ng
these heights, its wings touching the river above and below the town.
Two rows of batteries, planted on the heights, swept the plain in front
and flank. A sunken road, sheltered by a stone wall, ran along the base
of the declivity. Burnside's army of 125,000 men occupied a range of
hills on the north side of the river.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General Ambrose E. Burnside.

Lee's position was very strong; but the country was impatient for
action, and Burnside too readily and without any definite plan gave the
order to attack. December 11th and 12th were spent in crossing the river
on pontoon bridges. The ominous 13th came. The first charge was made by
5,000 of Franklin's men against the Confederate right. The attacking
column broke through the lines and reached the heights; but it was not
supported, and Confederate reserves drove it back.

About noon an attack was made by Hancock's and French's corps against
the Confederate left. They advanced over the plain in two lines, one
behind the other. Suddenly the batteries in front, to left, to right,
poured upon them a murderous fire. Great gaps were mowed in their ranks.
Union batteries, replying from across the river, added horror to the
din, but helped little. Still the lines swept on. They grew thinner and
thinner, halted, broke, and fled.

Again they advanced, this time almost up to the stone wall. Behind it,
hidden from sight, lay gray ranks four deep. Suddenly that silent wall
burst into flame, and the advancing lines crumbled away more rapidly
than before. Three times more the gallant fellows came on, bayonets
fixed, to useless slaughter. That deadly wall could not be passed.

[Illustration: Ditch full of dead soldiers, behind a four foot stone
wall.]
The Stone Wall at Fredericksburg.

[1863]

The two wings having failed, the Union centre, under Fighting Joe
Hooker, was ordered to try. He kept his batteries playing till sunset,
hoping to make a breach. Four thousand men were then ordered into the
jaws of death. Stripping off knapsacks and overcoats, and relying on the
bayonet alone, they charged on the double-quick and with a cheer. They
got within twenty yards of the stone wall. Again that sheet of flame! In
fifteen minutes it was all over, and they returned as rapidly as they
advanced, leaving nearly half their number dead and dying behind. During
the day Burnside had had 113,000 men either across the river or ready to
cross. Lee's force was