How the battle of Fredericksburg was fought and won all the world has
heard, and I shall not attempt to describe it. On December 11th, the
day Burnside commenced his attack, General Lee wrote to my mother:

"...The enemy, after bombarding the town of Fredericksburg, setting
fire to many houses and knocking down nearly all those along the river,
crossed over a large force about dark, and now occupies the town. We
hold the hills commanding it, and hope we shall be able to damage him
yet. His position and heavy guns command the town entirely."

On December 16th, in another letter to my mother, he tells of the
recrossing of the Federals:

"I had supposed they were just preparing for battle, and was saving
our men for the conflict. Their hosts crown the hill and plain beyond
the river, and their numbers to me are unknown. Still I felt the
confidence we could stand the shock, and was anxious for the blow that
is to fall on some point, and was prepared to meet it here. Yesterday
evening I had my suspicions that they might return during the night,
but could not believe they would relinquish their hopes after all their
boasting and preparation, and when I say that the latter is equal to
the former you will have some idea of the magnitude. This morning they
were all safe on the north side of the Rappahannock. They went as they
came--in the night. They suffered heavily as far as the battle went,
but it did not go far enough to satisfy me. Our loss was comparatively
slight, and I think will not exceed two thousand. The contest will
have now to be renewed, but on what field I cannot say."

I did not see my father at any time during the fighting. some days
after it was all over, I saw him, as calm and composed as if nothing