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��IN BATTLE AND IN PRISON.
��the morning sun rises above the hori- zon. The fog still clings, however, to the rising ground on which Franklin fought at the first battle of Fredericks- burg, and we move with due caution, skirmishers well out, not knowing what sort of a reception Stonewall Jackson, whose corps is known to occupy the wooded heights beyond, may have in store for us. But no serious opposition is offered after the affair of the pickets, and gradually we occupy most of the ground previously held by the centre of Franklin's grand division. The fog lifts at last, and the sight revealed is a picturesque one. Before us, a level plain, extending on the, right to the sub- urbs of Fredericksburg, and on the left, cut with ravines and hillocks some- what, for a long distance. Back of us, the river ; fronting, on either hand, the plain ending in a range of wooded hills, semicircular in shape, and dotted with fortifications. The enemy's picket line is well out upon the plain but touching the river above us near the city. Ex- tending our left it soon came in con- tact with Reynolds' corps, which had effected a crossing a mile or two lower down, after a sharp artillery fight in which the enemy showed superior met- al, but was obliged to retire after the infantry got over. Midway from the river to the range of hills, and parallel with the former, is a deep ravine where partial shelter from the concentric fire from the artillery posted on Marye's Heights on the right and on the hills in front, was afforded Franklin's troops in the previous battle. A few artillery shots are fired, soon after establishing our lines, and then all becomes quiet. What does this inaction portend ? Evi- dently, Lee is acting on the defensive, and waiting for the development of Hooker's strategy. He does not have long to wait. Before us is the whole rebel army. Will it swoop down upon us before Hooker can develop his left and crush us? This is the conundrum with which we wrestle, as the hours wear away, varying it with a conjecture as to whether we shall be ordered to assault the enemy, in his chosen position, against which Burnside had thrown the
��flower of his army only to be hurled back discomfited. Another artillery duel between Reynolds and Jackson later in the day closes the fighting, and a night of repose follows. The suc- ceeding day proved to be one of quiet, also, but there was a constant move- ment of troops in our rear on the heights of Falmouth, the line of march being directly up river.
" You see them on their winning way, About their ranks the sunbeams play."
That night our regiment went on pick- et. Never shall I forget it. Strict orders had been received, prohibiting fires, or conversation above a whisper, and requir- ing the most vigilant watchfulness to pre- vent surprise, as the enemy in heavy force was directly in our front. Our eyes were kept constantly on the rebel sen- tinels moving ghost-like upon their beats: A dense fog settled down, cold and damp. The hours seemed leaden. The suspense became intense, unbeara- ble. Suddenly a tremor sweeps along the line. Our boys are doubly alert. What does it mean ? A message comes down the front line — "The enemy are advancing. Hold your ground until the reserves are formed, then rally up- on them ! " With muskets firmly grasp- ed the Union pickets await the onset. A night attack is always dreaded by soldiers, and nothing is more trying to the nerves'of veterans than the expecta- tion of a conflict with an unseen foe. But our boys do not flinch ; they feel the responsibility imposed upon them and resolve to do their duty. Minutes go by, and still no advance, although the weird line of sentinels has been suc- ceeded by a line of battle. Momenta- rily we expect to see a sheet of flame burst from that compact mass, the com- ponents of which are indistinguishable in the fog and darkness, although hardly six rods distant. But it comes not. The mass recedes and fades out, leav- ing the sentinels pacing their posts, and we now know that the movement was only a reconnoisance. Morning dawns at length, and we are relieved without firing a shot. As we gain the shelter of the ravine near the bank of the river, we notice that Reynolds has recrossed
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