, 1863-01-03
Partioularg of De BattIe of Frederiokgburg


Particulars of the Battle of fredericksburg
Franklin on the left moved his column
at sunrise, his right resting on the outskirts
of the city, his centre advanced mile or so
from the river, and his left resting on the
Rappahannock, three miles below Skim
ishing commenced few minutes after day
light, on the extreme left A rebel battery
opened on our troops, and the fire became
so annoying that the Ninth New York Mil
itia was ordered to charge and take it at the
point of bayonet. The order was obeyed
with alacrity, but after a fierce struggle the
charging party was compelled to fall back
AT this critical moment Gen. Tyler perceiv-
ing the disorder into which the Ninth were
thrown, came to their aid with his brigade
The Ninth quickly rallied, and assisted by
Tyler's brigade, another attempt was made
to storm the rebel b. tteries, but Without
success. The fight now became general on
the extreme left and another desperate ef-
fort was made to capture the rebel battery
by Tyler's brigade, but the fire Of the reb-
els was so withering in its effect that our
brave fellows were unable to gain any ad-
vantage. Each charge thinned their ranks
at fearful rate, and the chances of cuptur-
ing that much coveted battery appeared no
better than at first By noon the whole of
Franhlin's corps was engaged with the en-
emy, and desperate effort was made to
turn the enemy's position on the Massapon-
ak and drive him beyond. General Frank
lin commanded the movement in person
The rebels maintained possession of some
hills +hoir ,,o,,o1 cf,,b bbOrvv,oec
gradually fell back, as tie Union troops
evidenced u determination to go forward -
During the afternoon the rebels came to a
stand, and for a time assumed the offensive,
but as they advanced on US they were brave
ly met and repulsed with heavy loss. At
this time some 800 of Hills command fell
inte our hands and were conducted to the
rear as prisoners. Still the enemy contest
ed every of the ground, and it was only by
dint of the hardest kind of fighting that he
could be compelled to change his posi-
ton.
Reynolds corps advanced ere the dense fog
had lifted itself from the river banks, and about
nine O'Clock the enemys infantry were engaged.
The opposing columns had fairly got to work,
when tha rebel artillery commenced playing upon
us through The 2 The shots, aimed at random,
however produced little effect. Notwithstanding
the view vos 50 obscured, the rebel artlersts
kept up uade Of several hours, and as peal
'er peal r-slunded through the air, the effect
ieru1.Y me. The fire was returned by
.ualie gallant style For hours nothing
'aa of artillery could be heard
sides u to noon, when the fog cleared
Ind tbe De- oonists were eaabled to get a
nee o.. DE 4my's works, the fight was an ar
uIery one aDd produced no very important re-
suits 0n aI.ra side. As soon the sunshine
showed se H'wever, the infantry were brought
into ulGT aa. e work commenced in real earn
est Generals Mead9's and Gibbons divisions
encountered right of Gen. A. p Hills com
mand anu hongstreets veterans. The fight ragged
furiOusly during the entire day. Our troops
suffered terribly from the enemy's artillery. The
enemy were posted behind hills Of great strength.
At one time it seemed impossible to disodge
them. About noon Gen. Gibbons was relieved
by Gen. Doubleday's command. and Gen. Meade
who was fighting against superior odds, was also
reinforced by General Stonemans command
which had the effect of checking the rebels, and
driving them back short distance. It was in
the midst of this struggle Gen. Gibbons was
wounded, and partially disabled. He kept the
field, however, during the remainder Of the day.
During the afternoon Newtons Division was NOV
ed up to the left Of the center, when the firing,
which had ceased in that part of the field, broke
out again with redonbled fury. Our troops were
here exposed to plunging fire from the enemy's
artillery, which was posted on the neighbOrilg
hills. Our artillery returned the fire with accu-
racy of aim and unwavering courage.
Sumner commanded the second corps, com
menced the action on the right at ten O'Clock,
and it ragged furiously all day. The enemy oc-
cupied the woods and hills in the rear OF the
city, and in point of advantage the odds were de-
idedly in their favor. The courage of the Union
troops unbOunded, however. Every inch of
ground was nobly contested. 1t soon became ev-
ident that the first ridge ofhlls, where the enemy
were posted behind earth works, could not be
carried except at the point Of the bayonet. Ac-
cordingly Sumner ordered Frenchs division to
charge upon the batteries. General Howard's
division acted as support, and the troops sprang
forward to obey the order with enthusiasm. By
this time, the atmosphere was clear, except from
the smoke of the artillery, and a good view
could be had of the rebels position and the coun-
try adjoining Steadily they marched across the
plain and never faltered until they were within
dozen yards of the ridge, when suddenly they
were met by calling fire from the rebel infant
ry posted behind stone wall. For a few mo-
ments the head of the column exhibited some
confusion, but quickly forming into line, retired
back to the ravine within musket shot of the enc
N.Y. Here the Union troops were reinforced by
fresh OOuD Ol lllduLIy, VINO advanced 10 lDG as
sistance Of their comrades in splendid STYLE not
%ithstandihg large gaps were made in their ranks
at every step. ReinIorcements having arrived
and the line Of assault being again formed, the
double quick, with fixed bayOnetS, was given, and
oEce more the column advanced to disodge the
rebel artillery. From the moment the storming
party left the ravine up to the time they reached
the foot of the hills, they were exposed to the
hottest of the encmy's concentrated fire which
Lees artillery and infantry Talned upon their de-
voted heads in manner truly terrific.
No troops, however disciplined for bravery
could withstand the shock, and after suffer
ing terribly, our soldiers were thrown into
disorder, and brought to sudden halt. At
this juncture the center column gave way
and fed in dismay, but were afterwards ral-
lied and brought back. A second and third
attempt were made to dislodge the rebel
artillerists, but in VAN; and at each attempt
the ranks of thestorming party grew thin
ner aid thinner Sumner now brought all
his available artillery into play. hoping to
shell the rebels out. From that time until
dark the roar Of cannon was incessant-
The rebels vi ho had been driven back a
short distance during the day, returned to
their original position when night came, so
that we were unable to remove our dead
Several attempts we're made to remove the
bodies during the night, but the enemy
opened upon US with their infantry and
compelled us to desist