The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02

and beyond these were their rifle pits. So
you will perceive what desirable position
the enemy occupied.
They had the advantage of our men in
every way, and it seemed strange to me.
as well as to many others, that we ever at
tackled the enemy at this point. On the
day OF the battle our regiment supported
one of our batteries, and we had splen-
did opportunity of witnessing the battle.
Whenever the enemy would come out
OF their entertainments we would invaria-
bly, drive them back at the point of the
bayonet; but it was useless to get farther,
as 1t Yves sacrificing men for nothing.
On our left there were not less than
nine different charges made on the enc
my's works, but it was all to no purpose
They held their position in spite of all our
efforts. Our men never fought better,
and l am satisfied, that with equal adYan-
tages, we can aohip them ererytinne. Dur
ing the fight the enemy succeeded in
planting battery on our right, thus sub
jecting us to a most terrible enfladine fire.
One shell alone killed fourteen men in the
Goth New York volunteers. Our loss must
have been very heavy. Wounded men
were brought into the city by the hundred.
Our regiment stood picket on the bat
tle-feld after the fight was over
What a terrible sight! | could hear the
groans of the wounded and the dying who
law between the two lines, and the ground
was thickly strewn with the dead of both
armies. Twas one Of the advance pickets,
and had to lie flat on the ground, which
was quite wet and muddy. The dead
were lying all around me. I could dis
tinctly hear the enemy at work burying
their dead, and could hear them talk and
relieve their outposts. We expected bat
tie the next day-so during the night our
regiment dug rifle pits to protect us from
the enemy's batteries.
The next morning they opened on us
with their artillery as fast as they could
work their pieces. The shell and solid shot
fell thick and fast, but we maintained our
position. During the afternoon the enemy
opened on us with a new battery. The
fire was so heavy that regiment on our
our right broke and ran.
This disgraceful act left our flank ex-
posed to the enemy,-still we held our
position determined to hold the pits as
long as possible. Gen. Howard (who is
in command of our division and who was
watching the battle from the city, shed
tears when he saw how nobly We stood
our ground. Gen. Sully, our former Colo
mel, and now in command of our brigade,
turned to Gen. H., and said, 81 told you,
General, the First Minnesota acouM not
run Our determination to hold our
position was all that saved the army from
a panic, as our main army was then on
a retreat across the river, although I'M
known to us.
The city was completely destroyed. I
did not see house but what was torn by
shell or solid shot. The citizens left in
such haste that they took nothing with
them
The soldiers were permitted to take
whatever they wished. The streets were
lined with feather beds which the men
had taken from the buildings Valuable
libraries were thrown on the floors or their
contents thrown into the streets Trunks
and safes were broken open and the spoils
distributed. Ipicked up two silk dresses
which could not have cost less than sixty
dollars each and placed them in bureau,
but it was only a few moments before
crowd of soldiers came in and tore them
up for ''echties. 1 also picked up a silk
vest pattern and a victorine | intend
sending the vest pattern home
There was large amount of provisions
in town, and while there we lived high
and scorned to look upon soldiers rations.
l never before in my life saw so much
honey, preserved fruit, wine and other
delicacies, and never "lived better than
l did while in Fredericksburg. 1 cannot
Illustrate the case better than to have you
suppose that twenty thousand men were
allowed to enter a city like st. Paul, and
do as they pleased.
The weather while we were over the
river, was very cold. You who are at
home and comfortably situated can hardly
imagine the sufferings through which we
have to pass.
We were forty-eight hours in the rifle
pits, and could not even get out of themto
get drink of water. without being fired
upon by the enemy.
think it will be some time befoIe we
advance again. suppose Burnside wants
time to "cool off" after this school-boy
experiment. Rob! l will wager that