Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-16
M0ttester 4ailp Spp

THAT HEROIC FEAT.-Thc New York Times
has letter that gives an account of the crossing
of the river at fredericksburg, and of the daring
boat expedition that routed and captured the
rebels The ritter says
"During the thick of the bombardment fresh
attempt had been made to complete the bridge
1t failed, and evidently nothing could be done
till party could be thrown over to clean out the
rebels and cover The bridge head For this mis-
sion General Burnside called for volunteers, and
Colonel Hall, of Fort Sumter fame, Immediately
responded that he had a brigade that would do
the business. Accordingly the seventh Michi-
gan and nineteenth Massachusetts, two small
regiments, numbering in all about four hundred
men, were selected for the purpose. The plan
was that they should take the pontoon boats of
the first bridge, OF which there were ten lying
on the bank OF the river, waiting TO be added
to the half finished bridge, cross over in them,
and drive out the rebels.
Nothing could be more admirable or more
gallant than the execution of this daring feat
Rushing down the steep banks of the river, the
party found temporary shelter behind the pontoon
boats lying scattered on the bank, and behind
the piles of panking destined for the covering of
the bridge, behind rocks, &c. In this situation
they acted some fifteen or twenty minutes as
sharpshooters, they and the rebels observing
each other. In the meantime new and vigorous
artillery firing was commenced on or part, and
just as soon as this was fairly developed, the sew
enth Michigan rose from their crouching places,
rushed for the pontoon boats, and pushing them
into the water, rapidly filled them with twenty
five or thirty each,
"The first boat pushes off Now, if ever is
the rebels opportunity Crack Crack Crack
from fifty lurking places go rebel rifles at the
gallant fellows, who, STOPPING low in the boat,
seek to avoid the fire. The murderous work was
well done. Justify, however, pull the oarsmen,
and presently, having passed the middle of the
stream, the boat and its gallant freight come un-
der cover of the opposite bluffs. Another and
another boat follows. Now is their opportunity
Nothing could be more amusing, in its way than
the result. Instantly they see new turn of af
fairs. The rebels pop up by the hundred, like so
many rats, from every cellar, rihe-pit, and stone
wall, and scamper off up the streets of the town.
With all their 1eetness, however, many of them
were much too slow. With incredible rapidly
the Michigan and Massachusetts boys sweep up
the hill, making Il rush for the lurking places
occupied by the rebels, and gaining them, each
man capturing his Two or thee prisoners The
pontoon boats on their return trip took over
more than hundred of these fellows.
You can imagine with what intense interest
the crossing of the first boat-load of our men was
watched by the numerous spectators on the
shore, and with what enthusiastic shouts their
landing on the opposite side was greeted. 1t was
an authentic piece of human heroism, which
moves men as nothing else can. The problem
was solved. This flash of bravery had done
what scores of batteries and tons of metal had
failed to accomplish. The country will not for
get that little band. Their loss in the perilous
enterprise was, so far could ascertain, as fol-
lows: Killed-A. Wickson, Co A; Corp. Joseph
l.. Rice, Co G. Wounded-J n Basna, Co. G,
MORALLY; Riley Faulkner, severely Lieut.. Sc
core, Co. G; c. H. Hewson, Co. c, hand; Sergt.
Thomas Caldwell, Co. F, severely wounded in
shoulder; Joseph Creme, Co. F. srm.
"Ihe party once across, and the rebels clean
ed out it took the engineers but brief period 10
IL. i,,sl L. -
plunging waist-deep into the water, and work
ing as men work who are under inspiration. In
less than half an hour the bridge was completed,
and the head of the column of the right grand
division, consisting of Gen. Towards command,
was moving upon it over the RappahannOck. A
feeble attempt from the rebel batteries was made
10 shell the troops in crossing but it failed com
pletely."