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FEELING THE ENEMY. FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.

SEDGWICK AT FREDERICKSBURG AND SALEM HEIGHTS.

BY HUNTINGTON IV. .TACKSON, BREVET LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, U. S. V.

F ROM our encampment on the Stafford Heights, the bright camp-fires ofthe enemy and the scenes of the terrible encounters under Burnside weredaily presented to our sight from December, 1862, until the following April-During this period, with the exception of a futile movement on the right'known as the “ Mud March,’ the army remained quiet. The pickets stationedon either bank of the Rappahannock were within hailing distance of eachother, and dress and faces could be easily distinguished. By the comity thatprevailed, there Avas no filing from either side. One could ride or walk downto the banks of the river with perfect security. Sometimes “Johnny Reb,” aShe was called, would rig up a little raft, and, loading it with tobacco, start itwith sails and rudder set for the other shore. When the precious freight wasunloaded, the craft, generously burdened with coffee and salt, would be headedby “Yank” in an opposite direction, where it would bo received with londexpressions of thanks. In this and other ways the asperities of the war weremollified. As time rolled on and the weather improved, arrangements weremade for an advance. The men were well clothed, rested, and eager to mo\ r eagain to test the fortunes of war.

Of the several plans of attack, Hooker determined to march around theenemy’s left flank to Chancellorsville, leaving a portion of the army at Fred-ericksburg to conceal the real movement. The army struck camp on the27th of April, and on the doth Hooker established his headquarters at Chan-cellorsville. The same evening, in general orders, ho said, “It is Avithheartfelt satisfaction the commanding general announces to the army thatthe operations of the last three days havo determined that our enemy musteither ingloriously fly, or come out from behind his defenses and give usbattle on our OAvn ground, where certain destruction awaits him.” Hooke 1

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