USA > Virginia > City of Fredericksburg > City of Fredericksburg > The history of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia > Part 9
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At the end of the truce three heavy lines advanced and renewed the attack. They were bravely repulsed on the right and left, but the small force at the foot of Marye's Hill, overpowered by more than ten times their numbers, was captured after a heroic resistance, and the Heights carried. Eight pieces of artillery were taken on Marye's and the adjacent heights. The remainder of Barksdale's brigade, together with that of General Hays, and the artillery on the 7
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right, retired down the Telegraph road. The success of the enemy enabled him to threaten Gen. Lee's communications by moving down the telegraph road, or gain his rear at Chancellorsville by the Plank road. He at first advanced on the Telegraph road, but was checked by General Early, who had halted the brigades of Barksdale and Hays with the artillery, about two miles from Marye's Hill, and re- ënforced them with three regiments of General John B. Gordon's brigade. The enemy then began to advance up the Plank road, his progress being gallantly disputed by the brigade of General Cadmus M. Wilcox, who had moved from Banks's Ford as rapidly as possi- ble to the assistance of General Barksdale, but arrived too late to take part in the action. General Wilcox fell back slowly until he reached Salem church, on the Plank road, about four miles from Fredericksburg.
Information of the state of affairs in our rear having reached Chancellorsville, General McLaws, with his three brigades and one of General Anderson's, was ordered to reinforce General Wilcox. He arrived at Salem church early in the afternoon, where he found General Wilcox in line of battle, with a large force of the enemy- consisting, as was reported, of one army corps and part of another, under Major-General Sedgwick-in his front. The brigades of General Kershaw and General Wofford were placed on the right of General Wilcox and those of Semmes and Mahone on the left. The enemy's artillery played vigorously upon our position for some time, when his infantry advanced in three strong lines, the attack being directed mainly against General Wilcox, but partially involving the brigades on his left.
The assault was met with the utmost firmness, and after a fierce struggle the first line was repulsed with great slaughter. The second then came forward, but immediately broke under the close and deadly fire which it encountered, and the whole mass fled in confusion to the rear. They were pursued by the brigades of Gen- eral Wilcox and General Semmes, in the direction of Banks's Ford, where the enemy crossed to the Stafford side of the river.
The next morning General Early advanced along the Telegraph road and recaptured Marye's Heights and the adjacent hills without
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difficulty. General Barksdale's brigade entered the town, to find the enemy gone, with the exception of some stragglers who had secreted themselves in cellars and elsewhere about town. These were captured and sent to the rear, and the brigade took up its former quarters in the town, where it remained until the first of June.
After some four weeks of rest and reorganization the army was again put in motion, the object of Gen. Lee being the invasion of Pennsylvania. After the removal of the army Fredericksburg was left practically without any armed troops, and soon relapsed into her usual quiet, so characteristic of the place. This condition of things existed until the return of the army from its invasion in the Fall, when the town was occasionally visited by scouting cavalry from the Confederate army, the main body of the troops camping west of Fredericksburg.
GEN. GRANT'S ARMY IN POSSESSION.
The Wilderness Campaign.
With the opening of the Spring of 1864, was inaugurated the most active and bloody campaign of the war in Virginia. This battle embraces those of Mine Run, the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, the Po, the Ny and those around Spotsylvania Courthouse, in which both armies, the Confederate, under General Robert E. Lee, and the Federal, under General Ulysses S. Grant, lost heavily. Many thousands of the wounded Federals were sent in ambulances and wagons to Fredericksburg, where hospitals were established, under the charge of United States surgeons. Every house in the town that was at all available was converted into a hospital. Residences, stores, churches and lodge rooms were all occupied by the wounded and the surgeons were kept busy day and night. As fast as the wounded could be moved they were sent north, and others were brought from the battle-fields. This was kept up from the time the battles commenced, on the 4th of May, until they closed, on the 20th of May, the first batch reaching town with their authorized attendants on the 9th of May.
On Sunday, the 8th, a small body of Federal troops, numbering
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about sixty, most of them slightly wounded, came into town. They were armed, and the citizens demanded their surrender as prisoners of war. This demand was acceded to and they were delivered over to the Confederate military authorities at the nearest post. from which they were sent to Richmond. This action of the citi- zens was regarded by the Federal authorities as a violation of law, and the arrest of an equal number of citizens was ordered by the Federals, that they might be held as hostages until these Union soldiers were released and returned.
This order caused great consternation in town. No one could foretell the fate of those arrested and the worst for them was feared. Many of the male citizens sought hiding places, but quite a number made no effort to escape or elude the officers, as they did not con- sider they had done any wrong-certainly no intentional wrong- and they were willing to abide the consequences until an impartial investigation was made, when they believed they would be exon- erated from any crime. In the execution of this order, sixty-two citizens were arrested and carried to Washington, ten of whom were there liberated and the remaining fifty-two were sent to Fort Dela- ware. Afterwards five other citizens were arrested and sent to the same prison.
The families of these citizens were almost frantic at being thus deprived of their protectors, while the town was overrun by Federal soldiers, many of them stragglers, without any one to restrain them, and others brought here from the Wilderness and other battle-fields, wounded and dying, their groans and shrieks filling the air. No one can imagine the distressing scenes enacted in town about this time who did not witness them, or form any conception of the terri- ble ordeal through which these helpless families passed save those who shared their privations and sufferings.
The town had been the scene of a bombardment unparalleled ; two fearful battles had been fought here, with their accompanying destruction of property and consumption of food and family sup- plies ; the town had been in possession of both armies at different times ; therefore these families were destitute of food and the comforts of life, and now comes the order for the arrest and impris-
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onment of those whom God had given them to protect and provide for them. Notwithstanding the intense excitement of the people of the town, and the sufferings and entreaties of the bereaved ones, it was thought prudent to defer public action until further de- velopments, in the hope that the prisoners would be released and allowed to return to their homes.
Having impatiently awaited the release of the prisoners, and their hopes not being realized, on the 31st of May a meeting of the Com- mon Council was called, and upon assembling the Mayor informed the body that the object of the meeting was to take some steps for the relief of those citizens who had been arrested and who were then suffering in prison at Fort Delaware. A paper was submitted by Mr. Wm. A. Little, which was unanimously adopted, looking to their release. As the paper contains the views of the citizens of Fredericksburg, with reference to the arrest of the Federal soldiers, and also the names of the citizens arrested, it is here copied in full, as follows :
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., May 31st, 1864.
To the Honorable James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War of the Confederate States, Richmond, Virginia.
At a meeting of the Mayor and Common Council of Fredericks- burg, Virginia, held this 31st of May, 1864, a committee of two citizens, to wit: Montgomery Slaughter and John F. Scott, were appointed to repair to Richmond and present to you the following statement and application.
Statement.
On Sunday, the 8th instant, a number of slightly-wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who entered the town, many of them with arms in their hands, and with the capacity and intention, we feared, of doing mischief in the way of pillage and injury to our people, who were unprotected by any military force, were arrested by order of our municipal authorities and forwarded to the nearest military post as prisoners of war, under the guard of citizens. These
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prisoners amounted to about sixty men, of whom but few are said to have been slightly wounded. In retaliation of this act, the pro- vost marshal, under orders from the Secretary of War at Washing- ton, arrested on the 20th instant some sixty of our citizens and for- warded them to Washington, to be held as hostages for said pris- oners. Ten of the citizens were afterwards released in Washing- ton, and have returned to their homes, leaving some fifty-one citizens still in confinement, who have been sent to the military prison at Fort Delaware.
In behalf of these unfortunate people, who are thus made to suffer so seriously, and for their suffering families who are thus left without their natural protectors, and many of them without their means of support, we appeal to you to take such steps as may be proper and in accordance with military regulations to return the said prisoners to the Federal authorities and thus secure the release of our citizens. Surely the matter of a few prisoners cannot be allowed to interfere with the humane and generous work of restor- ing to these desolated homes, and these mourning women and children, the only source of comfort which the fate of war has left them in this war-ravaged and desolated town, the presence of those
· loved ones who are separated from them and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. The following is a list of the citizens arrested and car- ried to Washington as aforesaid :
James H. Bradley, Thomas F. Knox, James McGuire, Councellor Cole, Michael Ames, John G. Hurkamp, John J. Chew, George H. Peyton, Wm. H. Thomas, John D. Elder, who were released at Washington.
F. B. Chewning, R. B. Rennolds, James B. Marye, George Aler, Charles Mander,* Benjamin F. Currell, John L. Knight, Wm. C. Smith, Joseph W. Sener, E. W. Stephens, Charles Cash, Charles B. Waite, Charles G. Waite, Jr., George W. Wroten,* Thomas New- ton, Robert H. Alexander, Robert Smith, Lucien Love, George F. 'Sacrey, Henry M. Towles, Landon J. Huffman, Lewis Moore, John T. Evans, Walter Bradshaw, Samuel D. Curtis, Lewis Wrenn, Wm. White, John Solan, George W. Eve, James Mazeen, Abraham Cox,
Still living.
Birthplace of Hon. John Forsythe, the brilliant Georgia Statesman. (See page 154)
The "Sentry Box," the home of Gen. Hugh Mercer; now the resi- dence of O. D. Foster, Esq. (See page 150)
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Wm. Brannan, James A. Turner, A. E. Samuel, Tandy Williams, Robert S. Parker, Christopher Reintz, Thomas F. Coleman, Patrick Mc Donnell, Charles Williams, Wm. Cox, Walter M. Mills, Thomas S. Thornton, John Joyce,* John Miner, Richard Hudson, Wm. B. Webb, Alexander Armstrong, Wm. Wiltshire, Gabriel Johnston, George Mullin, William Burke.
The following citizens were arrested subsequently and are still held by the Federal authorities : Wm. Lange, Thomas Manuell, Joseph Hall, Wm. W. Jones, Wyatt Johnson.
The committee appointed by the Council proceeded to Richmond and laid the matter before the Secretary of War, and, on their re- turn home, reported to the Council in writing. This report was filed, but was not entered upon the records of the Council, and, from indications as shown by subsequent entries in the Council proceedings, the committee appointed Mr. George H. C. Rowe to visit Washington, interview the Federal authorities and ascertain what could be done. Some of the members of the Council claimed that this action of the committee was without authority, as the appointment should have been made by the Council itself and not by the committee of the Council. This claim was, no doubt, well founded, and the action of the committee may have been a stretch of its authority, but their great anxiety to have these gentlemen released from prison and have them restored to their families and friends, was a sufficient explanation and apology, if such had been needed, for their action, independent of the Council. And further- more, the propriety of, and authority for, this action of the com- mittee may be explained, if not justified, by the fact that one of the committeemen was the Mayor and executive officer of the town and the other one was a leading member of the Common Council.
But be that as it may, Mr. Rowe proceeded to Washington, and on his return, on the 20th of June, made a report of his visit to the Council, stating that he was well received by the Federal authorities
*An amusing incident is told of Mr. Joyce when he was arrested. He is a native of Ireland, as every one will readily perceive when he hears him speak. When arrested he was asked in a brusque tone by the officer-"Where are you from ?" He replied instantly : "Be Jasus, oim a Virginnyan, and niver denoi the place of moi netivity."
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and was assured by the Secretary of War that the exchange could be effected. Mr. Rowe further stated that the proposition made by the Secretary of War was that the Federal prisoners should be re- leased and placed in his care, and he be permitted to take them through their lines with the assurance that the citizen prisoners would be turned over to him. Mr. Rowe concluded his report as follows :*
"This proposition, it seems to me, obviates all difficulties of misconstruction, and I will undertake the delivery and receipt of the prisoners at Alexandria. It is proper to state that in 1862, I undertook and executed, a similar Commission of exchange of citizens Captured, with success, and thorough satisfaction to our Government,t and I am sure with its assent and cooperation as proposed, I will now reap a similar result."
Upon the reception of this report by the Council Mayor Slaugh- ter and Mr. Rowe were appointed a commission to visit Richmond and secure the release of the Federal prisoners, and, when so re- leased, the commission was authorized to do what might be neces- sary to effect the final exchange. On their arrival in Richmond they called on the Confederate authorities and stated the terms of agreement, and through their solicitation the following order was issued by Colonel Robert Ould, the Confederate commissioner of exchange of prisoners :
"RICHMOND, VA., June 23rd, 1864.
Brigadier General M. M. Gardner-SIR: I will thank you to deliver to M. Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, fifty-six Federal Soldiers (privates) who are to be exchanged for an equal number of our people, captured in Fredericksburg. I will thank you also to furnish M. Slaughter the necessary guard, &c., for their trans- portation to Fredericksburg. Please send two or three surgeons with the party.
Resp'y yr Obt. Sert., R. OULD, Agt."
* See Council proceedings, June 20, 1864.
¡ That record not found. Mr. Rowe must have assisted Rev. Wm. F. Broad- dus, D. D., in the release of the nineteen citizen prisoners.
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The issuance of this order, with the previous assurance of the Federal authorities, encouraged and rejoiced the hearts of all inter- ested parties. The mourning changed to rejoicing, and nothing now remained to complete the joy but the presence of the loved ones, who yet lingered in prison. An order was at once issued by the Common Council authorizing Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Rowe to procure all the necessary transportation and make proper arrange- ments for the exchange and effect the release of the imprisoned citi- zens as speedily as possible. From the final report, made on the subject, it appears that the whole matter of making the exchange of prisoners was turned over to Mr. Rowe. On his return from Wash- ington he reported the transactions in full to the Council, on the 8th of July, in the following words :*
"I have the honor to report that I reached the military lines of the United States in safety with the fifty-six prisoners of war and four civil officers of the so-called State of West Virginia, com- mitted to my charge by the corporation authorities, to be exchanged for the captive citizens of Fredericksburg. After some difficulty in obtaining personal access to the authorities at Washington, and several days' discussion there, I succeeded in closing a negotiation that the Federal prisoners delivered by me should be released from their paroles simultaneously with the delivery of fifty-three captive citizens of Fredericksburg, and seven Confederate prisoners of war, on board of a flag of truce steamer, with transportation to Split Rock, on the Potomac river.
"In execution of this obligation the Federal authorities delivered to me, on board the Steamer Weycomoke, whence they were landed at Split Rock on yesterday, forty-nine citizens and two prisoners of war, according to the roll which accompanies this report, marked A.t The four citizens and five prisoners of war still due, I have solid assurances will be forwarded by the same route at an early day."
At the conclusion of Mr. Rowe's report, on motion made by Mr. John James Young, the Council unanimously adopted the follow- ing resolution :
"That the thanks of this body be tendered to Mr. Rowe for the
* From Council proceedings of July 8, 1864.
¡ Not found in the Council proceedings.
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energetic and efficient manner in which he has effected the exchange of Federal prisoners for our captive citizens."
Having been set at liberty at Split Rock, on the banks of the Potomac river, the march to Fredericksburg was soon commenced. Some few of the party, and especially the sick, were fortunate enough to have carriages sent for them, some got seats in wagons, but a large majority of them made the journey on foot, and were delighted at the privilege of doing so. The distance is about twelve miles. It is unnecessary to attempt (for we could not if we did) to describe the scene upon the arrival of these unfortunate ones to their homes and families. It is sufficient to say they reached home in safety amidst the shouts of welcome and the rejoicing of the inhabitants of the town, the returned prisoners joining in the re- frain, bearing testimony to the truth of Payne's declaration, "There's no place like home."
The small batch of wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who were arrested by the citizens on the 8th of May, was followed next day and the succeeding days, until there were in the different im- provised hospitals in town about fifteen thousand sick and wounded soldiers. They were attended by a large body of surgeons and as- sistants of every kind, including nurses. The native population of the town at this time was small, and consisted entirely of women, children and elderly men. Even the colored population had be- come very much reduced.
The sudden increase of the population by the advent of this large number of sick and wounded soldiers, and their numerous attendants, caused great suffering and distress, and during this occupation by the wounded, the suffering, disease and sorrow en- dured by the people of Fredericksburg were greater than any that had previously visited them. But notwithstanding this, and not- withstanding the harsh and cruel treatment they received at the hands of General Pope and his subordinates, truth demands the record and admission that these scenes of horror were greatly mitigated by many acts of courtesy and considerate aid on the part of the Federal officers stationed here, which even now are kindly remembered and spoken of by many of our citizens who were par- ticipants in the scenes referred to above.
CHAPTER VIII
The Armies Transferred to Richmond and Petersburg-Gen. Lee's surrender-Citizens Return Home-Action of the Council- Fredericksburg Again Under the Old Flag-The Assassina- tion of President Lincoln Denounced and Deplored-Recon- struction Commenccd-An Election Set Aside-The Iron- Clad Oath-All Offices Vacated and Strangers Appointed- The Financial Condition of the Town- The Town Again in the Hands of its Citizens-Splendid Financial Showing, &c.
At the conclusion of the battles around Spotsylvania, during which time Fredericksburg was the base of supplies for the Federal army, the two armies moved south and the scenes of war were trans- ferred from Fredericksburg to Richmond and Petersburg. From the time the main armies moved south to the close of the war Fredericksburg was first in the Federal lines and then in the Con- federate lines. After the base of supplies for the Union army was moved from Fredericksburg to City Point about the only troops that visited the town were scouting or raiding parties, and be it said to their credit very little damage to property was done by them. Communication was kept up all the time with Richmond and the citizens were not without hope that the Federal army would be driven back and the scenes of war transferred to other parts. But these hopes were delusive. General Grant was constantly receiving reinforcements, until he had over 200,000 men, by which he was enabled to extend his lines, while General Lee's small army, not ex- ceeding 45,000 men, was becoming smaller and his lines of battle thinner by reason of casualties, resulting from daily engagements with the enemy. In consequence of this he was unable to hold his long lines against the vigorous attacks of General Grant.
About the first of April General Lee suffered several reverses on his extreme right, which resulted in turning his right flank on the 2nd of April. On the morning of the 3rd he commenced the eva- cuation of Richmond, abandoned his entire line in front of Peters- burg and retreated in the direction of Danville. The overwhelm- ing numbers of Grant against him made his retreat very difficult
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and enabled the Federals to harass him on every side. When Gen- eral Lee reached Burkeville he found the Federals between him and Danville, his objective point, and it became necessary for him to change the direction of his column. There was but one way open for him and that was the road to Lynchburg. But this road was soon closed. At the battle of Sailors' Creek, near Farmville, on the 6th of April, the Confederates lost over six thousand men and several general officers. From the result of this engagement it was plainly seen that the end had come. By fighting in the day and marching at night General Lee reached Appomattox Courthouse on the 9th, with what few soldiers he had left, broken down from hun- ger and marching, his horses jaded and unable to do their work, and his artillery and wagon trains were falling an easy prey to the pursuing army. Although the men's courage never failed them, in the condition in which Gen. Lee found himself, there was nothing to do but to surrender. General Grant had already communicated with him and demanded his surrender, upon the ground that he could not longer resist, but he had not felt a willingness to yield until the morning of the 9th.
On that eventful morning General Lee opened communication with General Grant and invited a conference, to discuss the terms of surrender. They met, it is said, under an apple tree and ad- journed to the residence of Mr. Wilmer McLane,* where the terms were agreed upon, written out and signed. It was from this build- ing that General Lee mounted old Traveller, t to return to his lines to announce the sad news to the remaining remnant of his once
* Mr. McLane's residence was in the midst of the first battle between the two great armies, and, strange to say, it was in the midst of the last and that the terms of surrender were written and signed in his residence. When the war broke out Mr. McLane was living in Prince William county, and at the first battle of Manassas his residence was in the thickest of the fight. He after- wards moved to Appomattox county to get out of the reach of the war. During the last engagement of the two armies his residence was between the lines, and when General Lee and General Grant met they asked for a room in the house, which was furnished them, and there the terms of surrender were written and signed.
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