Once more General Hooker formed a new line of battle, which placed General Reynolds on the extreme right, with his right flank resting on the Rappahannock. General Slocum’s corps held the centre, and that of General Sickles the left, with its left resting on the stream called Scott’s creek.
Couch and Meade were left to look after the front towards Fredericksburg, while the remnant of the Eleventh was to be used, if it could be reorganized, wherever it could be most effective. On the previous night, during the confusion of the stampede, General Berry, of Sickles’ corps, had moved up the plank road and taken a position just at the edge of the woods, where he met the enemy as they were advancing to complete the discomfiture of the right wing, and had hurled them back most effectually. He was then ordered to retain the ground he had thus defended, which he did most gallantly, and lost his life at the post of duty.
Precisely at sunrise the rebels advanced with characteristic promptness and courage, upon the two divisions commanded by General Sickles. At the same moment, another body pushed down the road towards Berry’s division, and fell upon it with great violence. Never, on any battle field, have men of any nation fought with more determined bravery than did the rebel force on this occasion. It was evident that this battle must decide the contest of the campaign between the National and the rebel troops. The opposing force of Union men was very small; but they fought with most determined bravery. Although they were assailed by a force of twenty thousand men, against whom they could oppose only the remains of two brigades under Williams and Whipple, numbering not over five thousand in all, there was no faltering.
On the occasion of this Sunday morning attack the colors of the corps were still upon the field, as also the corps commander. Their brigade colors were also there, and he is but a poor soldier who deserts his flag when it is in danger, and there was danger now.
But it was impossible that they could hold their ground against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy; and after hardly an hour’s gallant fighting, they were forced to fall back to the shelter of a stone wall, some distance in the rear. Here they made another bold stand, and soon mowed down from the enemy’s ranks tenfold the number which they had lost from their own.
Regiment after regiment were completely swept away by their musketry and the grape and canister of their artillery, and yet fresh regiments were as often pushed forward to take their places. At last, gaining possession of the woods on the right of the stone wall, the foe got an enfilading fire on the heroic patriots, who were compelled to abandon their position. But if the enemy had driven them back, it had cost him dearly. That little field was strewn all over with the mangled corpses of the slain rebels, telling the silent story of the desperation of the struggle.
For more than an hour these men had held the rebels in check; and had thus given General Hooker an opportunity to perfect his main line of battle.
The battle had by this time become general, and raged fiercely in all directions.
In the mean time the Sixth corps, General Sedgwick, had crossed the Rappahannock, and were moving upon Fredericksburg. They carried the first line of the rebel intrenchments, and thus obtained a position about six miles from General Hooker.
On the following morning, Monday the 4th, the rebels appeared in strong force upon General Sedgwick’s front, and upon the hills to the left. About four in the afternoon they moved up to attack; and although the Union artillery opened upon them from every point, their slow and steady advance could not be checked; and General Sedgwick, after a hot and fierce engagement of five hours, was compelled to fall slowly back to Banks’ Ford, and that same night he recrossed the Rappahannock.