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on another. His first purpose was, with very heavy loss by superior numthat Franklin, who had nearly one-half bers, until Birney's division having of the whole army under his command, reached the ground, enabled him to should make the main attack from the make a staud and hold part of the left, and that upon his success should woods. While this was going on, be conditioned the assault of the Gibbon had also advanced on Meade's heights in rear of the town by Sumner; right, as a support; but between two but instead of carrying out his original and three o'clock, his division fell back. purpose, he resolved, at the last mo- With the aid of two other divisions ment, in place of an effective attack, to the line was held for the remainder of make a partial operation, by both the day, and the fighting on the left Franklin and Sumner. "These disposi was brought to a close. tions," according to Swinton, "were such that it would be difficult to imagine any worse suited to the circumstances."*

Early in the morning, December 13th, Franklin was instructed to hold his command in readiness for a rapid movement down the old Richmond road, while he sent out a division to seize a position on the heights, which, with a similar movement by a column from Sumner's command, farther to the westward, would, it was expected, compel the enemy to evacuate the ridge. The movement upon the heights was carried out by Meade. Gibbon was to support it on the right, and Doubleday was held in reserve. As soon as Meade was in motion, a large force of the enemy was turned on our extreme left, and they were in such position that they could fire into Meade's rear as he advanced. Hence it was absolutely necessary that the enemy should be

1862.

driven off. Birney's division was sent for, but before he got up, Meade had advanced into the woods and had a severe fight with the rebels; he, however, was driven back

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In obedience to orders, Sumner on the right began the assault in the rear of the town, while the fighting was well under way on the left. Though it seemed like a forlorn hope to attempt to drive back an enemy securely entrenched as the rebels were, yet our brave men shrunk not from the terrible contest. "I selected for the attack," said Sumner, "the corps of French and Hancock, two of the most gallant of ficers in our army, and two corps that had neither of them ever turned their backs to the enemy. They made re peated assaults, but were driven back in spite of all the efforts that could be made by their officers." The rebel position behind a long stone wall, which their artillery enfiladed on both sides, was impregnable, and no troops could stand against the fire which mowed them down. Language cannot convey an adequate idea of the horrible slaughter of our men in this mad and useless assault. Nearly one-half of those heroic veterans were stricken down on the bloody field, amid the yells and shouts of the enemy.

Fearful as was the responsibility of sending men to certain death in this

CH. XXIII.]

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG

assault on Lee's impregnable position, Burnside next ordered Hooker to advance. This officer, on reconnoitring the ground and looking into the state of affairs, considered the case hopeless, and begged Burnside to give up the attack; but the commanding general insisted on the attempt being made; and the attempt was made. But it was in vain; out of the column of 4,000 which dashed itself against this stone wall almost half were left on this bloody field. Happily, night was fast coming on, and the desperate conflict was necessarily brought to an end.

But even now, with these dreadful results before his eyes, Burnside did not seem to be satisfied; he purposed, on the morrow, making one gigantic effort to retrieve the fortunes of battle. He gave orders to this effect; but, on the earnest remonstrances of Sumner, seconded by the unanimous voice of the division and corps commanders, further assault was abandoned. This was on Sunday afternoon, December 14th; at the same time Burnside gave orders for recrossing the Rappahannock, as the town was thought to be untenable. This difficult operation was successfully performed, without any loss whatever, in the deep darkness of a stormy night, Monday, December 15th, the rebels quietly remaining within their entrenchments, and unaware of the disasters of our army.

The entire loss on the Union side, in killed, wounded and missing, was 12,321; so far as can be ascertained the rebel loss was between 5,000 and 6,000. According to Sumner's estimate, there were less than 50,000 of

243

our men under fire, from which it is evident how large was the proportion of loss, being fully one-fourth of the entire number in action.

Under date of December 19th, Burnside wrote to Halleck, and in reviewing what had taken place assumed the whole responsibility of the affair.* "But for the fog," he said, "and the unexpected and unavoidable delay in building the bridges, which gave the enemy twenty-four hours to concentrate his forces in his strong position, we would almost certainly have succeeded. For the failure in the attack I am responsible, as the extreme gallantry, courage, and endurance shown by the brave officers and soldiers were never exceeded, and would have carried the points had it been possible."

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1862.

President Lincoln, naturally anxious to represent matters in the most favorable light to the country, issued an address to the Army of the Potomac, December 22nd, in which he said: "Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, maintained the contest against an entrenched foe, and the consummate skill and success with which you crossed and recrossed the river, in the face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the

* Woodbury devotes a long note, at the end of his

chapter on the battle of Fredericksburg, to Swinton and his "Critical History of the Army of the Potomac." He is particularly severe upon Swinton, and charges him with a malignant and persistent effort to traduce Burnside.

country and of popular government." sufficiently recruited, a movement was

At the same time it was announced, that the resignation tendered by Gen. Burnside was not accepted by the president.

made, early in January, 1863, for crossing the Rappahannock above Freder icksburg, with feints of crossing at other points. The weather, during the first half of the month, had been excellent, and the roads were in good condition. The columns were put in motion, as secretly as possible, on the 19th of January. Everything was got

20th of January, and it was determin ed to make the passage the following morning. But, most unfortunately, there came on that night a fearful storm, which, by its effects upon the roads, virtually nullified the entire movement. Efforts were made to bring pontoons enough into position to build a bridge or two at least; but the struggle was unavailing. The next day the storm continued, and the roads grew worse and worse. The scene was deplorable, and glad enough were the troops to come to an end of the weary "mud march," and stagger back to the old camps whence they had set out.

Apart from the repulse and the heavy loss in officers and men of the battle of Fredericksburg, there was a serious depreciation produced by it in the morale of the Army of the Potomac. Necessity enforced rest, the re-in readiness for crossing during the pairing of losses, the care of the wounded and the burial of the dead, which follow, to a greater or less extent, every great battle; but in addition, there grew up a spirit of discontent at the barren results attained, and a disposition not only sharply to criticise the commanding general, but also to distrust him and his capacity to guide and direct the army's efforts. Burnside could not count on the hearty co-operation of his chief officers, or the full confidence of the rank and file; desertions were frequent, and affairs in general presented a gloomy appearance. Burnside proposed again, towards the close of December, to cross the Rappahannock seven miles below Fredericksburg, but was prevented by the president, on the remonstrance of several general officers who had gone to see him on the subject. The commander of the army felt all this very keenly, and he resolved to try again the fortune of battle, which, thus far, had proved so injurious to his good name in the army. Accordingly, the army being now made commander of the Army of the Potomac.

A few days later, Gen. Burnside, at his own request, was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and Gen. Hooker was appointed by the president as his successor.*

generals lacked confidence in him, that he demanded of the president either to dismiss from the service Hooker and a number of others, or to accept his resig

* Burnside, it appears, was so sure that the leading

nation. Of course, so sweeping a measure could not

be approved; Burnside was relieved of his command,

and Hooker, apparently the head and front of all the offending, instead of being dismissed the service, was

Dai. XXIV.J

AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI.

245

CHAPTER XXIV.

1862.

AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHWEST: SHERMAN AT VICKSBURG: BATTLE OF MURFREESBOROUGH : FOSTER IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Schofield in Missouri Troops under his command-Guerrilla bands-Militia called out - Course pursued towards secessionists - Contests with guerrillas under Porter, Cobb, Poindexter, etc. - McNeil's victory at Kirkville-Poindexter routed - Independence lost-Foster's battle with Coffee - Rebels in Arkansas under Hindman-Schofield's plans - Porter's guerrillas-McNeil's doings-Blunt routs Marmaduke at Cane Hill, Arkansas - Hindman attacks Herron-Result.- Hindman defeated at Van Buren - Massacre of the whites by the Sioux- Punishment - Sherman's plan against Vicksburg - Fortifications-Attack upon Haines' Bluff - Movement of Smith, Blair and Morgan - Conflict the next day - Attack on Monday - Difficulties and trials - Sherman gives up, Grant not being able to co-operate - Rosecrans in command of the Army of the Cumberland The work before him - Advances to Nashville-Rebel movements-Rosecrans's plan of advance and attack- Success at Nolinsville - Movement, December 29th, near Murfreesborough Plan of the battle — Attack of rebels on the right wing-Rebel success, December 31st-Terrible struggle on January 2d, 1863, at Stone River-Rebels repulsed-Bragg retreats to Tullahoma-Estimate as to numbers, losses, etc. - Carter's cavalry expedition into Tennessee Foster in North Carolina-Expedition to destroy rebel railroad communication - Advance on Goldsborough-Success of Foster-Principal value of these expeditions.

1862.

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IN April, 1862, Missouri was in Missourians, who had joined the rebel charge of Gen J. M. Schofield, an officer army, were allowed to return to their of decided merit, who had served as homes, on taking the oath of allegiance, chief of staff to the lamented Lyon, and and the guerrilla bands were, for the had recently been promoted to time, virtually suppressed. In June, at the rank of brigadier-general Curtis's request, Missouri was erected of volunteers. All the militia of the into a separate military district, and state was assigned to his command, Schofield was placed in command. The and although raised and equipped un- guerrillas began again to be very der serious difficulties, it numbered, at troublesome, and Schofield, on the 22d this date, in the field, about 14,000 of June, issued an order holding men, mostly cavalry. A still larger" rebels and rebel sympathizers responvolunteer force of a similar character, sible in their property, and, if need be, was also attached to Schofield's com- in their persons, for damages thereafter mand, which, at this time, embraced committed by guerrillas or marauding about three-fourths of the state, com- parties;" but his order produced very prising the northern, central and east- little effect towards putting a stop to ern portions. the outrage and excess of these lawless freebooters.

After the battle of Pea Ridge, in Northwestern Arkansas, under Gen. Curtis, March 5th, large numbers of

Schofield's effective force consisted of about 17,000 men, volunteers and

militia, who were distributed through
the stato in six divisions, under com-
petent and energetic officers. The
southern frontier having become ex-
posed by Curtis's movement to Helena,
Arkansas, a fresh attempt was made
by the rebels to gain possession of the
state and eject the Union troops.
Numerous rebel emissaries, as Gen.
Schofield stated, "spread themselves
over the state, and while maintaining
outwardly the character of loyal citi-
zens, or evading our troops, secretly
enrolled, organized and officered a very
large number of men, estimated by
their friends at from 30,000 to 50,000.
Places of rendezvous were designated
where all were to assemble at an api. e., at the end of July, about 20,000
pointed signal, and by a sudden coup men had been organized, armed, and
de-main, seize the important points in called into active service.*
the state, surprise and capture our
small detachments guarding railroads,
etc., thus securing arms and ammuni-
tion, and co-operate with an invading
army from Arkansas."

excuse them from military duty, thus
virtually setting a premium on dis
loyalty, it was determined to admit
only those of approved loyalty to bear
arms; while, as there were many men
of wealth among "the friends of the
South," it was resolved, something
after the manner of Gen. Butler in New
Orleans (see p. 185), that the latter
should be made to contribute hand-
somely from their means. A tax of
$500,000 was assessed upon the rebels !
of St. Louis County, "to be used in
arming, clothing and subsisting the
enrolled militia when in active service,"
etc. In one week after the
issuing the order of enrolment,

1862.

A severe and sanguinary contest now took place between the guerillas and the loyal troops, extending over a period of two months. The principal theatre of operations was the north-eastern division, above the Missouri and bordering on the Mississippi, under the command of Col. McNeil. The guerrilla bands in this region, under Porter, Poindexter, Cobb, and others, amounted to more than 5,000 men, in parties or squads,

* Missouri, we are sorry to say, was greatly distress.

As reinforcements in sufficient numbers for the protection of the state could not be obtained from outside of Missouri, Schofield called upon the governor for authority to organize and use all the militia of the state. The gov ernor consented, and the measure was carried into effect. As a consequence of the enrolment, the more desperate of the rebels joined the guerrilla bands, others hid themselves, while loyal citi. zens, especially in those districts which had been harassed by the enemy, promptly obeyed the call. As it was not safe to place arms in the hands of will not, settle your factional quarrels among your

the disaffected, and as it seemed unjust and unfair to others of the citizens to

ed by political dissensions and discords. The subject in June, 1862, in the state convention, and was warmly discussed, but led to no practical or beneficial result. At the state election in November, the same topic was

of emancipation and the mode of effecting it, came up,

in controversy, and a majority of the Assembly, favor

able to emancipation, was elected. But divisions in

their ranks and bitter contests still continued. Mr. Lincoln, on one occasion, wrote pointedly as follows: It is painful to me that you, in Missouri, cannot, or

selves. I have been tormented with it beyond endurance, for months, by both sides. Neither side pays the least respect to my appeals to your reason.”

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