76

THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

on Jackson. At the same time Iordered Hood, in case Jackson’sline should be broken, to wheelaround to his right and strikein on the attacking bodies, tell-ing him that Pickett, with hisdivision, would be ordered to joinin the flank movement. Theseorders were given to both divis-ion generals, and at the sametime they were advised that Iwould be attacked near my leftcenter, and that I must be atthat point to meet my part ofthe battle. They were also ad-vised that my position was sowell defended I could have noother need of their troops. I thenreturned to Lee’s Hill, reachingthere soon after sunrise.

Thus we stood at the eve ofthe great battle. Along the Stafford Heights 147 guns were turned upon us,and on the level plain below, in the town, and hidden on the opposite bankready to cross, were assembled nearly 100,000 men, eager to begin the com-bat. Secure on our hills, we grimly awaited the onslaught. The valley, themountain-tops, everything was enveloped in the thickest fog, and the prep-arations for the fight were made as if under cover of night. The mist broughtto us the sounds of the preparation for battle, but we were blind to the move-ments of the Federals. Suddenly, at 10 o’clock, as if the elements weretaking a hand in the drama about to be enacted, the warmth of the sunbrushed the mist away and revealed the mighty panorama in the valley below.

Franklin’s 40,000 men, reenforced by two divisions of Hooker’s granddivision, were in front of Jackson’s 30,000. The flags of the Federals flutteredgayly, the polished arms shone brightly in the sunlight, and the beautifuluniforms of the buoyant troops gave to the scene the air of a holiday occasionrather than the spectacle of a great army about to be thrown into thetumult of battle. From my place on Lee’s Hill I could see almost everysoldier Franklin had, and a splendid array it was. But off in the distancewas Jackson’s ragged infantry, and beyond was Stuart’s battered cavalry,with their soiled hats and yellow butternut suits, a striking contrast to thehandsomely equipped troops of the Federals.

About the city, here and there, a few soldiers could bo seen, but there wasno indication of the heavy masses that were concealed by the houses. Thoseof Franklin’s men who were in front of Jackson stretched well up toward Lee’sHill, and were almost within reach of our best guns, and at the other endthey stretched out to the east until they came well under the fire of Stuart’s

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FRONT OF THE MARYE MANSION. FROM AWAR-TIME PHOTOGRAPH.