On the Confederate side the First Corps (Longstreet's) was in position from Taylor's Hill across Deep Run Bottom. The Second Corps was in mass about the wooded heights at Hamilton's Crossing. His cavalry and horse artillery were on his right in the Massaponax Valley. General R. Ransom's division was posted in rear of the left of Marye's Hill; his Twenty-fourth North Carolina Regiment was advanced to the left of Cobb's line in the sunken road. His brigade under Colonel Cooke was deployed as sharp-shooters on the crest of the hill. He was especially charged with looking after the left of Cobb's line. In front of this line and about six hundred yards from it was a canal, or large wet ditch, about four hundred yards out from the city limits. The crossings at the Plank and Telegraph roads had been bridged, and the bridges were ordered wrecked, but were only partially destroyed, the string-pieces being left in place. The corps in position, the Confederate commander prepared to stand and receive battle.
In concluding this account of the confronting armies on the eve of battle, let us glance at their relative strength as expressed in numbers.
The Army of the Potomac, as reported by General Burnside, had on December 10 an "aggregate present for duty" of 132,017[110] officers and men (not including cavalry). The Army of Northern Virginia was reported by General Lee on the same date to have had an aggregate of 69,391[111] (not including cavalry).
The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of the 13th of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General Meade's Division of Franklin's Command makes the First Advance--General French leads against the Confederate Left--Hancock follows--General Cobb killed--The Sunken Road and Stone Wall below Marye's Hill--Desperate Advances and Determined Repulses--Humphreys's Heroic Assault--The Stone Wall "a Sheet of Flame"--General Jackson loses his Opportunity to advance--The Charge of Meade's Divisions compared with that of Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble's Columns at Gettysburg--Forty Per Cent. killed in charging Lines here, and Sixty Per Cent. at Gettysburg--Total Losses--Peace to be declared because Gold had gone to 200--Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia.