brigade lines for the advance, and Hancock was to follow with, his division in the same order. The distance between the brigade lines was to be about 200 yards.
Toward 10 o’clock the fog began to lift; French reported that he was ready, I signaled to Sumner, and about 11 o’clock the movement was ordered to begin. French threw out a strong body of skirmishers, and his brigades filed out of town as rapidly as possible by two parallel streets, the one on the right, which was Hanover street, running into the Telegraph road, and both leading direct to Marye’s Hill, the stronghold of the enemy. On the outskirts of the town the troops encountered a ditch, or canal, so deep as to be almost impassable except at the street bridges, and, one of the latter being partly torn up, the troops had to cross single file on the stringers. Once across the canal, the attacking forces deployed under the bank bordering the plain over which they were to charge. This plain was obstructed here and there by houses and fences, notably at a fork of the Telegraph road, in the narrow angles of which was a cluster of houses and gardens; and also on the parallel road just south of it, where stood a large square brick house. This cluster of houses and the brick house were the rallying-points for parts of our disordered lines of attack. The fork in the road and the brick house were less than 150 yards from the stone-wall, which covered also as much more of the plain to the left of the brick house. A little in advance of the brick house a slight rise in the ground afforded protection to men lying down against the musketry behind the stone-wall, but not against the converging fire of the artillery on the heights. My headquarters were in the field on the edge of the town, overlooking the plain.
A few minutes after noon French’s division charged in the order of Kimball’s, Andrews’s, and Palmer’s brigades, a part of Kimball’s men getting into the cluster of houses in the fork of the road. Hancock followed them in the order of Zook’s, Meagher’s, and Caldwell’s brigades, the two former getting nearer to the stone-wall than any who had
HOT WORK FOR HAZARD’S BATTERY.
Hooker was the ranking general, and as I understood that he was to take command of the whole fighting line, the putting in of his fresh men beside mine might make a success. His very coming was to me, therefore, like the breaking out of the sun in a storm. I rode back to meet him, told him what had been done, and said, “I can’t carry that hill by a front assault; the only chance we have is to try to get in on the right.” Hooker replied, “ I will talk with Hancock.” He talked with Hancock,
THE GROUND BETWEEN FREDERICKSBURG AND MARYE’S HEIGHTS. From a war-time photograph.
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THE NINTH CORPS CROSSING BY THE PONTOON-BRIDGE TO THE STEAMBOAT LANDING AT THE LOWER END OF THE TOWN.
left, sent the brigades of Ferrero and Nagle to the fruitless charge.
About two o’clock General Hooker, who was in command of the Center Grand Division (Stone-man’s and Butterfield’s corps) came upon the field. At an earlier hour Whipple’s division of Stone-man’s corps had crossed the river and relieved Howard on the right, so that the latter might join in the attack in the center, and Griffin’s division of Butterfield’s corps had come over to the support of Sturgis. Humphreys and Sykes, of the latter corps, came to my support. Toward 3 o’clock I received the following despatch:
“ Headquarters, Right Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, Dec. 13th, 1862.-2 : 40 p. w. General Couch : Hooker has been ordered to put in everything. You must hold on until he comes in. By command of Brevet Major-General Sumnf.r, W. G. Jones, Lieut., Aide-de-camp, etc.”
infantry fire, and those who were able would run to the houses and fight as best they could ; and then the next brigade coming up in succession would do its duty and melt like snow coming down on warm ground.
I was in the steeple hardly ten seconds, for I saw at a glance how they were being out down, and was convinced that we could not be successful in front, and that our only chance lay by the right. I immediately ordered Howard to work in on the right with the brigades of Owen and Hall, and attack the enemy behind the stone wall in flank, which was done. Before he could begin this movement both Hancock and French had notified me that they must have support or they would not be responsible for the maintenance of their position. Sturgis, of Willcox’s corps, who had been supporting my
gone before, except a few of Kimball’s men, and nearer than any brigade which followed them.
Without a clear idea of the state of affairs at the front, since the smoke and light fog veiled everything, I sent word to French and Hancock to carry the enemy’s works by storm. Then I climbed the steeple of the court-house, and from above the haze and smoke got a clear view of the field. Howard, who was with me, says I exclaimed, “Oh, great God! see how our men, our poor fellows, are falling ! ” I remember that the whole plain was covered with men, prostrate and dropping, the live men running here and there, and in front closing upon each other, and the wounded coming back. The commands seemed to be mixed up. I had never before seen fighting like that, nothing approaching it in terrible uproar and destruction. There was no cheering on the part of the men, but a stubborn determination to obey orders and do their duty. I don’t think there was much feeling of success. As they charged, the artillery fire would break their formation and they would get mixed; then they would close up, go forward, receive the withering
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