Completion of the Potomac Creek Bridge.—An interesting relic of
Virginia Aristocracy.—General Burnside determines to cross the
river.—March of the Sixth Corps.—White-Oak Church.
During the first few days the rations were drawn from Acquia Landing with
teams, but heavy rains coming on, the wheeling became terrible. Pioneers
were accordingly set to work building corduroy roads, and in a week’s
time constructed seven miles of them.
On the 28th the bridge over the Potomac Creek, ninety feet in length, was
completed, and the cars immediately commenced running, bringing up plenty
of supplies of every description. This structure, in addition to numerous
other works, had been destroyed during the preceding August, when General
Burnside abandoned the region. They had now all to be rebuilt.
The time passed here much in the same manner as in Maryland, the Regiment
being employed on picket duty, slashing timber, &c., &c. Occasionally
the officers rode over to the front, and viewed General Headquarters,
Fredericksburg, and the river scenery, which is very attractive. Our own
and the rebel pickets were scattered along the banks of the Rappahannock,
almost within speaking distance of each other, and frequently indulged
in conversation. “You have lost your best man,” shouted out a grey-back,
one afternoon; “Burnside is played out. We don’t care a —— for him.”
A Ninth New Hampshire boy replied by asking him where they had stolen
their blue overcoats. “We took them off the dead Yankees at Antietam.
Why didn’t you take ours?” “Because they walked off so fast,” was the
ready reply. Another wanted to know if we had any Bull Run boys with us.
“Have you any South Mountain or Antietam boys with you?” retorted one
of our pickets. These interviews, which generally partook of a profane
character, were afterwards forbidden. The enemy continued to augment
their forces daily, throwing up new earthworks every night to the right
or left of the city. Their operations were plainly visible from the
balloon and signal stations.
Nearly opposite the road to the camp of the Thirty-third was an
interesting relic of the old-time Aristocracy, concerning which the
present race of Virginians boast so much, and possess so little. Standing
remote and alone in the centre of a dense wood, was an antiquated house
of worship, reminding one of the old heathen temples hidden in the
recesses of some deep forest, whither the followers after unknown gods
were wont to repair for worship, or to consult the oracles. On every side
are venerable trees, overtowering its not unpretentious steeple. The
structure is built of brick (probably brought from England), in the form
of a cross, semi-gothic, with entrances on three sides, and was erected
in the year 1794. On entering, the first object which attracts the
attention, is the variously carved pulpit, about twenty-five feet from
the floor, with a winding stair-case leading to it. Beneath are seats for
the attendants, who, in accordance with the custom of the old English
Episcopacy, waited upon the rector. The floor is of stone, a large cross
of granite lying in the centre, where the broad aisles intersect. To the
left of this is a square enclosure for the vestrymen, whose names are
written on the north wall of the building. The reader, if acquainted with
Virginia pedigrees, will recognize in them some of the oldest, and most
honored names of the State—Thomas Fitzhugh, John Lee, Peter Hodgman, Moor
Doniphan, John Mercer, Henry Tyler, William Mountjoy, John Fitzhugh,
and John Peyton. On the south wall are four large tablets, containing
Scriptural quotations. Directly beneath is a broad flag-stone, on which
is engraved, with letters of gold: “In memory of the House of Moncure.”
This smacks of royalty. Parallel to it lies a tomb-stone, “Sacred to
the memory of William Robison, the fourth son of H. and E. Moncure, of
Windsor Forest; born the 27th of January, 1806, and died 13th of April,
1828, of a pulmonary disease brought on by exposure to the cold climate
of Philadelphia, where he had gone to prepare himself for the practice
of medicine. Possessed of a mind strong and vigorous, and of a firmness
of spirit a stranger to fear, he died manifesting that nobleness of
soul which characterized him while living, the brightest promise of his
parents, and the fondest hopes of their afflicted family.”
Led, doubtless, by the expectation of discovering buried valuables, some
one had removed the stone from its original position, and excavated
the earth beneath. Close by the entrance on the north side, are three
enclosed graves, where sleep those of another generation. The brown,
moss-covered tombstones appear in strong contrast to a plain pine board
at the head of a fresh made grave alongside, and bearing the inscription:
“Henry Basler, Co. H, 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers.”
One evening considerable alarm was occasioned by the appearance of
numerous camp fires in the rear, the supposition being that the enemy
had turned the right of our lines, and were pushing for Acquia Landing.
Inquiry, however, soon ascertained that they proceeded from General
Sickles’ Division, which was on the march from the vicinity of Fairfax to
join the Second Corps.
Nearly four weeks had now elapsed since the army arrived at the new
base of operations. The rainy season was approaching, and whatever was
done, must be done quickly. Owing to the difficulty our scouts and spies
experienced in crossing the river, but very little reliable information
could be obtained of the enemy’s forces. They were variously estimated at
from sixty to one hundred and twenty-five thousand men. A long extended
line of fortifications appeared on the first crest of hills, but whether
these constituted their only earthworks, or a new _Torres Vedras_ existed
beyond, was a matter of uncertainty.
It was, however, definitely ascertained that Jackson had arrived from the
Shenandoah Valley, and that Lee had posted his troops up and down the
river for a distance of twenty miles, to obstruct our crossing.
After consulting with his Division and Corps Commanders, General Burnside
decided upon throwing his entire army across at some given point, and
hurling it quickly upon the necessarily weak line, pierce, and break
it, before the rebel General could concentrate his forces. Skinner’s
Neck, about twelve miles below the city, was the point first chosen for
crossing. But he afterwards decided to cross at Fredericksburg, because,
as he has since informed us, he “felt satisfied that they did not expect
us to cross here, but down below. In the next place, I felt satisfied
that this was the place to fight the most decisive battle; because, if we
could divide their forces by piercing their lines at one or two points,
separating their left from their right, then a vigorous attack by the
whole army would succeed in breaking their army in pieces. The enemy had
cut a road along the rear of the line of heights, by means of which they
connected the two wings of their army, and avoided a long detour around,
through a bad country. I wanted to get possession of that road.”
As an initiatory step to active operations, he commenced a series of
feints down the river as far as Port Conway, twenty miles below. Among
other ruses, a long train of empty wagons was sent down the river road,
in plain view of the enemy, and returned by an obscure route. Wednesday
evening, December 3rd, the Left Grand Division received marching orders,
with instructions to proceed in a southerly course, as if intending to
strike and cross the river several miles below Fredericksburg.
Colonel Taylor had just moved his command to a new spot, higher up the
side of the woody crest on which it was encamped, and the men were busily
employed in erecting log-huts when the orders came. Instead, however, of
occasioning any dissatisfaction, they were received with joy, and the men
began, with alacrity, preparations for resuming the “on to Richmond.”
Strange as it may seem, soldiers dread the privations and dangers of an
active campaign less than the idleness and _ennui_ of camp; and, contrary
as it may be to the opinion generally entertained, there is much less
sickness on the march than when the troops are encamped. The excitement
consequent upon seeing new sights, and participating in new scenes,
dispels those camp ills, real or imaginary, so common among soldiers
during a period of inactivity.
By eleven o’clock the next morning, everything was got in readiness, and
the Regiment took its place in the advancing column, which extended for
miles, and was headed by Generals Franklin and Smith. Proceeding about
eight miles, through Stafford Village, on the cross-road intersecting the
Falmouth and Acquia Turnpike, the troops bivouacked for the night close
by Potomac Creek bridge.
On the following day a snow storm set in, which, together with the rain,
imparted a decidedly gloomy and sombre aspect to the surroundings. The
soldiers protected themselves as best they could with their frail tents,
stirring out but little. The march was resumed Saturday morning at eight
o’clock, and reaching White-Oak Church, an insignificant building, in
which Stephen A. Douglass delivered an address during his last political
tour, the Corps turned straight to the left, towards Belle Plain, and
proceeding about a mile, encamped in the fields and woods adjoining the
road. Here it remained until the following Thursday, about six miles
from Fredericksburg, and two in the rear of Burnside’s Headquarters.
The Thirty-third occupied a small grove, together with the 20th, 49th,
77th New York and 7th Maine. The First Corps soon after came up and took
position near the Sixth. Various inquiries concerning the roads and
distances to Port Conway were made of the inhabitants, who, with hardly
an exception, were rebels, in order to create the impression that we were
going to move down the river. This, together with other similar ruses,
succeeded admirably, for, as we afterwards learned, General Lee sent down
the whole of Jackson’s force to Port Royal, opposite Port Conway, to
resist our crossing.
Meanwhile preparations were actively going on in front. Additional
pontoons had been brought from Washington, and the Engineers’ Brigade
made ready their trains. The Second, Third, Fifth and Ninth Corps,
composing the right and centre Grand Divisions, were placed under
marching orders, though not moving from their camps.