SEDGWICK AT FREDERICKSBURG AND SALEM HEIGHTS.

231

Je held, but the enemy, in superior numbers, pressed on, and the ground andthe church were left in their possession. The contest did not last long, but“early 1500 were killed and wounded. Bartlett’s brigade, numbering less than1“00, lost 580 officers and men. That night the soldiers slept 011 their arms.

It was understood throughout the Sixth Corps that as soon as it should“come engaged with the enemy Hooker would immediately attack in hisr ° n t, and prevent any reenforcements from being sent against Sedgwick.A h during that Sabbath day and the next the sound of Hooker’s guns were“ a gerly listened for. No sound would have been more welcome. But after“ o’clock Sunday morning axes and spades were used at Chancellorsvillethan the guns. The feeling became widely prevalent that the Sixth^oi’ps would be compelled to take care of itself. At first it was cautiouslyWhispered that Hooker had failed, and soon the worst was sui*mised, and itWas concluded that no help could be expected from him. His dash, prompt-Iless 5 and confidence as a division and corps commander were gone.

Lee that night withdrew his troops, flushed with their brilliant success,l0 m the front of Hooker, with the exception of Jackson’s corps, and marched“gainst Sedgwick. Still Hooker remained inactive; with a force greatly in|“0}ess of the enemy in his front, he made no effort to relieve Sedgwick from18 perilous position. Works were thrown up by the enemy along the Salem“ui'ch ridge, and they extended their right until on Monday morning Marye’stt< *ight« and Fredericksburg , won at so great a sacrifice, were again theirs.Sedgwick’s position, as finally established, was in the shape of a horseshoe,°th flanks resting on the river, the line covering Banks ’s Ford. His line ofattle was between five and six miles in length. Frequent attempts had beenffiade, during Sunday morning, to communicate with Banks ’s Ford and tofi'ect the laying of pontoon-bridges, but for some time roving bodies of cav-frustrated this. The late Colonel Henry W. Farrar, then on the staff of“hgwick, while carrying a message for this purpose, was captured and takenRichmond. The 4th of May dragged wearily, skirmishing continued all day,e weather was hot, Sedgwick’s position was most critical, and the keenest““xiety was felt. Lee was in our front with a force much larger than Sedg-^ick’ s then available command of about eighteen thousand men, and antack was momentarily expected, but fortunately Lee consumed the wholea y in establishing his lines. The greatest vigilance and activity were exer-“ ls ed by our men in throwing up rifle-pits. Hooker sent word to Sedgwick0 look well to the safety of his corps, and either to fall back upon Freder-t ksburg or recross at Banks ’s Ford; he also added that he could do nothingRelieve him.| Sedgwick accordingly intrusted Newton with the arrange-

instructions to Sedgwick were sent0 j ° U S“ General G. K. Warren, Hooker’s chief® n S* n eers, who had "been sent to Sedgwick tote ^ er what assistance he might, and who hadSa ys ri ' ed ^ 00 “ el ’ 011 Sunday evening. Warren

th4Y°‘ m aii General Sedgwick’s advance had causedhay o °f the troops at Banks’s Ford [about 1 n. M.,hj> General Benlinni had thrown a bridge across

and communicated with him. By this route and theUnited States Mine Ford, I returned to headquarters,near Chancellorsville, which I reached at 11 1 * m. 1 found,as the result of the battle at that point, that our line hadfallen back from the Chancellorsville house about a mile.After reporting to the general, and getting his ideas, Itelegraphed the following to General Sedgwick at mid-night :

“ ‘ I find everything snug here. We contracted tho line alittle, and repulsed the last assault with ease. General