Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/294

 288 Southern Historical Society Fapers.

Gibbon, who had been left in Fahnouth, threw a bridge above Fred- ericksburg, crossed and filed in on Sedgwick's right. Both Gibbon and Howe made demonstrations against the enemy's flanks, but the nature of the ground precluded their success.

Sedgwick was now reduced to a general assault. Two storming columns were tbrmed, one from Howe's front and one from Newton's. These dispositions were not completed until ii A. M., after a delay, perhaps not justifiable, in view of the stringency of the orders. But their work was well done. Without firing a shot these columns ad- vanced, rushed upon and over the intrenchments, and carried them at the point of the bayonet, with a loss of over one thousand men. This cut the Confederate force on the heights in two, and gave Sedg- wick possession of the plank road, the direct way to Chancellors- ville.

If Sedgwick had captured the heights before daylight, and, leaving a strong rear-guard to occupy Early's attention, had advanced straight toward Chancellorsville, he might have reached Hooker by 9 or 10 A. M., the hour when his chief was worse pressed. And some of Sedgwick's subordinates think this could readily have been done. But while it is hard to-day to insist that this much might not have; been accomplished, the probabilities certainly are that a night attack in force would have resulted either in defeat, or in giving Early, who] was entirely familiar with the ground, a chance to deal some fatal blows at Sedgwick's moving column, which would be more or less disorganized by the night assault and march^ Be this as it may, Sedgwick's movements were certainly more speedy than those of] Sickles, and his work stands out handsomely when contrasted with] any done on our side in this campaign.

Another delay now occurred in giving Brooks the head of the column in the advance toward Chancellorsville. Though technically! proper, Brooks not having been engaged, the nature of Sedgwick's orders certainly did not warrant this delay. Newton followed Brooks. Howe brought up the rear.

By noon word reached Lee that Sedgwick had captured the Fred-j ericksburg heights. Wilcox, cut off from Early, alone separated Sedgwick from Lee's rear. McLaws and part of Anderson's menj were at once dispatched to sustain Wilcox. These troops arrived! at Salem church by 2 P. M. Brooks and Newton shortly came upon the field, and endeavored 10 capture tiie position they had taken up, but though fifteen hundred men were lost in the attempt, our troops^ finally recoiled.