The despatch was sent from Chancellorsville at ten o'clock in the evening, when the disaster to the Eleventh Corps was fully known. A few moments later General Warren, of the engineers, sent by Hooker, arrived and informed Sedgwick of all that had happened at Dowdall's. The moon was full, but a dense fog hung over Fredericksburg, and the troops under Sedgwick moved slowly towards the town. Day was breaking when the skirmishers drove the Confederate pickets through the town. The people were astonished to find the Union troops once more swarming through the streets. General Early had about nine thousand Confederate troops. Barksdale's and Hays's brigades held the heights. Wilcox's brigade arrived also from Banks's Ford. General Pendleton commanded the artillery. General Sedgwick placed Gibbon's division on the right, above the town, Newton's in front of Marye's Hill, Howe's division at the lower end of the town, and Brooks's division in reserve. It was half-past five when Shaler's brigade, in reconnoitring, found that the bridges across the canal between the town and Marye's Hill had been taken up, and that General Pendleton had his cannon aimed to hurl shells upon any party attempting to reconstruct them. The artillery on both sides opened fire. "Take planks and timbers from the nearest buildings "(") was Gibbon's order to the pioneers, who tore down some barns and sheds; but those who attempted to lay the timbers were swept away by the Confederate artillery. General Newton was an engineer, and believed that the bridge could be built and the heights carried. At his suggestion Sedgwick extended his lines right and left, which compelled Early to extend his, greatly reducing the number of men holding the grounds around Mr. Marye's house. While this was being done two columns of Union troops were forming in the streets of the town, concealed by the houses from the Confederates. They were to be storming parties to rush up the two roads and penetrate the Confederate line. The troops in line of battle were to move simultaneously with the columns. The theory of the attack was that either the lines or the columns would succeed in gaining the heights. Colonel Shaler commanded the right column of four regiments, Colonel Johns the left, consisting of two regiments. Gibbon's division and Eustis's brigade had the right of the line, Burnham's brigade the centre, to rush towards the sunken road ("Drum-beat of the Nation," battle of Fredericksburg) while Howe's division and Wheaton's brigade were to make believe they were going to sweep up Hazel Run. The columns were to go upon the run four soldiers abreast. It was ten minutes past eleven when the signal was given. The bridges had been rebuilt. The column under Colonel Johns was on the telegraph road. The men came down a hill to the canal. Instantly the Confederate cannon flamed, and the sunken road was white with the smoke of the Confederate muskets. The men in blue were upon the run. Some went down-Colonel Johns among them. For a moment the head of the column faitered. "On! on! on!"(") was the shout from those behind. Their blood was up. The fog had cleared away, and the May sun gleamed from their bayonets as they rushed up the hill past the Confederates in the sunken road, eager to seize their cannon at the top of the hill. On the turnpike two Confederate howitzers rain canister upon the advancing column, but the men in blue charge upon them. The men of Howe's division, who were to make only a feint, catch the enthusiasm and climb the steep hill-side, sweeping all before them. Up over the field where Sumner's troops were slaughtered in December rush the men of Burnham's brigade, charging upon the Confederates in the sunken road. It is the work of fifteen minutes. One thousand men have fallen, but the Stars and Stripes are waving in triumph on Marye's Hill, and the Confederates are fleeing, leaving four cannon behind them. Three miles out from Marye's stands Salem Church, a plain brick building, with a grove of oaks and a thicket eastward, where beneath the shade of the trees the people on Sunday tether their horses. Westward is an open field and a farm-house. Beneath the oaks, a short distance east of the church, was a log school-house. The ground descends rapidly towards Fredericksburg. General Lee had seen the strength of the position, and had constructed a line of intrenchments past the church, behind which the retreating Confederates halted. Here he learned of what had taken place at Fredericksburg. The battle of Chancellorsville was over; he had driven Hooker from his chosen position, and now sent a portion of his troops to aid in turning back Sedgwick, who, after having carried Marye's Heights, moved very slowly, waiting to place Brooks's division in front. It was between four and five o'clock when Brooks advanced. Sedgwick did not know that Mahone's brigade and McLaws's division of Anderson's corps had reached the church. He did not know that the Confederates were behind a line of intrenchments. Bartlett's Union brigade was south of the road, Torbet's north of it, Russell's in rear. Newton's division was on the right of Brooks's. Brooks's troops advanced through the thickets to the school-house. Instantly a storm burst upon them from the windows of school-house and church, from the breast work, from muskets and A company of the Ninth Alabama is in the school-house; the cannon. remainder of the regiment is in the church, which is a fort for the time being. Bartlett's brigade charges upon the school-house, and the Alabamians throw down their guns in token of surrender. The Union line goes on up to the church. The Union bullets flatten against the walls. The windows are high, and the Confederates pour a deadly fire upon the men in blue, who are obliged to fall back. They have not sent the prisoners in the school-house to the rear, and the Alabamians again pick up their guns, and engage once more in battle. The other Confederates follow, but are swept back by the Union artillery. The battle was over. General Sedgwick prepared for the morrow, abandoning his connection with Fredericksburg, and opening communication with Hooker by Banks's Ford. When he advanced upon Marye's Heights, General Early, with six thousand Confederate troops, was at Hamilton's Crossing protecting the supplies for Lee's army accumulated at that point. He made his way west, and during the night once more took possession of Marye's Heights, to capture which had cost so many valuable lives. Had Sedgwick not been called back by Hooker when he advanced towards Hamilton's on Saturday night, it is quite probable that he would |