take the places of oarsmen. With the flag of the Union floating in the van, those brave fellows turned the prows of their boats to the enemy and pushed off from the shore. A few minutes' strong pulling through the storm of death, and the opposite shore was reached. A party from the eighty-ninth New York crossed at a point a little lower down, and our troops soon had the enemy in flank and rear. They rushed eagerly up the bank along the streets, through the rifle-pits, into the houses, and in half an hour's time, the city of Freder- icksburg was in our possession. The remnants of the Mississippi brigade were in our hands as prisoners of war. The engineers immediately pro- ceeded in their work, and the bridges were laid.
It was now four o'clock in the afternoon. The precious day had almost been wasted. Nothing more could be done than to cross a portion of troops. General Devens's brigade on the left-in the van of which was the second Rhode Island, under Lieutenant-Colonel Viall-crossed and held the position below the town. General Howard's division on the right crossed and held
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