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[234] move by the north bank of the Rappahannock to Falmouth, where by a ponton-bridge, the boats for which were to be forwarded from Washington, it would cross to Fredericksburg and seize the bluffs on the south bank. It had been also designed to march a force by the south side of the Rappahannock to anticipate the possession of the heights, but this was not done. Sumner's Grand Division led the van, and on the afternoon of the 17th it reached Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. The town was at this time occupied by a regiment of Virginia cavalry, four companies of Mississippi infantry, and one light battery. When the head of Sumner's column reached the river these guns opened upon it from the heights above Fredericksburg, but they were in a few minutes silenced by a Union battery. The Rappahannock was at this time fordable at several points near Fredericksburg, and Sumner was exceedingly anxious to cross and take possession of the town and the heights in its rear, but was prevented from doing so by instructions from General Burnside.1 The
1 Sumner: Report of Operations on the Rappahannock. In his evidence before the Congressional Committee, General Sumner says: ‘My orders were not to cross. But the temptation was strong to go over and take those guns the enemy had left. That same night I sent a note to General Burnside, asking if I should take Fredericksburg in the morning, should I be able to find a practicable ford, which, by the way, I knew when I wrote the note I could find. The general replied that he did not think it advisable to occupy Fredericksburg until his communications were established,’ etc.—Report, p. 657.
From the above it will be seen how erroneous is the statement of General Lee, who, in his official report, says: ‘The advance of General Sumner reached Falmouth on the afternoon of the 17th, and attempted to cross the Rappahan nock, but was driven back by Colonel Ball, with the Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry, four companies of Mississippi infantry, and Lewis's light battery.’—Report of Movements on the Rappahannock, p. 38. In point of fact, the only engagement was a brief artillery duel between the Confederate battery above mentioned and Petitt's battery of ten-pounder Parrotts. The writer stood beside this battery at the time, and can testify that Petitt in fifteen minutes, by his excellent shots, caused the Confederate gunners to leave their guns; and the pieces were only dragged off by the men crawling up and attaching prolonges to them. General Lee's statement is almost too absurd to require serious reply.
1866.
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