Back on Virginia's soil the Mighty Chief
Along the Shenandoah slowly passed,
Crossing the Blue Ridge to Culpeper Court House,
And onward to the heights of Fredericksburg.

At Fredericksburg, the Federals in assault,
The chain of hills behind the nestling town
Become a frowning fortress lined with guns
Manned by the master gunners of the South, —
Lee on the hills midst works impregnable,
Watching the movements of the Northern host.

Emergent from the Rappahannock's stream
In triple battle lines and pageantry
Of pomp and splendor marched the Union Army —
Burnside's battalions — on to Fredericksburg.
Southern artillery crowned Marye's Heights,
Doing its duty in a roll of flame —
The whole descent a dazzling panoply
Of batteries, bayonets, Confederates
With Federals massing, rushing upon strife
Across the reddening slopes of Fredericksburg.