USA > Virginia > City of Fredericksburg > City of Fredericksburg > The history of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia > Part 7
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This state of things continued until after the disastrous result to General George B. McClellan's army in the Seven Days' battles around Richmond. After those engagements General McClellan was superseded in the command of the Army of the Potomac by General John Pope. General Pope was from the Western Army, and upon taking command of the army in Virginia issued a high- sounding, pompous order in which he belittled the valor of the Confederate soldiers of the west, asserting he had "only seen the backs of the enemy," and his purpose in coming to this army was to lead it to victory and success. In that order he declared that he did not want to hear such phrases as "taking strong positions and holding them," "lines of retreat" and "bases of supplies," which he was told was common in the army. He declared that the
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glory of the soldier was in pushing the enemy and studying the- lines of his retreat, which he then proposed to do.
He announced his purpose to subsist the invading army by enforced supplies from his enemies, and, in order to prepare the- world and give it some idea of his rapid movements and brilliant feats, issued orders from "headquarters in the saddle." This unique order, full as it was of boastings of what he had done and what he proposed to do, failed to frighten the Confederate commanders, as General Pope, no doubt, thought it would do. On the contrary, without loss of time they concentrated their forces, gave him battle- and the Federal commander was ingloriously driven from the field, with great loss of men, arms and supplies. And so in less than sixty days from the time he took command of the army he was relieved by General Mcclellan, whom he superseded, having lost every engagement fought during the time. His advance through the counties of Fauquier and Culpeper to Fredericksburg, when he took command of the army, caused great consternation because- of his unreasonable and cruel exactions. Many private citizens, who had never entered the Confederate service, were arrested upon their refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government, and were ruthlessly dragged from their homes and confined in Northern prisons.
GEN. POPE TAKES POSSESSION OF THE TOWN-HELD AS HOSTAGES ..
Finally the power of this pompous commander reached Fred- ericksburg, and many of her citizens shared the fate of the unfor- tunate citizens of Fauquier and Culpeper counties. By General Pope's order nineteen of our most prominent and highly esteemed citizens were arrested and sent to Washington, where they were. incarcerated in Old Capitol prison. These men were arrested in retaliation for the arrest of two Union men by the Confederate authorities-Major Charles Williams, of Fredericksburg, and Mr. Wardwell, of Richmond-and confined in prison at Richmond. Major Williams was a native of Fredericksburg and died here several years after the war, and Mr. Wardwell, we are informed was. a northern man and was appointed superintendent of the peniten-
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tiary when Virginia was made "Military District No. 1, with head- quarters at Richmond."
These nineteen gentlemen were arrested in August, 1862, and confined in Old Capitol prison until the latter part of the following September, a period of about six weeks. It will be seen from the list of the names that they were the leading citizens of the town, exempt from military service by reason, either of age or official posi- tion, and were the natural guardians of the helpless women and children who were then in town. The list is as follows :* Rev. Wm. F. Broaddus, D. D., James McGuire, Charles C. Wellford, Thomas F. Knox, Beverley T. Gill, James H. Bradley, Thomas B. Barton, Benjamin Temple, Lewis Wrenn, Michael Ames, John Coakley, John H. Roberts, John J. Berrey, Dr. James Cooke, John F. Scott, Montgomery Slaughter, George H. C. Rowe, Wm. H. Norton, Abraham Cox.
The Christian Banner, then published in Fredericksburg by Rev. James W. Hunnicutt, of the Free Will Baptist denomination, him- self a strong Union man, and who would not have written compli- mentary of these gentlemen beyond their respective merits, pub- lished the following short sketches of the "Fredericksburg prison- ers":
Thomas B. Barton is the oldest lawyer at the Fredericksburg bar and Attorney for the Commonwealth. He was originally an Old Line Whig and a member of the congregation of the Episcopal church.
Thomas F. Knox was a large wheat speculator and flower manu- facturer, an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Epis- copal church.
Beverley T. Gill was, for a number of years, a large merchant tailor, but for several years past had retired into private life. Was an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Presbyterian church.
Charles C. Wellford was an extensive dry goods merchant, the oldest in town, than whom none stood higher. Was an Old Line Whig and an elder in the Presbyterian church.
* This list was obtained from a diary kept by John J. Berrey while in prison.
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James McGuire was one of the oldest merchants in Fredericks- burg, an Old Line Whig, a prominent member of the Presbyterian church and a most excellent man.
James H. Bradley was a grocery merchant, an Old Line Whig and a deacon in the Baptist church.
Rev. William F. Broaddus, D. D., was the pastor of the Baptist church in Fredericksburg and an Old Line Whig. He conducted a female school in addition to his pastoral work .*
Montgomery Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, was a large wheat speculator and flour manufacturer, was an Old Line Whig and a member of the Episcopal church.
George H. C. Rowe was a talented jurist, a Democrat and a Douglas elector during the late presidential election and a member of the Baptist church.
* Some amusing incidents are related of Dr. Broaddus while a prisoner worth relating in these pages. The Doctor was an educated, polished gentleman, and quite a humorist. When he was received into prison the keeper proceeded in his usual manner to ascertain his name, age and place of nativity. When asked his name he said it was William F. Broaddus. "What does the F stand for?" asked the keeper. The Doctor replied that he did not know. "Don't know?" demanded the keeper. "I will tell you the circumstances," said the Doctor, "and let you decide for yourself. My name was William Francis Ferguson. I did not like the two F's and asked my mother to let me drop one. She con- sented and I dropped one, but I never could tell whether I dropped the one that stood for Francis or the one that stood for Ferguson. Now, can you tell me which one I dropped?" The keeper saw he was beaten, and demanded, "What is your age ?" "I was born in the year of one," replied the Doctor. "What ! Do you mean to tell me you are 1861 years old," shouted the keeper. "Not at all," said the Doctor. "Well, then, explain yourself," demanded the keeper, showing some impatience. "I was born in the year one of this century," responded the Doctor. "Where were you born ?" indignantly asked the keeper. "Now, you've got me again," answered the Doctor. "That's a question I have long wanted settled, and I'll state the case and perhaps you can help me settle it. My birth- place at the time of my birth was in Culpeper county. Changes in county lines afterwards placed it in Rappahannock county. Now, if I were to tell you I was born in Culpeper, and you should go down there to inquire, you would find the place in Rappahannock. If I were to tell you I was born in Rappahan- nock and you were to investigate you would find that when I was born the place was in Culpeper and there was no Rappahannock county at the time. Now, will you please tell me where I was born?" The keeper passed him with- out further questions.
It was the habit of Dr. Broaddus to preach on Sunday mornings to his fel- low prisoners, and such others as would come to hear him while the prison chaplain would hold services in another part of the prison. It is related of the superintendent of the prison, that in making the announcements for preaching he would cry out : "All who wish to hear the gospel according to Abraham Lincoln come this way ; those who wish to hear it according to Jeff. Davis go over there," pointing to Dr. Broaddus and his congregation.
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John Coakley was for many years a merchant, but for several years past had retired from business, and, at the time of his arrest, was Superintendent of the Fredericksburg Aquaduct Company. He was an Old Line Whig and a very prominent member of the Episcopal church.
Benjamin Temple was a wealthy farmer, an Old Line Whig and, we believe, a member of no church, but a most excellent man.
Dr. James Cooke was a druggist, owning the largest establish- ment, perhaps south of the Potomac river; was an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Episcopal church.
John F. Scott was proprietor of the large Fredericksburg foundry and carried on an extensive business up to the time the Union troops took possession of Fredericksburg, was an Old Line Whig and a prominent member of the Episcopal church.
John H. Roberts lived off his income, was an old Line Whig and, we believe, was a member of no church.
Michael Ames was a blacksmith, an Old Line Whig and a mem- ber of no church.
John J. Berrey, formerly engaged in a large produce business, but at the time of his arrest connected with a hardware store, was an Old Line Whig and a member of no church.
Abraham Cox was a tailor, a Breckinridge Democrat and a Southern Methodist.
William H. Norton was a house carpenter, an Old Line Whig and a member of the Baptist church.
Lewis Wrenn, no particular business, an Old Line Whig and a member of the Baptist church.
After these gentlemen had been in prison some four weeks they procured a parole and permission to send Dr. Broaddus to Rich- mond to effect the release of Major Williams and Mr. Wardwell, that he and his friends might be liberated and permitted to re- turn to their homes. Armed with a parole and passports, Dr. Broaddus proceeded to Richmond, where he called upon Judge Beverley R. Wellford, Jr., formally of Fredericksburg, who went with him to see Mr. Randolph, Secretary of War. After hearing the case Mr. Randolph ordered the release of the two prisoners, and
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Dr. Broaddus returned to Washington with great joy, supposing that he and his fellow prisoners would be at once set at liberty. But not so. The Federal authorities changed their requirements and demanded also the release of two gentlemen by the name of Turner, who resided in Fairfax county, and were then held in a Confederate prison.
It took nearly two weeks to effect the release of these Turners, and when it was done the certificate of release, signed by General Winder, the Commandant of the post at Richmond, was rejected by the Federal authorities as evidence of the release of the prisoners, and the personal presence of the Turners was demanded in Wash- ington before the release of the Fredericksburg party. This took time, but it was finally accomplished, and the Fredericksburgers were permitted to leave their prison pen and again "breathe the air of freedom." They were sent down the Potomac river on a steamer to Marlborough Point, from which landing they walked to town to greet their families and friends. There was great rejoicing on their return, and the whole population turned out to meet them and give them a cordial welcome. Of that party of nineteen not one of them is living to-day. The "last one to cross the river" was Mr. .
Abraham Cox, who died December 28, 1898, eighty-six years of age.
But the unkindness of the military authorities and their harsh treatment of our citizens, by the order of General Pope, did not cease with the arrest and incarceration of the nineteen gentlemen above mentioned. Among other things, the Federal Provost Mar- shal of Fredericksburg was charged with too much leniency to the citizens and was removed; Col. Scriver was falsely charged with furnishing the destitute with food, and was ordered to stop it at once, if he had done so, and not to repeat it, and the stores and places of business were closed, it was said, to prevent the citizens from obtaining supplies. General Pope's plan seems to have been, as he declared, to subsist his army as much as possible on the coun- try and to starve the old men and women into submission to his demands. In this, however, he was not sustained by the Washing- ton authorities, and especially by President Lincoln.
This condition of things in Fredericksburg continued only for a
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short time. The campaign, inaugurated by General Pope, which resulted in the Second Battle of Manassas and so disastrously to the Federal army, was speedily followed by the advance of the Con- federate army into Maryland, the capture of Harper's Ferry, with General Nelson A. Miles's whole force of eleven thousand prisoners and immense military supplies, by General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, aided by General Wm. Barksdale, on the Maryland Heights, and General John B. Floyd, on the Loudoun Heights, and the fierce and bloody, but undecided, struggle between General Lee and General McClellan at Sharpsburg.
In consequence of the results of these events the Federal authori- ties found it necessary to recall from the line of the Rappahannock, which they were unable to hold, the forces then occupying the same, and therefore on the 21st day of August, 1862, Fredericksburg was evacuated by the Federal forces, and thus for a brief time the town was relieved from the presence and rule of the enemy until the following November, when Gen. Burnside moved against the town.
EVACUATION SCENES.
The scenes incident to the evacuation of Fredericksburg are well remembered to the present day by those who were present and wit- nessed them. They are indelibly impressed upon their minds and can never be forgotten, and are often related with great interest. In describing this stirring event and the reoccupation of the town in the Fall of 1862, we use the eyes of citizens, who were present and witnessed the scenes described and the words of another, who wrote of them years afterwards .* Crowds at the corners of the streets indicated that some unusual excitement prevailed, and clouds of smoke rose from the encampments on the Stafford side of the river. Everything indicated an immediate departure. The guards were drawn up in line; the horses and wagons packed at headquarters ; cavalry officers rode up and down, giving orders ;
* The scenes of the evacuation of Fredericksburg are taken principally from "The Past, Present and Future of Fredericksburg, by Rev. Robert R. Howison, LL. D., who was aided in its preparation by diaries kept by those present at the time and the recitals of other eye witnesses, besides newspaper articles, the re- ports of Generals in both armies and our own knowledge, being present.
6
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
company after company of pickets were led into town from different roads and joined the regiment at the City Hall; ambulances, with the sick, moved slowly through the streets; the provost marshal and his adjutant rode by, and, in a few minutes, the command was given to march, and the infantry and cavalry marched down to the bridges, each one moving by different streets. This march was quietly made. There was no music, no drum, no voice, but the command of the officers' forward, march !
The ladies, standing in groups along the streets, found it diffi- cult to repress their exultation. Glad to be relieved of the presence of the enemy, and to be freed from the restraints of their power; glad to be once more within Southern lines, and to be brought into communication with their own dear people; but the great gladness was that the evacuation of Fredericksburg showed that the enemy had been defeated on the upper line and could no longer hold the line of the Rappahannock river. And this gave them strong hope that Virginia might yet be free from the armies of the invader.
Several severe explosions followed the blowing up of the two bridges, and, as the bright flames seized upon and leaped along the sides and floors of the bridges, the whole horizon was illuminated. The burning continued all night. A guard was at once organized by the citizens, for the protection of the town against any stragglers or unruly persons who might chance to be prowling about.
With the departure of the Federal troops came now the desire on the part of the citizens of town and country to meet and greet each other, and also a longing to welcome the appearance of the Confederates, a sight which had so long been denied them. In this, to their great delight, they were soon to realize their wish, for on the 2nd day of September about two hundred people came into town from the surrounding country, and general congratulations ensued. On the evening of that day a small force of Confederate cavalry rode into town and were received with shouts of joy. The ladies lined the streets, waving their hankerchiefs and loudly utter- ing their welcome.
On the morning of the 4th of September the soldiers in camp at Hazel Run were treated to breakfast by the ladies, and greatly en-
* BURNED DURING THE WAR JEGI ES
"Chancellorsville Tavern," Gen. Hooker's Headquarters during the battle there in 1863. Burnt during that battle, May 3rd. (See page 95)
SUNKEN ROAD
FOOT OF MARYE'S HEIGHTS
"The Sunken Road," along which the "stone wall" stood, form- ing breastworks for the Confederates in 1862 and 1863. (See page 91)
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joyed the hot rolls, beefsteak and hot coffee, after their long absti- nence from such delicacies, and probably from rations of any sort. After a brief season of comparative quiet, disturbed only by the general interest felt in the operations of our armies, the condition of the country generally, and the liability to the reoccupation of the town at any time, Fredericksburg was again the subject and recipient of war's horrors in their most appalling form.
GENERAL BURNSIDE'S OCCUPATION OF FREDERICKSBURG.
The Preliminaries to the Great Battle.
On Sunday morning, the 10th of November, 1862, a company of Federal cavalry, commanded by Captain Ulric Dahlgren crossed the Rappahannock river, above Falmouth, and charged rapidly down Main street, with drawn sabres. A small force of Confederate cavalry (Colonel John Critcher's battalion), was quar- tered in town, who, recovering from the disorder into which they were thrown by the sudden and unexpected appearance of the enemy, quickly rallied, and, aided by citizens and Captain Simp- son's company, of Colonel W. B. Ball's command, attacked the raiders, pursued and drove them across the river, inflicting upon them a slight loss in men and horses. The Federal army then be- gan to move down from Fauquier, Culpeper and Prince William counties, through Stafford county, to occupy Fredericksburg.
To Colonel Wm. A. Ball, an experienced officer, who had greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Leesburg, and in other en- counters, was entrusted by General Lee the duty of holding the town, and in retarding the approach of the enemy, if possible, with the promise of speedy reinforcements. The divisions of Gen. Lafayette MeLaws and General Robert Ransom, of General Longstreet's corps, with General Wm. H. F. Lee's brigade of cavalry and a battery of artillery, were marched hurriedly to this point, and the whole of General Lee's army prepared to follow.
On Sunday, November 16th, Colonel Ball's scouts announced the approach of the enemy on three roads-the Warrenton, Stafford Courthouse and the Poplar. He telegraphed to General Gustavus W. Smith, in Richmond, for reinforcements. General Smith
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promptly sent him a battalion of four companies, under Major Finney, from the Forty-second Mississippi. With his small force, which scarcely exceeded five hundred men, the gallant Colonel pro- posed to engage the enemy, if he sought to cross the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg. Colonel Ball placed his infantry in the mill- race and mill opposite Falmouth, stationed his cavalry in the upper part of Fredericksburg and planted Captain John W. Lewis's bat- tery of four guns and eighty men on the plateau around the old Fitzgerald residence, at Little Falls, half a mile above the town.
At 10 o'clock on Monday, the 18th, the Southern scouts were driven across the river by the enemy's cavalry, and several hours thereafter a Federal corps, of twelve thousand strong, appeared on the Stafford Heights, opposite Fredericksburg, and planted their field-batteries, consisting of more than twenty guns. Capt. Lewis's men maintained their ground and replied to the rapid firing of the enemy. The distance was short-less than half a mile. The fir- ing of the men was accurate, yet the Confederate fire was kept up, and the Federals, uncertain as to the force opposing them, made no attempt to cross the river. .
Colonel Ball, with five hundred men, maintained his front, in the face of the twelve thousand Federals, encouraged by General Lee, who telegraphed him, "Hold your position if you can. Rein- forcements are hurrying to you." On Tuesday, the 18th, the enemy's force was largely increased. General Burnside's whole force was pouring down to the Stafford hills. They were waiting for pontoon bridges, and did not cross the river.
Meanwhile Gen. Lee's army was rushing down the roads from Culpeper and Orange counties to occupy the crest of hills around Fredericksburg. Wednesday, at daybreak, General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry arrived. The next morning General McLaws, with his own division and that of General Ransom's, was in position, and on the 20th the Commander-in-Chief was at hand to direct the move- ments of the remainder of General Longstreet's command and Gen- eral Jackson's corps, which rapidly followed him.
On Tuesday, the 20th of November, by request of General Lee, Montgomery Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, accompanied by
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the Recorder, William A. Little, Esq., and by Mr. Douglas H. Gor- don, a member of her Council, held an interview with the Con- federate Commander-in-Chief. It was held at Snowden, the resi- dence of the late John L. Stansbury, about a mile above town. On Friday, the 21st, General E. V. Sumner, of the Federal Army, sent over a flag of truce, with a written message to the Mayor and Com- mon Council of Fredericksburg. General Patrick, the bearer of the message, was met by Colonel Wm. A. Ball at "French John's" wharf, at the foot of Hawke street. General Sumner's letter, to the town authorities was as follows :
"GENTLEMEN :- Under cover of the houses of your town, shots have been fired upon the troops of my command. Your mills and factories are furnishing provisions and material for clothing for armed bodies in rebellion against the Government of the United States. Your railroads and other means of transportation are re- moving supplies to the depots of such troops. This condition of things must terminate; and by direction of Major-General Burn- side, commanding this army, I accordingly demand the surrender of the city into my hands, as the representative of the Government of the United States, at or before five o'clock this afternoon (5 o'clock P. M. to-day). Failing an affirmative reply to this demand by the time indicated, sixteen (16 hours) hours will be permitted. to elapse for the removal from the city of women and children, the sick, wounded and aged; which period having elapsed, I shall proceed to shell the town.
"Upon obtaining possession of the town every necessary means will be taken to preserve order and secure the protective operation of the laws and policy of the United States Government."
Colonel Ball simply stated to General Patrick that before deliver- ing the letter to the civil authorities it must be referred to his com- manding military officer. But neither he nor the Mayor gave any intimation of the actual presence of General Lee, with a large part of his army, on the heights in rear of the town. General Patrick was obliged to remain in the log house from ten o'clock in the morning to seven in the afternoon, on the 21st. Meanwhile
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Colonel Ball, through the proper channels forwarded the letter to General Lee. At twenty minutes before five o'clock in the after- noon the letter was received at his office by the Mayor, through General J. E. B. Stuart, who communicated in full General Lee's decision. With the aid of his advisers, Mayor Slaughter prepared a written reply, bearing date, "Mayor's Office, Fredericksburg, November 21st, 1862." This reply was to the effect that the com- munication of General Sumner had not reached the Mayor in time to furnish a reply by 5 o'clock P. M., as requested ; that it had been sent to him after passing (by General Patrick's consent) through the hands of the commanding officer of the Confederate States forces near the town; that as to the shots complained of in the northern suburbs of the town, they were the acts of the Confederate military force holding the town; that the Mayor was authorized to say that the several subjects of complaint would not recur; that the Con- federate troops would not occupy the town, and neither would they permit the Federal troops to do so. Mayor Slaughter, attended by Dr. Wm. S. Scott and Samuel S. Howison, Esq., repaired to the place of meeting, and, at about seven o'clock in the evening, de- livered the reply to General Patrick.
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