On the night of the 15th, the Federal Army, like strolling Arabs, “folded their tents and silently stole away.”  The 16th was given up entirely to the burial of the dead.  In the long line of pits, dug as protection for the enemy while preparing for a charge, these putrefying bodies were thrown headlong, pell mell, like the filling of blind ditches with timbers.  One Confederate would get between the legs of the dead enemy, take a foot in either hand, then two others would each grasp an arm, and drag at a run the remains of the dead enemy and heave it over in the pit.  In this way these pits or ditches were filled almost to a level of the surface, a little dirt thrown over them, there to remain until the great United States Government removed them to the beautiful park around Mayree’s Heights.  There to this day, and perhaps for all time, sleep the “blue and the gray,” while the flag so disastrously beaten on that day now floats in triumph over all.

It must be said to the credit of General Burnsides, that the responsibility for this disastrous battle should not rest upon his shoulders.  He felt his incapacity for handling so great a body of troops.  Again and again he wrote the authorities in Washington protesting against the command being given him.  “I am unable to handle so great an army.”  He wrote his chief, but in vain.  The fiat had gone forth, “Go and crush Lee,” and the result was to have been expected.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XIV

Incidents of the Battle—­Comparisons With Other Engagements.

The Battle of Fredericksburg was not the most desperate nor bloody of the war, nor was it so fruitful of events as others in its bearing on future results.  Really neither side gained nor lost any great advantage; nor was the battle any more to the Confederate side than a great victory barren of ulterior results; the loss to the Federals no more than the loss of a number of men and the lowering of the morale among the troops.  Within a day or two both armies occupied the same positions as before the battle.  Not wishing to attempt any invidious comparisons or reflections upon troops in wars of other periods, but for the information of those who are not conversant with the magnitude of the Civil War, as compared with the Revolution and Mexican War, I will here give a few statistics.  The reader then can draw his own conclusions as to the sanguinary effects and extent of some of our battles.  Of course the different kinds of weapons used in the late war—­their deadly effect, long range, better mode of firing—­will have to be considered in comparison to the old.