| Killed. | Woun'd. | Miss'g. | Total. | |
| Hooker's grand division | 327 | 2,469 | 748 | 3,548 |
| Franklin's grand division | 338 | 2,430 | 1,531 | 4,679 |
| Sumner's grand division | 480 | 4,159 | 855 | 5,494 |
| Engineers | 7 | 43 | 100 | 50 |
| Total | 1,152 | 9,101 | 3,234 | 13,771 |
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was overwhelmed and driven back, with heavy loss, to the railroad, which they had crossed in their advance, where they made a brief stand, but were again hurled back by an impetuous, determined Rebel charge, losing many prisoners.
Meade had already called for aid: and Gen. Gibbon had advanced on his right, and one of Birney's brigades on his left, whereby the enemy were checked and repulsed; Col. Atkinson, commanding Lawton's brigade, being here wounded and taken prisoner.
Meade's division fell back, having lost 1,760 men this day out some 6,000 engaged; having, of its three Brigadiers, Gen. C. F. Jackson killed, and Col. Wm.
t. Sinclair severely wounded.
Maj.-Gen. Gibbon, on his right, was also wounded and taken off the field; whereupon, his division fell back also.
Sickles's division of Hooker's men, which had followed Birney's to the front, took the place of Gibbon's; but Smith's corps--21,000 strong — was not sent in, and remained nearer to Fredericksburg, not determinedly engaged throughout the day. Yet, even Reynolds's and Stoneman's corps (the latter composed of Birney's and Sickles's divisions) showed so strong a front that Stonewall Jackson did not venture to assume the offensive till nightfall; when a very brief experience convinced him that he might better let well alone.1
The advance of Reynolds's left was for some time retarded by Stuart's cavalry, holding the extreme Rebel right, whose battery opened a most annoying cross-fire on our infantry as it advanced from the Rappahannock.
The 9th New York was first sent to take this battery, but failed — taking to their heels instead; when a brigade was brought up by Gen. Tyler, and charged with no better success.
A third charge was stopped by the deadly fire of the Rebel battery; when more troops were brought up on our side, and the enemy at length flanked and gradually crowded back to the Massaponax; but they still maintained a bold front, and kept up the contest till nightfall; having succeeded in diverting from Reynolds's main attack in front a force which he could ill afford to spare.
Our losses on this bloody day were not less than 15,000 men; though the number returned as actually killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, foots up but 13,771--as follows:
Not one of these died more lamented than Maj.-Gen. George D. Bayard, commanding our cavalry on the left, who was struck by a shell and mortally wounded; dying that night.
But 28 years old, and on the
1 Jackson, with exemplary candor, says in his official report:
Repulsed on the right, left, and center, the enemy, soon after, reformed his lines, and gave some indications of a purpose to renew the attack. I waited some time to receive it; but, he making no forward movement, I determined, if prudent, to do so myself. The artillery of the enemy was so judiciously posted as to make an advance of our troops across the plain very hazardous; yet it was so promising of good results, if successfully executed, as to induce me to make preparations for the attempt. In order to guard against disaster, the infantry was to be preceded by artillery, and the movement postponed until late in the evening; so that, if compelled to retire, it would be under the cover of night. Owing to unexpected delay, the movement could not be got ready till late in the evening. The first gun had hardly moved forward from the wood a hundred yards, when the enemy's artillery reepened, and so completely swept our front as to satisfy me that the proposed movement should be abandoned.
Hartford. Published by O. D. Chase and Company. 1866.
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