This battle of Fredericksburg offered little opportunity for cavalry charges, but General Fitz Lee kept watch over the fords on the Confederate left, while General W. H. F. Lee was posted on the right. Stuart also remained on the right as it was the weakest part of the line, and was in constant conference with Lee and Jackson. As the Federals made their first advance against the troops of Jackson at Hamilton’s Crossing near the extreme right, Major Pelham of the Stuart Horse Artillery in an exposed position opened a cross fire with one gun and caused them to halt for over an hour. Five Federal batteries opened upon him, but he continued to fire until withdrawn by Stuart. Both General Lee and General Jackson were on the extreme right and witnessed the wonderful work done by Major Pelham’s gun. Both of them in their reports of this battle mentioned the genius and bravery of the young Alabamian. General Jackson asked General Stuart, “Have you another Pelham, general? If so, I wish that you would give him to me.” General Lee expected the battle to be renewed the next morning, but Burnside remained quiet, and, on the night of December 15, in a violent storm of wind and rain, he withdrew to the opposite bank. It soon became evident that Burnside had no intention of renewing the combat, but was preparing to pass the winter on the Stafford hills on the northern side of the river. General Lee’s army, therefore, went into winter quarters along the south bank of the Rappahannock. The infantry and artillery built snug log huts, and began, in spite of the want of good rations and warm clothes, to enjoy the rest from marching and fighting. The cavalry, however, had no rest, for upon its vigilance depended the safety of the army. It observed the Federal movements, watched the fords of the river, and made continual raids to the rear of Burnside’s army. On December 20, General Stuart set out with 1,800 men under the command of his tried and true generals, Hampton, Fitz Lee, and W. H. F. Lee, on what is known as the “Dumfries Raid.” They were to pass by different routes to the rear of Burnside’s army, to cut his line of communication with Washington city, and to destroy all wagons and stores that they could not bring off. [Illustration: From a war-time photograph CONFEDERATES DESTROYING RAILROAD] Stuart led his forces between various army-posts that guarded the rear of Burnside’s army, avoiding the strongest and attacking others which he knew to be weak or ignorant of his approach. He at last marched north to Burke’s Station, where his keen sense of humor caused him to play a joke on the authorities at Washington.