non-commissioned officer's warrant from no fault except his not being immune to the enemy's bullets. He carried a gun in the ranks until the final muster out of the regiment. No promotion could add lustre to the bravery and fidelity to duty of Sergeant Winslow. He deserved a substantial recognition for his valor, but lost it through disabilities incurred in performing a most honorable duty, that of carrying his country's flag in battle.

On October 16th, the regimental mail brought to me a commission as lieutenant-colonel, One Hundred and Fortysecond New York, which I immediately carried to General Slocum, and announced to him my intention of declining the appointment. I found him shaking hands with officers of the division, who had called to bid him good-bye on the occasion of his leaving to assume command of the Twelfth Corps. When I got the opportunity to state the object of my call he said, "No, you must not do that; I started the movement to secure you a regiment; and my friend, who took an interest in the matter at my request, failed to secure favorable action on your selection by the senatorial committee, and you must take what is offered. I have signed the order announcing my transfer from the division but will, before leaving, sign your pass to go to Washington to accept promotion. We will leave the Sixth Corps the same day, and I hope to have you and your regiment under my command."

The officers and men felt the keenest regret on the occasion of General Slocum's leaving them, though rejoicing in his advancement. He entered the war as colonel of the Twenty-seventh New York, and rose by steady steps to the command of an army, and on Sherman's march to the sea commanded the left wing of his consolidated armies. Few equalled, and no other surpassed, him in the successful performance of the duties of the various positions to which he was assigned.

We had no picket duty while encamped near Bakersville; light guards were mounted daily and drills were resumed. The army began moving on October 25th, and at Berlin crossed the Potomac into Virginia. The Sixteenth left its camp with the Sixth Corps at 6 o'clock A.M., October 31st, and encamped near the battle-field of Crampton's Pass, giving an opportunity to visit our wounded comrades in the hospital at Burkettsville, which many improved. On the 3rd of November, the regiment crossed the Potomac and marched up the Loudoun Valley. I give an extract from Lieutenant Walling's letter of November 6th:

"You would like to know our whereabouts. We are near White Plains on the Manassas Gap Railroad, fifteen miles west of Manassas Junction, having marched seven days since we left our Maryland camp. The weather has been fine and the roads could not be better. Last night was the coldest of the season, and ice covers the surface of still waters. No soldiers were frozen, but many good rails were used to keep us warm. Every time the army moves the desolation of Virginia is increased. The beautiful valley between the Blue Ridge and Bull Run Mountains looks now as though the wolf, should the war continue, will possess it for a home, without the fear of man. Farmers residing within twenty miles of the Potomac have sown fall wheat, but those west of this section have hardly turned a furrow or sown a kernel. Acres of arable land have grown up to weeds, meadows have not been mowed, and seldom do we see horses, cattle, sheep, pigs or poultry. Captain Parker, acting commissary, was directed to procure beef for General Smith's division of our corps. He found a pair of oxen the owner of which offered him $300 not to take them away, but he received a receipt for his oxen, which will be paid for by the government on proof of loyalty.

"The soldiers are feeling well, never more hopeful and buoyant than at present. We do not know where or when we will meet the enemy, but believe our generals do, and we know the

army was never in a more vigorous condition to give battle than now. Since entering on this campaign we have not seen a rebel, the cavalry having pursued them far in advance of our infantry column. It is 6 P.M. and the first snow of the winter is falling."

The regiment remained in this camp for two days, snow falling most of the time, and on the 9th marched to New Baltimore. On the 10th, General McClellan, relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and accompanied by General Burnside, his successor, rode through the camps of the several army corps, receiving the most enthusiastic proofs from the rank and file of their warm regard for and confidence in the ability of their organizer and first commander.

WHEN

CHAPTER XX

THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG

HEN General McClellan relinquished command of the Army of the Potomac, its several corps were located as follows:

The First, Second and Fifth Corps, Reserve Artillery, and general headquarters were at Warrenton; the Sixth Corps, at New Baltimore; the Ninth Corps, with Stoneman's and Whipple's division of the Third Corps, on the Rappahannock near Waterloo; the Eleventh Corps, at New Baltimore, Gainesville, and Thoroughfare Gap; Sickles's division of the Third Corps on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, from Manassas Junction to Warrenton Junction; Pleasonton's cavalry, south of the Rappahannock at Amissville and Jefferson, with pickets at Hazel River, facing Longstreet's corps; Bayard's cavalry, near Rappahannock Station, and the Twelfth Corps, at Harper's Ferry.

Of the condition of the Army of the Potomac, and the location of the Confederate army on the 9th of November, General McClellan makes this statement:

"I doubt whether, during the whole period that I had the honor to command the Army of the Potomac, it was in such excellent condition to fight a great battle. When I gave up the command to General Burnside, the best information in our possession indicated that Longstreet was immediately in our front near Culpeper; Jackson, with one, perhaps both, of the Hills, near Chester and Thornton's Gap, with the mass of their forces west of the Blue Ridge."

General McClellan had crossed into Virginia from his Maryland campaign under instructions of October 13th, from the President, requiring him to march near enough to the Blue Ridge to observe its passes, and to engage Lee in battle, should opportunity offer while pursuing him towards Richmond. General Burnside, on assuming command of the army, proposed to abandon the pursuit of Lee, and to move on the north side of the Rappahannock to Falmouth, and establish his base of supplies at Aquia Creek.

As General Halleck refused to approve of Burnside's plan to change his base, Burnside then proposed to cross the fords of the Upper Rappahannock and march down and seize the heights south of Fredericksburg. General Halleck returned to Washington and submitted the proposed plan to the President, to which he assented, without approving it. On receiving authority to adopt this last plan, Burnside proceeded to reorganize the army instead of advancing against the enemy. He formed three Grand Divisions; the Right, under the command of General Sumner, consisted of the Second Corps under General Couch, and the Ninth Corps under General Willcox; the Centre Grand Division, under General Hooker, consisted of the Third Corps under General Stoneman, and the Fifth Corps under General Butterfield; the Left Grand Division, under General Franklin, consisted of the First Corps under General Reynolds, and the Sixth Corps under General W. F. Smith.

On the 15th, Sumner's Grand Division marched, not across the Rappahannock to occupy the heights south of Fredericksburg, but on the north side of the Rappahannock to Falmouth. On the next day, Hooker's and Franklin's Grand Divisions followed Sumner, and, on the 20th, Burnside had his army where he had first proposed to move it, notwithstanding the fact that the general-in-chief had disapproved