Fredericksburg, Virginia 1608-1908/7
CHAPTER VII.
The Great Battle — The Town Sacked by Soldiers — A wonderful display of humanity — The Federals recross the river — A great Revival of Religion — The Battle of Chancellorsville — The Wilderness campaign — Citizens arrested — A statement by the Council — The citizens and Federal soldiers release, &c.
To those who had a proper idea of the sacrifices made, the sufferings endured and the privations experienced by the inhabitants of Fredericksburg, up to this period, whether that idea was formed from observation, from reading the narratives or from their rehearsals by those who experienced them, it might appear that their cup of sorrow was full even to overflowing, and from further troubles and trials they might be exempted. But not so. Probably the worst was yet to come; but they firmly believed that the same patriotic devotion to the cause they had espoused, and the same fidelity to principle which enabled them to "bear the spoiling of their goods" with composure in the past, would sustain them in any additional trials and sacrifices they might have to endure in the future. Patriotic, self sacrificing and confiding in the right, they were prepared for the worst, and the worst came.
On taking possession of Fredericksburg the Federal soldiers abandoned themselves to pillage and destruction. They entered the stores and dwellings, forcing their way where force was necessary, rifling them of all that they wanted of their contents and destroying those things that they could not remove. China and glassware were broken up and scattered promiscuously; silverware was carried away, books and family pictures were mutilated and destroyed; furniture was cut up or broken up and converted into fire-wood, beds, bedclothing and wearing apparel were destroyed or carried off, and the residences were left despoiled of their contents.
In the three days the invaders occupied the town they made the destruction complete. But it is a gratification, even to those who suffered by this occupation, to know that the commanders were not to blame for the sacking of the town. It was the work, so it is asserted, of stragglers and camp followers—the most detestable and destructive scabs of an army.
On Friday, the 12th of December, the Union army was drawn up in line of battle, prepared to advance. Not less than sixty thousand men were on the south bank of the river, with more than a hundred pieces of artillery. Near the mouth of Deep Run there were probably as many more ready for the final charge. The Confederate army was confronting them in a line extending from Fall Hill to Hamilton's Crossing, between six and seven miles in length.
At one o'clock the heavy batteries on each side opened, and for an hour kept up a brilliant duel of shell and round shot. On the morning of Saturday, the 13th of December, a dense fog hung over the river and the adjoining fields. Under its cover the Federal army advanced. By eight o'clock it was in position and the dreadful conflict began.
Line after line of battle advanced on the Confederate position, at the stone wall at the foot of Marye's Heights, to be repulsed with great slaughter. This was kept up without cessation, charge after charge, as rapidly as they could reform the men, from eight o'clock in the morning until four o'clock in the afternoon, when one desperate charge, with troops en masse, was made all along the line in front of the stone wall, accompanied by the most terrific fire of artillery. In this last and grandest effort, the men, marching to death and destruction through an open field, got within twenty five yards of the stone wall, notwithstanding the deadly aim of the Confederate infantry behind it and the destructive fire of the artillery on the heights above, so skillfully arranged by General Edward Porter Alexander.
It was a sublime spectacle, and the gallantry of both officers and men won the admiration of the commanders on both sides, Lieutenant-General Longstreet, on the Confederate side, declaring that such gallant conduct deserved success. But success was not to be theirs. The gallant charges of the Federals were met with that undaunted coolness and courage so characteristic of the Confederate soldier, and a disastrous Federal defeat was the result. The fighting was the most desperate that had been witnessed up to that time, and the Union loss was very great, being nearly fifty per cent, of the numbers engaged. The battle-field was covered with the dead, wounded and dying, and it is related by those behind the stone wall that all during the night the most piteous groans and cries, for water of the wounded could be heard, but no relief could be afforded, although the Confederates deeply sympathized with them.[1] Thus ended the battle of Fredericksburg, fought, it is claimed, against the judgment and advice of every corps commander in the army who refused to renew the attack next day, although it was the desire of Gen. Burnside to do so.
[1] It Is said that Just south of the Stevens house, about a hundred yards In front of the Confederate line, lay a wounded Union soldier on the night of the 18th. His supply of water gave out. Just before daylight he began to call for water. The cry was incessant. Both lines could hear him, but no one seemed willing to venture to his relief. As the day dawned he seemed to cry louder — water, water, water; but none came. Among those who heard him, and whose heart was touched with pity, was a Confederate youth, yet In his teens. He determined to answer the call or die In the attempt; and so informed Gen. Kershaw, his commander, who tried to dissuade him from It. But his purpose was fixed, and it is said that just as "the sun was gliding the blue arch above with his golden beams," this youth took canteens, filled with water, jumped oyer the stone wall, and, with form bending low, carried it to the sufferer. Just as the deed was accomplished a yell of approval went up from both Confederate and Union lines, such as was never heard before, and which was repeated time and again. The boy soldier did not have to bend his form in returning to his post. He went back a hero, and a good Samaritan, proclaimed such by both armies, and he has since been immortalised in verse. That youth was Richard Kirkland, of Co. E. 2nd S. C. Vol. He has a memorial stone in the Church of the Prince of Peace at Gettysburg, and the inscription:-- A hero of benevolence; at the risk of his life he gave his enemy drink at Fredericksburg. He was killed at Chlckamanga.
THE FEDERALS RECROSS THE RIVER.
On Monday night, December the 15th, General Burnside withdrew his army across the river and removed his pontoons. The citizens returned to their houses, to find them stripped of everything that was left in them. What could not be carried away was broken up and destroyed. Private residences, orphan asylums, church buildings and lodges of benevolent and charitable institutions, all fared alike. Not only were the residences of the refugees deprived of everything left in them, but the returning citizens were without money and food. They were in a destitute condition, and, between the two great armies, with no prospect of relief, unless it came from friends in the way of a contribution. It was at this critical period that the appeal, made but a few days before, brought to them relief in the way of money and supplies. The contributions in money amounted to $164,169.45, and the provisions were ample to relieve the present needs. Thus the wants of the destitute of the town were supplied and untold suffering prevented.
A GREAT REVIVAL OF RELIGION.
From the first of January to the second day of June, 1862, General Barksdale's brigade, that had guarded the banks of the river from the arrival of the Confederate army at this point to the great battle of the 13th of December, was quartered in town for picket and provost guard duty. About the first of April, 1863, one of the most remarkable and successful religious revivals took place here that was known to that generation. The dangers and hardships of war were to yield for a time for the comforts of religion. The services were commenced in the Presbyterian church by Rev. Wm. B. Owens, Dr. J. A. Hackett, Rev. E. McDaniel and Rev. W. T. West, chaplains in the brigade, aided by Rev. John L. Pettigrew, then a private soldier in Company A, Thirteenth Mississippi regiment, but afterwards appointed to a chaplaincy in a North Carolina regiment. Rev. Owens, a Methodist minister, had charge of the services, and for some reason the meetings were transferred from the Presbyterian church to the Southern Methodist church, then standing on the comer of Charles and George streets, where Mr. P. V. D. Conway's residence now stands.
The interest in the meetings deepened, their influence spread to the adjoining camps,[2] and the congregations became so large that they could not find standing room in the building.
[2] See Christ In the Camp, by Rev. J. Wm. Jones, D. D.
To accommodate these rapidly-increasing crowds, Rev. A. M. Randolph, then rector, tendered the use of St. George's church, which was gladly accepted, and the services were conducted there until the close of the meeting, in the latter part of May. Before the close, this revival attracted the attention of the leading ministers of nearly all denominations, many of whom came to the assistance of Mr. Owens and his co-workers. Among those who were at times present, preached and rendered valuable assistance, were Rev. J. C. Stiles, D. D., Rev. Wm. J. Hoge, D. D., Rev. James D. Coulling, Rev. James A. Duncan, D. D., Rev. J. Lansing Burrows, D. D., Rev. Alfred E. Dickinson, D. D., and Rev. W. H. Carroll. During the meeting more than five hundred soldiers, most of whom belonged to Barksdale's brigade, were converted and united with churches of the various Christian denominations.
Of this wonderful religious awakening, Rev. Dr. Wm. J. Hoge wrote to the Southern Presbyterian as follows: "We found our soldiers at Fredericksburg all alive with animation. A rich blessing had been poured upon the labors of Brother Owens, Methodist chaplain in Barksdale's brigade. The Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist church, Richmond, had just arrived, expecting to labor with him some days. As I was to stay but one night, Dr. Burrows insisted on my preaching. So we had a Presbyterian sermon, introduced by Baptist services, under the direction of a Methodist chaplain, in an Episcopal church! Was not that a beautiful solution of the vexed problem of Christian union?"
Rev. Wm. B. Owens, who worked so faithfully in the great meeting at Fredericksburg, endeared himself to all who had the pleasure of attending the services. On his return to his Mississippi home, at the close of the war, he at once entered upon his work as a travelling minister, and was drowned while attempting to cross a swollen stream on horseback, endeavoring to reach one of his preaching stations.
GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK TAKES THE TOWN.
Chancellorsville campaign.
In the Spring of 1863, as soon as the roads began to dry off, the armies were put in readiness to move, preparatory to another great battle. General Joseph Hooker, known as "Fighting Joe Hooker," had succeded General Ambrose E. Burnside in the command of the Army of the Potomac, which he claimed was the finest army on the planet. His desire was to reach Richmond, which his predecessors, General McDowell, General McClellan, General Pope and General Burnside, had failed to do. Accordingly, about the last of April, detaching General John Sedgwick, with twenty-two thousand men, to threaten General Lee's rear at Fredericksburg, he crossed his army at the several fords of the Rappahannock river above town and concentrated it at Chancellorsville. His plan seems to have been to turn General Lee's right flank with the forces under General Sedgwick, double back his left flank with the corps under General Howard, and then, with the forces of General Crouch and General Meade, make a bold and desperate dash against the center, crush it and capture the entire army of his adversary. This accomplished, Richmond would be an easy prey.
But while General Hooker was moving to execute his plans, General Lee had the Army of Northern Virginia in motion, and when General Hooker reached Chancellorsville he found to his great astonishment, the Confederate army in his front and prepared to dispute his advance. Skirmishers were thrown out by both armies and soon the engagement of May the 2nd and 3rd commenced. On the morning of the 2nd, General Stonewall Jackson commenced his famous flank movement that has been the study and wonder of military men of this and other countries, which resulted in a great disaster to the Federal army and a great calamity to the Southern cause. General Hooker was badly defeated and driven in haste from the field, but General Jackson lay mortally wounded. Of that attack and result we use in substance the language of General Lee in his official report of the Battle of Chancellorsville. [War of the Rebellion, Series 1. Vol. 25, Part 1, page 798.] After a long and fatiguing march, General Jackson's leading division, under General Rodes, reached old turnpike, about three miles in the rear of Chancellorsville, at four in the afternoon. As the different divisions arrived they were formed at right angles with the road — Rodes in front, Trible's division, under Brigadier-General R. E. Colston, in the second, and General A. P. Hill's in the third line.
At six o'clock the advance was ordered. The enemy were taken by surprise and fled after a brief resistance. General Rodes's men pushed forward with great vigor and enthusiasm, followed closely by the second and third lines. Position after position was carried, the guns captured, and every effort of the enemy to rally defeated by the impetuous rash of our troops. In the ardor of pursuit through the thick and tangled woods, the first and second lines at last became mingled and moved on together as one. The enemy made a stand at a line of breastworks across the road at the house of Melzi Chancellor, but the troops of Rodes and Colston dashed over the entrenchments together and the flight and pursuit were resumed and continued until our advance was arrested by the abatis in front of the line of works near the central position at Chancellorsville.
It was now dark, and General Jackson ordered the third line, under General Hill, to advance to the front and relieve the troops of Rodes and Colston, who were completely blended, and in such disorder, from their rapid advance through intricate woods and over broken ground, that it was necessary to reform them. As General Hill's men moved forward, General Jackson, with his staff and escort, returning from the extreme front, met his skirmishers advancing, and in the obscurity of the night were taken for the enemy and fired upon. Captain J. K. Boswell, chief engineer of the corps and several others were killed and a number wounded. General Jackson himself received a severe injury and was borne from the field. He was taken to the Chandler house, at Guiney's station, in Caroline county, where, notwithstanding everything possible was done for him that loving hearts could do or medical skill could suggest. Confederate pickets had accidentally shot him at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, which the general survived, albeit with the loss of an arm to amputation. However, he died of complications of pneumonia eight days later. Amid the sorrow and tears of the Southern people he was laid to rest in Lexington, Virginia.
General Jubal A. Early had been left at Fredericksburg to watch General Sedgwick, and had been instructed, in the event of the enemy withdrawing from his front and moving up the river, to join the main body of the army. This order was repeated on the 2nd, but by some mistake General Early was directed to move unconditionally. Leaving Hays's brigade and one regiment of Barksdale's at Fredericksburg, he moved with the rest of his command towards Chancellorsville. As soon as his withdrawal was perceived the enemy began to advance, and General Early returned to his original position.
The line to be defended by Barksdale's brigade extended from the Rappahannock, above Fredericksburg, to the rear of Howison's house, a distance of more than two miles.' The artillery was posted along the heights in rear of the town.
Before dawn on the morning of the 3rd General Barksdale reported to General Early that the enemy had occupied Fredericksburg in large force and had bridged the Rappahannock river. Hays's brigade was sent to his support, and placed on his extreme left, with the exception of one regiment, stationed on the right of his line behind the Howison house. Seven companies of the Twenty-first Mississippi regiment were posted by General Barksdale between the Marye house and the Plank road, the Eighteenth and the three other companies of the Twenty-first occupied the Telegraph road, behind the stone wall, at the foot of Marye's Hill, the two remaining regiments of the brigade being farther to the right on the hills near Howison's house. The enemy made a demonstration against the extreme right, which was easily repulsed by General Early. Soon afterward a column moved from Fredericksburg along the river bank as if to gain the heights on the extreme left, which commanded those immediately in rear of the town. This attempt was foiled by General Hays and the arrival of General Wilcox from Banks's Ford, who deployed a few skirmishers on the hill near Dr. Taylor's house and opened on the enemy with a section of artillery. Very soon the enemy advanced in large force against Marye's Heights and the hills to the right and left. Two assaults were gallantly repulsed by Barksdale's men and the artillery. After the second, a flag of truce, it was claimed, was sent from the town to obtain permission to provide for the wounded, which was granted.
At the end of the truce three heavy lines advanced and renewed the attack. They were bravely repulsed on the right and left, but the email force at the foot of Marye's Hill, overpowered by more than ten times their numbers, was captured* after a heroic resistance, and the Heights carried. Eight pieces of artillery were taken on Marye's and the adjacent heights. The remainder of Barksdale's brigade, together with that of General Hays, and the artillery on the right, retired down the Telegraph road. The success of the enemy enabled him to threaten Gen. Lee's communications by moving down the telegraph road, or gain his rear at Chancellorsville by the Plank road. He at first advanced on the Telegraph road, but was checked by General Early, who had halted the brigades of Barksdale and Hays with the artillery, about two miles from Marye's Hill, and reenforced them with three regiments of General John B. Gordon's brigade. The enemy then began to advance up the Plank road, his progress being gallantly disputed by the brigade of General Cadmus M. Wilcox, who had moved from Banks's Ford as rapidly as possible to the assistance of General Barksdale, but arrived too late to take part in the action. General Wilcox fell back slowly until he reached Salem church, on the Plank road, about four miles from Fredericksburg.
Information of the state of affairs in our rear having reached Chancellorsville, General McLaws, with his three brigades and one of General Anderson's, was ordered to reinforce General Wilcox. He arrived at Salem church early in the afternoon, where he found General Wilcox in line of battle, with a large force of the enemy—consisting, as was reported, of one army corps and part of another, under Major-General Sedgwick—in his front. The brigades of General Kershaw and General Wofford were placed on the right of General Wilcox and those of Semmes and Mahone on the left. The enemy's artillery played vigorously upon our position for some time, when his infantry advanced in three strong lines, the attack being directed mainly against General Wilcox, but partially involving the brigades on his left.
The assault was met with the utmost firmness, and after a fierce struggle the first line was repulsed with great slaughter. The second then came forward, but immediately broke under the close and deadly fire which it encountered, and the whole mass fled in confusion to the rear. They were pursued by the brigades of General Wilcox and General Semmes, in the direction of Banks's Ford, where the enemy crossed to the Stafford side of the river.
The next morning General Early advanced along the Telegraph road and recaptured Marye's Heights and the adjacent hills without difficulty. General Barksdale's brigade entered the town, to find the enemy gone, with the exception of some stragglers who had secreted themselves in cellars and elsewhere about town. These were captured and sent to the rear, and the brigade took up its former quarters in the town, where it remained until the first of June.
After some four weeks of rest and reorganization the army was again put in motion, the object of Gen. Lee being the invasion of Pennsylvania. After the removal of the army Fredericksburg was left practically without any armed troops, and soon relapsed into her usual quiet, so characteristic of the place. This condition of things existed until the return of the army from its invasion in the Fall, when the town was occasionally visited by scouting cavalry from the Confederate army, the main body of the troops camping west of Fredericksburg.
GEN. GRANT'S ARMY IN POSSESSION.
The Wilderness Campaign.
With the opening of the Spring of 1864, was inaugurated the most active and bloody campaign of the war in Virginia. This battle embraces those of Mine Run, the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, the Po, the Ny and those around Spotsylvania Courthouse, in which both armies, the Confederate, under General Robert E. Lee, and the Federal, under General Ulysses S. Grant, lost heavily. Many thousands of the wounded Federals were sent in ambulances and wagons to Fredericksburg, where hospitals were established, under the charge of United States surgeons. Every house in the town that was at all available was converted into a hospital. Residences, stores, churches and lodge rooms were all occupied by the wounded and the surgeons were kept busy day and night. As fast as the wounded could be moved they were sent north, and others were brought from the battle-fields. This was kept up from the time the battles commenced, on the 4th of May, until they closed, on the 20th of May, the first batch reaching town with their authorized attendants on the 9th of May.
On Sunday, the 8th, a small body of Federal troops, numbering about sixty, most of them slightly wounded, came into town. They were armed, and the citizens demanded their surrender as prisoners of war. This demand was acceded to and they were delivered over to the Confederate military authorities at the nearest post from which they were sent to Richmond. This action of the citizens was regarded by the Federal authorities as a violation of law, and the arrest of an equal number of citizens was ordered by the Federals, that they might be held as hostages until these Union soldiers were released and returned.
This order caused great consternation in town. No one could foretell the fate of those arrested and the worst for them was feared. Many of the male citizens sought hiding places, but quite a number made no effort to escape or elude the officers, as they did not consider they had done any wrong—certainly no intentional wrong—and they were willing to abide the consequences until an impartial investigation was made, when they believed they would be exonerated from any crime. In the execution of this order, sixty-two citizens were arrested and carried to Washington, ten of whom were there liberated and the remaining fifty-two were sent to Fort Delaware. Afterwards five other citizens were arrested and sent to the same prison.
The families of these citizens were almost frantic at being thus deprived of their protectors, while the town was overrun by Federal soldiers, many of them stragglers, without any one to restrain them, and others brought here from the Wilderness and other battle-fields, wounded and dying, their groans and shrieks filling the air. No one can imagine the distressing scenes enacted in town about this time who did not witness them, or form any conception of the terrible ordeal through which these helpless families passed save those who shared their privations and sufferings.
The town had been the scene of a bombardment unparalleled; two fearful battles had been fought here, with their accompanying destruction of property and consumption of food and family supplies; the town had been in possession of both armies at different times; therefore these families were destitute of food and the comforts of life, and now comes the order for the arrest and imprisonment of those whom God had given them; to protect and provide for them. Notwithstanding the intense excitment of the people of the town, and the sufferings and entreaties of theu bereaved ones, it was thought prudent to defer public action until farther developments, in the hope that the prisoners would be released and allowed to return to their homes.
Having impatiently awaited the release of the prisoners, and their hopes not being realized, on the 31st of May a meeting of the Common Council was called, and upon assembling the Mayor informed the body that the object of the meeting was to take some steps for the relief of those citizens who had been arrested and who were then suffering in prison at Fort Delaware. A paper was submitted by Mr. Wm. A. Little, which was unanimously adopted, looking to their release. As the paper contains the views of the citizens of Fredericksburg, with reference to the arrest of the Federal soldiers, and also the names of the citizens arrested, it is here copied in full, as follows:—
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., May 31st, 1864.
To the Honorable James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War of the Confederate States,
Richmond, Virginia.
At a meeting of the Mayor and Common Council of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held this 31st of May, 1864, a committee of two citizens, to wit: Montgomery Slaughter and John F. Scott, were appointed to repair to Richmond and present to you the following statement and application.
Statement
On Sunday, the 8th instant, a number of slightly-wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who entered the town, many of them with arms in their hands, and with the capacity and intention, we feared, of doing mischief in the way of pillage and injury to our people, who were unprotected by any military force, were arrested by order of our municipal authorities and forwarded to the nearest military post as prisoners of war, under the guard of citizens. These prisoners amounted to about sixty men, of whom but few are said to have been sljghtfy wounded. In retaliation of this act, the provost marshal-under orders from the Secretary of War at Washington, arrested on the 20th instant some sixty of our citizens and forwarded them to Washington, to be held as hostages for said prisoners. Ten of the citizens were afterwards released in Washington, and have returned to their homes, leaving some fifty-one citizens still in confinement, who have been sent to the military prison at Fort Delaware.
In behalf of these unfortunate people, who are thus made to suffer so serfously, and for their suffering families who are thus left without their natural protectors, and many of them without their means of support, we appeal to you to take such steps as may be proper and in accordance with.military regulations to return the said prisoners to the Federal authorities and thus secure the release of our citizens. Surely the matter of a few prisoners cannot be allowed to interfere with the humane and generous work of restoring to these desolated homes, and these mourning women and children, the only source of comfort which the fate of war has left them in this war-ravaged and desolated town, the presence of those loved ones who are separated from them and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. The following is a list of the citizens arrested and carried to Washington as aforesaid:—
James H. Bradley, Thomas F. Knox, James McGuire, Councellor Cole, Michael Ames, John G. Hurkamp, John J. Chew, George H. Peyton, Wm. H. Thomas, John D. Elder, who were released at Washington.
F. B. Chewning, R. B. Rennolds, James B. Marye, George Aler, Charles Mander, Benjamin F. Currell, John L. Knight, Wm. C. Smith, Joseph W. Sener, E. W. Stephens, Charles Cash, Charles B. Waite, Charles G. Waite, Jr., George W. Wroten, Thomas Newton, Robert H. Alexander, Robert Smith, Lucien Love, George F. Sacrey, Henry M. Towles, Landon J. Huffman, Lewis Moore, John T. Evans, Walter Bradshaw, Samuel D. Curtis, Lewis Wrenn, Wm. White, John Solan, George W. Eve, James Mazeen, Abraham Cox, Wm. Brannan, James A. Turner, A. E. Samuel, Tandy Williams, Robert S. Parker, Christopher Reintz, Thomas F. Coleman, Patrick McDonnell, Charles Williams, Wm. Cox, Walter M. Mills, Thomas S. Thornton, John Joyce, John Miner, Richard Hudson, Wm. B. Webb, Alexander Armstrong, Wm. Wiltshire, Gabriel Johnston, George Mullin, William Burke.
The following citizens were arrested subsequently and are still held by the Federal authorities: Wm. Lange, Thomas Manuell, Joseph Hall, Wm. W. Jones, Wyatt Johnson.
The committee appointed by the Council proceeded to Richmond and laid the matter before the Secretary of War, and, on their return home, reported to the Council in writing. This report was filed, but was not entered upon the records of the Council, and, from indications as shown by subsequent entries in the Council proceedings, the committee appointed Mr. George H. C. Rowe to visit Washington, interview the Federal authorities and ascertain what could be done. Some of the members of the Council claimed that this action of the committee was without authority, as the appointment should have been made by the Council itself and not by the committee of the Council. This claim was, no doubt, well founded, and the action of the committee may have been a stretch of its authority, but their great anxiety to have these gentlemen released from prison and have them restored to their families and friends, was a sufficient explanation and apology, if such had been needed, for their action, independent of the Council. And furthermore, the propriety of, and authority for, this action of the committee may be explained, if not justified, by the fact that one of the committeemen was the Mayor and executive officer of the town and the other one was a leading member of the Common Council.
But be that as it may, Mr. Rowe proceeded to Washington, and on his return, on the 20th of June, made a report of his visit to the Council, stating that he was well received by the Federal authorities and was assured by the Secretary of War that the exchange could be effected. Mr. Rowe further stated that the proposition made by the Secretary of War was that the Federal prisoners should be released and placed in his care, and he be permitted to take them through their lines with the assurance that the citizen prisoners would be turned over to him. Mr. Rowe concluded his report as foIIows:—
"This proposition, it seems to me, obviates all difficulties of misconstruction, and I will undertake the delivery and receipt of the prisoners at Alexandria. It is proper to state that in 1862, I undertook and executed, a similar Commission of exchange of citizens captured, with success, and thorough satisfaction to our Government, and I am sure with its assent and cooperation as proposed, I will now reap a similar result."
Upon the reception of this report by the Council Mayor Slaughter and Mr. Rowe were appointed a commission to visit Richmond and secure the release of the Federal prisoners, and, when so released, the commission was authorized to do what might be necessary to effect the final exchange. On their arrival in Richmond they called on the Confederate authorities and stated the terms of agreement, and through their solicitation the following order was issued by Colonel Robert Ould, the Confederate commissioner of exchange of prisoners:—
"RICHMOND, VA., JUNE 23rd, 1864.
Brigadier General M. M. Gardner— Sir: I will thank you to deliver to M. Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, fifty-six Federal Soldiers (privates) who are to be exchanged for an equal number of our people, captured in Fredericksburg. I will thank you also to furnish M. Slaughter the necessary guard, &c, for their transportation to Fredericksburg. Please send two or three surgeons with the party.
Resp'y yr Obt. Sert.,
R. OULD, Agt."
The issuance of this order, with the previous assurance of the Federal authorities, encouraged and rejoiced the hearts of all interested parties. The mourning changed to rejoicing, and nothing now remained to complete the joy but the presence of the loved ones, who yet lingered in prison. An order was at once issued by the Common Council authorizing Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Rowe to procure all the necessary transportation and make proper arrangements for the exchange and effect the release of the imprisoned citizens as speedily as possible. From the final report, made on the subject, it appears that the whole matter of making the exchange of prisoners was turned over to Mr. Rowe. On his return from Washington he reported the transactions in full to the Council, on the 8th of July, in the following words:—
"I have the honor to report that I reached the military lines of the United States in safety with the fifty-six prisoners of war and four civil officers of the so-called State of West Virginia, committed to my charge by the corporation authorities, to be exchanged for the captive citizens of Fredericksburg. After some difficulty in obtaining personal access to the authorities at Washington, and several days' discussion there, I succeeded in closing a negotiation that the Federal prisoners delivered by me should be released from their paroles simultaneously with the delivery of fifty-three captive citizens of Fredericksburg, and seven Confederate prisoners of war, on board of a flag of trace steamer, with transportation to Split Rock, on the Potomac river.
"In execution of this obligation the Federal authorities delivered to me, on board the Steamer Weycomote, whence they were landed at Split Rock on yesterday, forty-nine citizens and two prisoners of war, according to the roll which accompanies this report, marked A. The four citizens and five prisoners of war still due, I have solid assurances will be forwarded by the same route at an early day."
At the conclusion of Mr. Rowe's report, on motion made by Mr. John James Young, the Council unanimously adopted the following resolution:
"That the thanks of this body be tendered to Mr. Rowe for the energetic and efficient manner in which he has effected the exchange of Federal prisoners for our captive citizens."
Having been set at liberty at Split Rock, on the banks of the Potomac river, the march to Fredericksburg was soon commenced. Some few of the party, and especially the sick, were fortunate enough to have carriages sent for them, some got seats in wagons, but a large majority of them made the journey on foot, and were delighted at the privilege of doing so. The distance is about twelve miles. It is unnecessary to attempt (for we could not if we did) to describe the scene upon the arrival of these unfortunate ones to their homes and families. It is sufficient to say they reached home in safety amidst the shouts of welcome and the rejoicing of the inhabitants of the town, the returned prisoners joining in the refrain, bearing testimony to the truth of Payne's declaration, "There's no place like home."
The small batch of wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who were arrested by the citizens on the 8th of May, was followed next day and the succeeding days, until there were in the different improvised hospitals in town about fifteen thousand sick and wounded soldiers. They were attended by a large body of surgeons and assistants of every kind, including nurses. The native population of the town at this time was small, and consisted entirely of women, children and elderly men. Even the colored population had become very much reduced.
The sudden increase of the population by the advent of this large number of sick and wounded soldiers, and their numerous attendants, caused great suffering and distress, and during this occupation by the wounded, the suffering, disease and sorrow endured by the people of Fredericksburg were greater than any that had previously visited them. But notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding the harsh and cruel treatment they received at the hands of General Pope and his subordinates, truth demands the record and admission that these scenes of horror were greatly mitigated by many acts of courtesy and considerate aid on the part of the Federal officers stationed here, which even now are kindly remembered and spoken of by many of our citizens who were participants in the scenes referred to above.