It must be made, if at all, directly on its front at Fredericksburg.
But Harry had no doubt that it would be made.

The reports of their numerous scouts and spies told with detail of the immense preparations going on in the Union camp.

He could often watch them himself with his glasses from the hills.

He did not see much of St.Clair and Langdon these days, as they remained closely with their regiment, the Invincibles, but Dalton and he were much together.
It was well into December when they were watching through the glasses the concentration of Union cannon on Stafford Heights across the river.
One hundred and fifty great guns were in position there and they could easily blow Fredericksburg to pieces.

Harry looked down again at this little city which had jumped suddenly into fame by getting itself squarely between the two armies arrayed for battle.
He felt the old sensation of pity as he gazed at the closed shutters and the smokeless chimneys.