1884,] 57 [Carson. 



topograpliy, aud foresaw -with remarkable accuracy how far the peculiari- 

 ties of the region through which he campaigned would be available for the 

 purposes of marching, assault, or defence. Col. Paine, "the pathfinder 

 of the army of the Potomac," has said : "For general as well as intimate 

 acquaintance with the country in which he was operating, and the troops 

 against whom he was engaged— in fact, the general relative situation of 

 affairs — Humphreys was second to no other Union General." 



In ISCl, Humphreys was a Major of Topographical Engineers. He was 

 placed upon the staff of Gen. McClellan, with the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 

 eral of Volunteers, and became the Chief Topographical Engineer of the 

 Army of the Potomac. When the advance upon Richmond was under con- 

 sideration, though it is not recorded that he advocated a direct advance, 

 yet it is known that he favored the " Urbana route," in preference to the 

 movement up the Peninsula. He was engaged at the siege of Yorktown, 

 in the battle of Williamsburgh, and in the movements and operations be- 

 fore Richmond and to the James river in 1862. His services at Malveru 

 Hill were most conspicuous. He closed the lines, or, in other words, 

 posted all the corps except the Fifth, aud one division of the Fourth. The 

 dispositions which he made contributed to the successful results of that 

 eventful day, while the neglect to shell a wood, as he desired, allowed its 

 occupation by the enemy, from which they had to be driven by force. 



On the return north of the Army of the Potomac, he was transferred 

 from staff or eniiineering duty, to the command of a division of new 

 ti'oops, with which he pressed to Anlietam, "marching with commenda- 

 ble activitj^" a march of more than twenty-three miles on a dark night to 

 take part in the expected batlleof the next day. After that battle he made 

 a reconnoissance in the Shenadoah valley, which has been spoken of as 

 "one of the finest and most thorough possible to be made, indicating the 

 possession of every quality necessary to a thorough soldier." 



At the battle of Fredericksburg, 13th of December, 1862, he personally 

 led a charge, which for desperate valor has few equals in the annals of 

 war. 



When Sumner was directed to storm the heights above the town, he 

 selected the divisions of French and Hancock for the assault. 



The position to be carried had by nature strong defensive advantages. 

 Between the canal — which had to be crossed— and the crown of the ridge 

 of hills the space was covered by fences and buildings, while at tlie foot of 

 the ascent proper to Marye's Heights a sunken road, running behind a high 

 stone wall, afforded as perfect a defensive work as if planned and con- 

 structed by engineers. This line of defense was still further strengthened 

 by fortifications in the rear, which rose tier upon tier, so that the Con- 

 federate infantry was enabled to deliver a concentric fire. Indeed the 

 head of the assaulting column "seemed to propel itself into a j'awuing 

 gulf of fiame." 



The first attack was made by French, with tiie Third Division of the 

 Second Corps, with a boldness aud steadiness that carried him to within 



PKOC. AMER. PniLOS. SOC. XXII. 117. II. PKINTED DECEMBER 30, 1884. 



