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had seen them in the hour of the fight, issuing
orders as calmly as a holiday parade. Their
bravery
was
undoubted,
their
ability
unquestioned, and in every sense, they
possessed our fullest confidence, therefore we
were loath to part with them. So keenly did
we feel their loss that even our spirits have
not recovered their former elasticity. Time
will, I hope, however, attach us as firmly to
the new as to the old leaders. I believe this
will be the case, as in high military circles they
are considered as possessing genius in the
first order.
As to the probabilities of a battle at
Fredericksburg, various opinions obtain. Tis
an unquestionable fact that the rebels are
there in force and are strongly justifying their
position and unless a diversion in our favor be
made by an advance on Richmond, from
Suffolk or by way of the James River, so as to
draw away a portion of the enemy’s forces,
bloody work may be expected as we gain a