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Correspondence, 1862 Hd Qs., 3rd Va. Cav. Wagon Camp, Wednesday Dec. 17, 1862 Dear William, We have had stirring times. “Richmond has been conquered at Fredericksburg and occupied by the army from Suffolk and the Rebel army of the East is crushed.” (Herald) Many criticisms will be passed on our glorious Lee. His name will be lightly spoken of by many. But I assure you he has acquitted himself nobly. He told his generals Wednesday night to be ready. The enemy would attempt a crossing next morning. One hour before day two great signal guns were ¤red and presently the enemy were discovered stretching the bridges and at the same time their heavy batteries opened a tremendous ¤re. The regiment of sharpshooters [Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade] placed on the river bank by Lee pretty well destroyed the “Irish Brigade” in their attempt to cross the bridge and kept the Yankees back all day.1 That night he [Lee] withdrew his troops to his own line of battle and let the Yankees cross. Friday there was skirmishing in town nearly all day. That evening General Lee put all of his commanders on their guard telling them the enemy would attack him in the morning. Orders were sent us on picket up the river to hold ourselves in readiness to cooperate and if possible annoy the enemy’s right during the ¤ght. Hancock’s corps [division] advanced in beautiful order Saturday from the river bank across the ®ats to the bluffs where our lines were. A deathlike silence was followed by a tremendous roar of artillery and crash of fearful musketry. The earth shook and Hooker’s veterans quailed before the fearful storm of grape and musket shot which was fast melting their ranks away. A line ¤ve miles long of splendidly disciplined troops made charge after charge against the impregnable position of General Lee. It was all in vain. Shattered and broken, the old brigades which had so often fought for the Stars and Stripes were again forced to retreat in disgrace and disorder. I saw the enemy’s extreme right, an open space (intersected by small lot fences) about the size of the three houselots at Chellow, on yesterday. It had been commanded by the hills on top of which was artillery, at the bottom our infantry behind a strong stone wall. About 1000 dead Yankees were still lying on the ground. Our men lost only about ten or ¤fteen killed opposite this point. In forty yards of our line was a plank fence enclosing a lot of about 1/2 acre which contained at least two hundred dead Yankees. Just behind this fence and for ten yards from it they lay about as thick as men could be put without piling them. About one dozen dead bodies were in twenty yards of our men. I had a view of the Yankee army on the other side of the river but could not see very distinctly. They retired so suddenly yesterday morning that they left about 500 men this side in town. They were captured. General Lee was right in not attacking them in the ®ats on Sunday for their numerous and heavy batteries commanded the ®ats completely and he probably would have lost 20,000 men without killing and taking more than 25,000 or 30,000 Yankees. He has a splendid army and needs every man of them. It would be foolish to murder them merely to kill a few more Yankees without making his victory any more complete. He estimated the Yankee loss at 15,000 or 20,000. It is thought ours will not exceed 3,000. Hooker is said to be killed. The Yankees are gone, where I do not know. I have been quite sick from Wednesday till yesterday but kept with the regiment as I thought they might get into the ¤ght. I had the worst thirst I think I ever had (headache and disorder of the stomach). I am a great deal better now. Correspondence, 1862 / 75 I hope we will go into winter quarters soon. A young Daniel of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry got pretty tight some days ago. Fowler of my company says he’s the judge’s son. The latter was Adjutant of the 11th Infantry but may be turned out. Your Affectionate Brother, Robert T. Hubard, Jr. 76 / Year 2: 1862 ...

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