centric commander of the 2d corps was "lost." Jackson had been "lost" after this fashion, however, before the battles of the Chickahominy, Cedar Run, the advance to Warrenton Springs, and the second Manassas. The army were well satisfied to have him thus disappear-confident that he would manage to make his way back to them, and "turn up" if any hard fighting was to be done. For the rest, it was not probable that an enemy could surprise him in that valley region, every foot of which had been fought over by his men.

Jackson was fully aware of the movements of the enemy, and no doubt divined General McClellan's intention to gain by a rapid march the banks of the Rappahannock before General Lee could confront him, seize the gaps in the Blue Ridge, and, by thus holding all the great avenues of exit from the Valley, divide the Confederate army, attack it in detail, and defeat it. The danger to which the Confederate commander was exposed was great; but he seems to have felt entirely assured of his ability either to defeat or elude the enemy.

General Stuart, who visited him at this time, near Millwood, to notify him of the intended withdrawal of the cavalry, found him reading his Bible in his tent, an occupation which he discontinued to describe his intended movements to foil General McClellan. The design of the Federal commander was evidently well understood by him, and he stated to General Stuart that he intended to remain near Millwood for some time-convinced that the presence of his corps at that point would puzzle General McClellan and delay his advance, from apprehensions of a movement against the Federal rear. If General McClellan attacked him with equal or not greatly disproportioned forces, he would fight. If, however, the entire Federal army assailed him, he would fall back toward Strasburg, march around the Massinutton Mountain, and crossing at New Market and Luray, rejoin General Lee. General Stuart described Jackson's demeanor on this occasion as exceedingly sweet and kindly; but the two commanders were great friends, and the visit doubtless pleased Jackson.

An incident exhibiting Jackson's kindness of heart belongs to this period, and is here related in the words of the officer who communicates it:

"In November, 1862, while passing through Middletown, Va., General Jackson, with his staff-riding some two or three miles in front of his army, then on the march for Fredericksburg-met a very old woman looking for her grandson who was somewhere in the army. As we passed she hailed the General, saying:

666 Are you Mr. Jackson?'

"He told her he was, and asked what she wanted.

"I want to see my grandson, George Martin-he belongs to your company. I've brought him these clothes and victuals.'

"The General asked her what regiment her grandson was in, but she could not tell. She did not know what company he was in the name of his captain-even whether he was a private or an officer. All she could tell was, that he was in Mr. Jackson's company.'

"In her disappointment she cried:

“Why, Mr. Jackson, don't you know little George Martin? -George Augustus Martin? He's been with you in all your battles; and they say,' she added, with tears streaming down her furrowed cheeks, that he fit as hard as the best of them.'

"At this point some of the younger members of the staff laughed. The General turned around quickly with his brow contracted, his lips compressed, and his eyes flashing with anger. He looked as if he was trying to find the guilty one. Dismounting from his horse, and approaching the old woman, he, in the kindest manner and simplest words, explained why he did not know her grandson; but gave her such simple and repeated directions as would enable her to find him."

CHAPTER XXVII.

CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.

GENERAL MCCLELLAN, meanwhile, advanced toward the Rappahannock, and his various columns were concentrating at Warrenton, when, on the 7th of November, he was, without previous notice, relieved of his command. Such was the sudden termination of the active career of an officer who had proved himself the most formidable adversary of the South.

The plans of General McClellan, when he was invested with the command of all the Federal armies, were comprehensive, and struck, to use his own phrase, "at the heart of the rebellion." He was not long continued, however, in the supreme command, and was sent with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, where he was defeated, but by his excellent generalship saved his army from surrender or destruction. Thence he was ordered to Washington, and his abilities seem to have been recognized, since, after the defeat of General Pope, he rose again, as by right, to the command of all the forces, and with no orders except "protect the capital" commenced offensive operations against General Lee. The result was the battle of Sharpsburg, by which the advance of the Confederate commander upon Pennsylvania was checked, and his campaign defeated. Το disappoint the plans of a soldier so eminent as General Lee is no small proof of ability in the commander who succeeds in so doing; and the movements of General McClellan subsequent to the battle of Sharpsburg appear to have been able and judicious. He moved as soon as he could into Virginia, and his plans seemed excellently devised, when he was suddenly decapitated.

The explanation of this sudden withdrawal of confidence on the part of the Federal authorities must be sought for in the political histories of this period-it forms no part of our own subject.

General McClellan was succeeded by General Ambrose E. Burnside, a commander of some reputation but moderate abilities, who is reported to have protested against his appointment to so great a command on the score of his inability to administer it. President Lincoln, however, insisted, and General Burnside assumed the direction of the army in its further operations. The result of affairs at Fredericksburg subsequently occasioned an official investigation; and from General Burnside's testimony before the committee, we are informed of his designs upon assuming command of the Federal army. Finding that General Lee confronted him in the upper Rappahannock, and that the way was barred in that direction, General Burnside conceived the project of making a demonstration in front of Lee to engage his attention, and, whilst his adversary was thus amused, of moving his main body rapidly down to Fredericksburg, where he would cross and turn his adversary's flank. Lee would thus be forced to fall back for the protection of Richmond, and the Federal army would move rapidly in the same direction in pursuit.

This plan of operations at once commenced by a feint on the upper Rappahannock, but it did not deceive the Confederate commander. No sooner had General Burnside put his main column in motion toward Fredericksburg, than General Lee, who had remained in the vicinity of Culpepper Court-House watching his opponent, made a corresponding movement across the Rapidan. General McClellan had moved rapidly southward only to find the army which he had left at Winchester facing him in front of Culpepper. General Burnside now no sooner appeared upon the hills of Stafford near Fredericksburg, than he discovered on the high ground opposite the gray lines of his adversary.

The intended surprise had turned out a failure; and from the latter part of November when these movements took place, to the middle of December, the two armies remained in sight of each other, divided only by the Rappahannock.

The large Federal camps were established in rear of the hills

opposite Fredericksburg, and their earthworks on this commanding position were soon mounted with heavy artillery intended to cover the crossing of their army. From "Chatham" and other residences overlooking the town, General Burnside and his officers constantly reconnoitred the Confederate position-the pickets dotting the banks of the river below, from above Falmouth to Deep Run. The river was thus guarded from United States ford, near the confluence of the Rappahannock and Rapidan, to Port Royal, twenty-two miles below the place.

The ground around Fredericksburg, on the southern side of the river, was well adapted to the repulse of an attacking force. From a point just above the town and immediately upon the stream, commences a range of hills which, diverging from the river, sweep around to Hamilton's crossing on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad about four miles below, and a mile or more from the river. The ground thus enclosed is an extensive plain, through which, and parallel to the stream, runs the "River Road," a broad highway skirted with cedars, growing out of embankments, serving the purpose of fences. The ditches formed by throwing up these embankments furnished an impromptu species of intrenchment which shielded the Federal troops in no small degree from the Southern fire. Through the plain described wanders a small stream known as Deep Run, with precipitate banks, completely sheltering troops, as the stream approaches the river.

On the crest of hills here mentioned-extending from near Falmouth to the crossing, and thickly covered throughout nearly their whole extent by oaks, edged by pine thickets-the Confederate commander had formed his line of battle. Longstreet's corps held the left, extending from the river to a point about midway the length of the range, and just beyond Deep Run. Jackson, who had remained in the Valley until about the 1st of December, when he rejoined General Lee, held the right of the line, occupying the ground from Longstreet's right to Hamilton's crossing, where the range of hills descends into the plain. On the extreme right, in the extensive plain intersected by the "River