2
at the root of a tree. “Are you asleep,
General?” “No, sir, who could sleep with
a million of armed 1 ankees all around
him ?” he answered gruffly. He then
informed me that it was determined by
General Early to hold Mayre’s Hill at
all hazards; but that his Brigade and a
portion of the Washington Artillery had
to do it. That General Early was con
fident that the advance from Deep Run
towards Fredericksburg was a feint—that
the real attack would be at Hamilton
Station, and that Hays’ Brigade had been
ordered back to that place. Barksdale
then instructed me when the Twenty
first Regiment was forced to retire from
the City to occupy the trenches from
Mary Hill across the plank road towards
Taylor’s Hill. The Eighteenth Regiment
under Colonel Griffin was ordered to oc
cupy the road behind the stone wall at the
foot of Mayre’s Hill. The Seventeenth
and Thirteenth Regiments from the
Howison Hill to the Howison House, and
one of Hays’ Regiments still further to
the right. The Washington Artillery to
occupy thejvarious redoubts along the
Hill. I told him that if the real attack
was made at Mayre’s Hill, he did not
have men enough to hold it. He replied
with emphasis : “well sir, we must make
the fight whether we hold it or are whip
ped.” I saw he was displeased with Early’s
arrangement and I returned to the city
to await events. About 2 o’clock a small
rocket was seen by Lieutenant Denman,
of Company G, 21st Regiment, thrown
from the top of a building in the city, and
immediately three signal guns were
fired from the Lacy House, opposite the
City. Soon afterwards the picket of
Company F, discovered a party of pon
tooners approaching stealthily to the
point above the Lacy House, (where the
upper pontoon was laid on the night of
the 11th of December, 1862,) and com
menced laying down pontoons. Captain
Fitzgerald opened fire on them and drove
them off; but drew down upon his brave
Tallahatchians a shower of shell and
shrapnell from the Stafford Heights; at
the same time a line of the enemy’s in
fantry charged across Hazel Run upon
Company E, and Company G, Our
brave boys gallantly struggled against
the overwhelming odds, but were driven
back to the railroad. Finding further
resistance impossible, I ordered the pick
ets on the river, below the canal, to fall
back through the City as the enemy ad
vanced to Mayre’s Hill. I then crossed
the canal at the factory ; destroyed the
bridge at that point, and withdrew the
pickets from the river above, and retired
across the canal by the two bridges at
the foot of Taylor's Hill. A party was
left to destroy the two bridges, but the
enemy had crossed at Falmouth and fol
lowed us so close that the party was driven
off just as they had stripped off' the
plank without destroying the frame work.
I arrived at Mayre’s Hill before day-light
and found that portion of my Regiment
that retired through the City safe in the
trenches to the left of the Hill, having
sustained a small loss. Just then I re
ceived orders from General Barksdale to
report my regiment to him on Lee’s Hill.
I moved immediately, and when i report
ed to him he seemed much chagrined at
the mistake made in transmitting his
orders, and ordered me to move back
rapidly to the position assigned me as
the enemy was advancing. I moved
back double quick all the way. As I
crossed Mayre’s Hill, in rear of Mayre’s
House, I saw the enemy’s line advancing
to charge the Eighteenth Regiment
behind the stone wall. A heavy artillery
fire was directed at the ‘2lst Regiment,
but we gained our position with only a
few wounded, among whom was that
noble soldier and gentleman, Lieutenant
Martin A. Martin, of Sunflower county,
who was never able afterwards to rejoin
his Company. The Eighteenth Regiment,
and the Artillery, repulsed, with great
slaughter, that, and two other charges
made in rapid succession, with small loss
to our side. In the meautime Colonel
Walton, of New Orleans, had placed one
section of the Ist Company of Washing-
ton Artillery (two guns,) under Captain
Squiers, in the same redoubts occupied
by them on the ever-memorable 13th of
December, 1862. One gun of the 3rd
Company, Captain Miller, was placed in
position near the plank road, and two
guns belonging to the 4th Company,
under Lieutenaut Norcum, were placed
in position near the extreme left of the
twenty-first Regiment, between the plank
road and Taylor’s Hill. The 2d Com
pany, under Captain liichardson, was
posted near the railroad on our right;
Frazier Battery and Carlton Battery in
rear of Howison House on Lee’s Hill. —
One gun of Parker Battery was posted
on the point known as Willis’ Hill, under
the command of Lieutenant Brown
Between 7 and 8 o’clock, the fog lifted so
as to reveal the heavy masses of the ene
my, that had crossed at the various pon
toou bridges, laid down during the night.
His troops could be seen in every portion
of the City; and his lines stretching down
the turnpike for a mile below the Ber
nard House. The position of the enemy
seemed to justify the suspicions of Gen.
Early, that the real attack would be at
Hamilton Station, and that the attack at
Mayre’s Hill was only a feint and a feeler.
Soon, however, the enemy’s line could be
seen moving up toward the city. At the
same time a column was discovered mov
ing from the city up the river towards
Taylor’s Hill. I sent a courier to Gen.
Barksdale, then on Lee’s Hili, and he to
General Early, then at Hamilton Station,
informing him of these movements of the
enemy. To my mind it was now clear
that Mayre’s Hill was to be the point at
tacked by the whole force of the enemy.
From my observations of the topography
of the country around Fredericksburg, 1
had long before regarded Mayre’s Hill
as the weakest and most vulnerable posi
tion along the whole line occupied by
General Lee, on the 13th December, 1862,
for the simple reason, that it is not only
a salient, but is the only point on that
whole line, that a line of infantry can be
massed and masked within one thousand
yards of the hills. At that point a line
of infantry can be massed and masked
in the valley between the City and the
Hill, within 450 yards, and at the rail
road cut and embankment within 600
yards of the Hill. It was the part of
wisdom in Burnside to attack at that
point. It is true he failed, hut he would
have failed at any other point. General
Lee had a dozen other “slaughter pens”
along his line that would have proved
more disastrous than Mayre’s Hill. Be
sides, Mayre’s Hill, on the 3rd of May,
1863, was a weaker position to defend
tb m it was on the 13th of December, for
the reason, that the out-houses, plank
fe ices, orchards and other obstacles to a
eh age that existed at that time were all
removed or destroyed by the army, dur
ing the Winter, and nothing remained on
the open plain to break the lines of an
assaulting column. I could not doubt
that the same acumen that prompted
Burnside to attack that point, would lead
Sedgwick to renew it. I sent at the re
quest of Colonel Griffin, who realized his
perilous situation, three Companies from
the Twenty-first Regiment—Company F,
under the command of Captain Fitzger
ald, Company C, under command of
Captain G. W. Wall, and Company L,
under the command of Captain Vosberg,
to reinforce the Eighteenth. General
Barksduhe applied to General Pendleton,
who had control of a large train of artil
lery on the Telegraph Road on Lee’s Hill,
not a mile off and not in position, to send
a battery to Taylor’s Hill to command
the two bridges that spanned the canal.
Instead of sending a battery from his
train that lay idle during the whole en
gagement, he ordered a section of the
Washington Artillery from the redoubt
on the plank road, where it was needed.
Barksdale also applied to General Early
to reinforce Colonel Griffin, but received
none General Hays was sent to Taylor’s
Hill with three regiments of his Brigade.
These three regiments and the section
of Washington Artillery behaved nobly,
and drove back the column that advanced
against Taylor’s Hill, if indeed the move
ment of this column was not a feint to
draw off troops from Mayre’s Hill.
While these movements were going on
the Federal General sent a flag of truce
to Colonel Griffin for the humane (?)
purpose of removing his wounded, that
had fallen in the assaults made in the
morning. With that generous chivalry
characteristic of that battle-scarred vete
ran—not suspecting a “Yankee trick”—
this truce was granted, and the enemy,
with one eye on their wounded and the
other on our trenches, discovered that our
redoubts were nearly stripped of their
guns, and our infantry of the Eighteenth
Regiment stretched out to less than a sin
gle rank along the line, defended by
Cobb’s and Kershaw’s Brigades, and 32
guns, on the 13th of December, 1862.
(to be continued.)
Sheridan had a great distaste for any
thing like metaphysical discussions,
whereas Tom tried one day to discuss
with his father the doctrine of necessity.
‘Pray good father,” said he, “did you
ever do anything in a state of perfect in
difference —without motive, I mean, of
some kind or other?” Sheridan, who
saw what was coming, and by no means
relishing such subjects, even from Tom,
or anybody else, said, ‘‘Yes, certainly.”
“Indeed!” “Yes, indeed!” “What,
total indifference—total, entire, thorough
indifference?” “Yes, total, entire,
thorough indifference!” “My dear father
tell me what it is you can do with total,
through indifference?” “Why, listen to
you, Tom,” said Sheridan. This rebuff,
as tom told me, so disconcerted him that
he had never forgotten it, nor had he
ever again troubled his father with any
of his metaphysics.— Moore's Melodies.
Another Temple of Religion,
DEDICATION OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
IMPOSING CEREMONIES—MU
SICAL SERVICE—SERMON BY
rev. father piieston and
LECTURE BY BISHOP O’CON
NOR, S. J., ON THE INFALLIBILI
TY OF THE POPE.
From the New York Hearld of April 4
The handsome new Church of the
Epiphany, on Second avenue, which Rev.
Dr. Burtstel! is pastor, was dedicated
yesterday wjfch the most impressive
ceremonies, a large congregation being
present, and an imposing precession of
clergymen, acolytes and young girls,
attired in white muslin, taking part in
the opening services. The ceremony
commenced about eleven o'clock, and
was followed by high mass, at which the
Rev. Dr. McGlynn officiated as celeb
rant The choir numbered nearly se
venty, between the chorus and Eben’s
orchestra, Miss Wells, Signor Errani
and Signor Randolfi singing the princi
pal solos; and Messrs. Louis Dachauer
and Signor Aberlo presiding at the organ.
Rev. Father Preston delivered a very
eloquent sermon after the Gospel. The
musical services consisted of Dachauer’s
Second Mass, written some years ago
expressly for the famous Church of St.
Eustache, Pafcis, aud played there with
au immense orchestra and chorus with
marked succais. It was rather too large
a work for Such a small orchestra as that
of yesterday, for it lias numerous episo
des and instrumental solos, which re
quire a strong background to place them
in a favorable light. The Keyrie opens
with a grave and dignified andante
movement, in a minor key, the instru
ments giving first a couple of declamatory
measures. The full chords for orchestra
and chorus in this movemeut are ad
mirably suited to the spirit of the pray
ful words. Mr. Dachauer shows in it
an intimate knowledge of counterpoint
and orchestral coloring, for he varies both
continually, and never permits the faint
est degree of monotony in his treatment
of subject. The Gloria, being omitted
of course on-Account of Lent, the next
number was tub Credo. It has a very
effective opening, the old massive
Gregorian chant announcing the first ar
ticle of Christian belief. The bass then
takes up a very characteristic solo, which
is delightful not only for its melody but
also for the instrumentation accompany
ing it- It received full justice at the
hands of Signor Randolfi, Then follow
ed, after a repetition of the Gregorian
opening, a tenor solo, Genitum , sung by
Signor Errani’ The first part of it con-
gists of a pretty melody and the last of
k is of the recitative order. The Et
Incarnatus is a quartette in which the
male voices alone give out a subject in a
major key which is repeated by the
female voices alone in the corresponding
minor. The entire power of the chorus
and orchestra is brought to bear in the
grand announcement, Et homo factus
est. The Crucifizus commences sigularly
with the tenors and basses in unison on
C, the female voices following with the
major third above. The accompaniment
consists of staccato triplets given by
two bassons. The Et Resurrexit is of
the usual joyous character, and a very
striking effect is given by the tutti
force of the diminished seventh in an
nouncing the second coming of the Re
deemer to judge mankind. The belief
in the Holy Gohst is expressed in the
same impressive Gregorian strain as that
which ushers in the creed. The same
ensemble concludes the number with a
full, brilliant triplet accompaniment of
the orchestra. The Sanctus is solemn
and majestic, being ushered in by a
fanfare of trumpets. The tenor has a
beautiful solo in thhe Agnus Dei , in
which every note expressed the idea
conveyed in the words. The Dona nobis
is modelled somewhat after Mozart’s
Twelfth Mass, alothough the melody is
quite different. The tenor’s air is
brought in at the end with tutti effect,
giving a brilliant close to this truly
meritorious work. Mass Wells sang
| Torrenti’s exquisite air, ‘‘Show Me Thy
Ways,” before the sermon in a style
which not only showed the thorough ar
tist but also the conscientious church
singer. At the offertory she sang with
alto a duet, “Qui Tollis,” from Dachauer’s
Mass. It is a real gem. The or
chestra played in addition a grand march
by Bach and anew overture by Suppe.
Mr. Louis Dacbauer conducted through
out with admirable skill.
THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE POFE BISHOP
O’CONNORS’S LECTUEE.
At the evening service Bishop O’Con
nor, S. J., delivered hi lecture ou “Papal
Infallibility and the (Ecumenical Coun
cil.’' He said:—
I heard lately of a conversation that
took place between an intelligent friend
of mine and an unbeliever. “You cer
tainly,” said the latter “do not believe
this and that doctrine of the Catholic
Church?” and he enumerated several
doctrines to which Catholics cling. “I
believe them all,” said my friend, “most
firmly.” “What!” said the other “a
man of your intelligence and informa
tion to believe such things. I cannot
comprehend it.” “I am only sorry,”
said my friend, “I have not more to be
lieve. When faith shows its light I am
sure I have the truth and I desire noth
ing better. When faith abandons me I
am left to struggle with my own short
lights, and I part with that which
gives me safety only with regret.” This
explains
THE ATTITUDE OF THE UNBELIEVER.
and that of the sons of the Church. The
one looks upon the teaching of faith as
a burden which weighs heavily on in
dividual liberty, aud which he is unwill
ing to bear; the other looks upon them
as light, which he follows with joy, for
they lead him to truth, which is his
highest aspiration. The joy that he
feels in receiving light from faith
makes him be at the same time not only
ready but glad to accept its true ex
position and cautious to guard against
its counterfeit.
Faith rests on the Word of God.
Whatever be the channel through which
it is communicated this is its real basis
—its last resort. Now,
HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US?
The great means which He adopted to
bring His truth home to all men was to
place it on the lips of other men, who
will carry it to the uttermost bounds of
the earth and to the remotest generations
He placing ou them the seal of his com
mission, and taking care that they dis
charge it with fidelity. It may come to
some or to many in other ways, but this
is the means adopted for the world at
large. It is by the reception of this, and
this alone, that it is acceptable to all, and
in receiving it by this they are knit into
one society, which is His mystical body
on tins earth. To secure its success He
promised to be in this body to the end of
the world: “Go, teach all nations, *
* baptizing them, * * and lo ! I
am with you all days to the consummation
of ages.” This universal institution, es
tablished by his authority becomes the
test of everything else that claims to
come from Him. He cannot contra
dict himself. Whatever claims to come
from Him and contradicts this must be a
delusion. Now this body, of which He
is the soul, like the natural body has its
members and each members has its own
functions. It has the hand and the foot
and the eye, and above all the mouth.
“Go teach.” It is the mouth from which
the voice proceeds, though it is not the
production of the mouth alone, but of
the whole man, who is composed of the
body and soul, and the body has many
members. Where are we to find the
mouth of the^Ohurch —if I may use the
expression—the organ, call it what you
will, from which the voice proceeds by
which airmen are to be taught? The
body of its pastors may he said to con
stitute it, and they do constitute it when
ever they make themselves heard speak
ing in unity as becomes the organ of the
body that is one as Christ is ore, as the
faith is one, as the baptism by which they
incorporate men into that body is one.
But it is not always easy to learn what is
the voice of those pastors who are them
selves a multitude, or rather it would not
be easy if they too had not an organ by
which their teachings could be gathered
into one who becomes their organ as
they are the organ of the whole mystical
body of Christ. For this Christ has pro
vided, by creating.
A CENTRE OF UNITY.
who is ever sure to speak the voice of
the rest; hearing whom we may be sure
we hear all, and hearing Him and them
we hear the Christ who sent them. The
speaking of the Church is always neces
sary. Yet councils can and do assemble
only at long intervals. It is now more
than 300 years since the last was closed.
Scattered through the world they may
speak as well as in council; but to what,
difficulties iu their voice then subject?
These difficulties would at times be in
surmountable to make it that clear voice
which all stand in need of if they had
not this central organ in which all are
represented v\ e claim, then, that the
voice of the Church is represented in
one speaking authority—that of Peter
living in his successors. It is rpresented
there, not by delegation of the members,
but by the action of Christ Himself; who
gave to this one institution the same
stability in faith which He gave to the
whole Church for which He shed His
blood. In building His Church He es
tablished Peter as the foundation and
made him as a rock so firm that the
gates of hell should not prevail against
it. Indeed, it was through him that lie
secured the stability of the rest: “Simon
Simon, Satain hath desired to have you
(that is, to have you all, for his language
is in the plural), but I have prayed tor
thee (for thee individually), that thy
faith fall not aud thou being once con
verted confirmly thy brethren.” All
were to be tempted.
WHAT INFALLIBILITY" MEANS.
Christ prayed for Peter, first all, that
his faith should not fail, and charged
him in return to give strength to the
faith of all the rest. Thus He provided
for his Church. Now, this is that in
fallibility of which we hear so much. It
is nothing but that stability in faith
which was granted by Christ to the office
of Peter, by which the brethren are ever
confirmed in the truth which He had
taught. This does not mean that every
act or every wordjof Peter or of his suc
cessor is inspired by God. It only means
tnat in faith, and in fath alone" Christ
will ever assist him to teach it officially
in its purity, so that he may confirm the
brethren, who when they, they thus re
ceive it from him are sure they receiv
w’nat was first delivered by Christ. The
infallibility thus received will not protect
him from the fralities of human nature.
When lie speaks as a private individual
his word may have weight; hut, after all,
lie is liable to error. When he is con
firming his brethren, that is when he is
teaching the universal Church, we lose
sight of the man; we think only of Christ
acting through him, giving strength to
that body which He promised would he
impregnable by the very gates of hell.
God gives to each one the grace that i3
necessary to discharge the duties which
He has assigned. Nothing less than im
raunity from error in his official teaching
is necessary for him wuo has been charg
ed to confirm or give strength to a body
that will ever wrestle successfully with
the powers of hell in preserving the
knowledge of truth.
This prerogative of the See of Peter
is not: then, fairly explained *by saying
that we give all power to one man. Com
pare it to the authority of
OUR SUPREME COURT.
which it resemble in many' respets.
Every now and then decisions proceed
from that tribunal which affect the most
iDportant interests of the whole country.
Is it a fair exposition of our institutions
to say that under the American constitu
tion all things are left depending on four
five gentlemen residing in Washington?
Yet the most vital interests of the whole
country do depend upon their decisions.
It was but the other day that such a de
cision was pronounced, and it is received
with submission—it must be received
if adhered to though it effects the inter
ests of millions—though men as learned
entertain everywhere contrary opinions.
The whole force of the United States is
| at hand to support it; its army and its
navy are within call, if required, to en
force it. The highest officials of the
land recoguize it as their first duty to
carry out the decision of the four men,
even though opposed by three of their
own body. Now why is this? It is be
cause every effort has been adopted to
make a decision come from them that
would accord with the true meaning of
the law. This being done, we forgot the
men in contemplating the decision, and
we look upon their act as indentitied
with the law-making power itself,
and required all so to regard it. So
with.
THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE POPS,
concerning the whole Church, They are
the means adopted by Christ to give
strength to the Church. The law mak
ing power here has adopted every pre
caution to make sure that the Court that
expounds its will shall be correct in its
decisions. However wise its provisions
for this purpose it may, however full.
But it has done its best to secure this
end. Christ established His provisions,
and we know that they must be edequate
He prayed that the faith of Peter fail not.
He commissioned him to confirm his
brethern. Against the Church so form
ed He promised the gates of hell will not
prevail. He has set it up as the pillar
and ground of truth It is to Peter that
he gave the commission to feed his lambs,
to feed his sheep, and the food he was to
give was to be fruit of ail the food
of sound doctrine. With the teachers
so united, so depending on Peter, he
promised to be “to the consummation ot
ages.” Neither pastor nor dock can thus
be separated from Christ. They will re
main what he made them, always steady
in the trunh, the others depending on
Peter, led by him, taught by him, and
thus the faith of Peter alone is always is
self sufficient to know the faith or the
whole body. Like it, it is ever sure to
he unerring and infallible to the endol
ages.
