Dec. 14.

But on December 14, as on the morrow of Sharpsburg, the Confederates were doomed to disappointment.  “Darkness still prevailed,” writes Stuart’s chief of the staff, “when we mounted our horses and again hastened to Prospect Hill, the summit of which we reached just in time to see the sun rising, and unveiling, as it dispersed the haze, the long lines of the Federal army, which once more stood in full line of battle between our own position and the river.  I could not withhold my admiration as I looked down upon the well-disciplined ranks of our antagonists, astonished that these troops now offering so bold a front should be the same whom not many hours since I had seen in complete flight and disorder.  The skirmishers of the two armies were not much more than a hundred yards apart, concealed from each other’s view by the high grass in which they were lying, and above which, from time to time, rose a small cloud of blue smoke, telling that a shot had been fired.  As the boom of artillery began to sound from different parts of the line, and the attack might be expected every minute, each hastened to his post.”

But though the skirmishing at times grew hotter, and the fire of the artillery more rapid, long intervals of silence succeeded, until it at length became apparent to the Confederates that the enemy, though well prepared to resist attack, was determined not to fight outside his breastworks.  Burnside, indeed, giving way to the remonstrances of his subordinates, had abandoned all idea of further aggressive action, and unless Lee should move forward, had determined to recross the Potomac.

Dec. 15.

The next morning saw the armies in the same positions, and the Federal wounded, many of whom had been struck down nearly forty-eight hours before, still lying untended between the hostile lines.  It was not till now that Burnside admitted his defeat by sending a flag of truce with a request that he might be allowed to bury his dead.*

(* “When the flag of truce,” says Major Hotchkiss, “was received by General Jackson, he asked me for paper and pencil, and began a letter to be sent in reply; but after writing a few lines he handed the paper back, and sent a personal message by Captain Smith.”

Captain Smith writes:  The general said to me, before I went out to meet Colonel Sumner, representing the Federals:  “If you are asked who is in command of your right, do not tell them I am, and be guarded in your remarks.”  It so happened that Colonel Sumner was the brother-in-law of Colonel Long, an officer on General Lee’s staff.  While we were together, another Federal officer named Junkin rode up.  He was the brother or cousin of Jackson’s first wife, and I had known him before the war.  After some conversation, Junkin asked me to give his regards to General Jackson, and to deliver a message from the Reverend Dr. Junkin, the father of his first wife.  I replied, “I will do so with pleasure when I meet General Jackson.”  Junkin smiled and said:  “It is not worth while for you to try to deceive us.  We know that General Jackson is in front of us."))