The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02
The Meaeher Brigade at Fredericks.
burg.
rom the New York Herald, Dec. 81.

| From the New York Herald, Dec. 81
FREDERICKSBURG, Dec. q.
The following letter is from the Cap
tain of company F of the Eighty eighth IT.
ish Regiment Meagher's Brigade:
DEAR FATHER Thank God for his
great mercy l came out of the most ter
rible battle-day of this war without a
scratch. My brother Edmond is also I'M
| hurt. can hardly realize the fact that I
am so blest. Oh! it was terrible day. The
destruction of life has been fearful, and
nothing gained. The battle opened about
ten o'clock yesterday morning with ter
rifle fire of artillery. As we were drawn
up in line of battle on the front of the city
Gen. Meagher addressed us in words of in
spiration and eloquence / never heard
equaled, after which he ordered every one
of the.brigade to place bunch of green box
wood at the side Of his cap, showing the
example himself. Every man appear
ed fired with determined zeal and firm
resolution, which the result proves to
have been carried out in a manner scarce
ly paralleled in the annals of war. The
SSth Regiment this morning numbers ten
officers and forty-onelmen; the 9th, seven
officers and fifty-nine men; the esd, six
officers and sixty-four men; the 116th,
thirteen officers and fifty-seven men. The
2Sth Massachusetts, also suffered heavily;
but have not the returns. Irish blood
and Irish bones cover that terrible field to-
day; for Irish regiments were placed fore
most, as the reports and returns will prove.
My fears of results have been so far real
lied, and believe another day will wit
ness our defeat. The whole souled enthu-
siasm with which Gen. Mcclellan inspired
his army is wanting-his great scientific
engineering skill is missing-his humane
care of the lives of his men is disregarded.
We are slaughtered like sheep, and no re-
suit but defeat. This place is but an ant
hill in comparison with Yorktown. Yet
Yorktown was evacuated, and thousands
OF lives saved, by the now much despised
pick and shovel,
All can find of my once fine company
of brave men is two sergeants and three
men. Every field officer of the brigade in
action was killed Or wounded, except Col
Kelly, and lle had a very narrow escape.
: 20: T.als afteetiosate SOM.
/. -: -. - -. : .MM. j. NAGLE.
':s:' !. .rsspowe!!:. s;.gs'.6f: fnaai:.T
49,. .wisuMGsoN, "Wednesday, Dec. a.
In the Mcdowell Court of Inquiry to-
day, Gen. Sigel underwent searching
cross-examination at the hands of Gen.
Mcdowell, in which several discrepancies
were shown between Gen. Sigels official
report to Gen. Pope and his evidence be-
fore this Court. Gen. Sigel explained
these discrepancies by stating that bis evil
dence was given from memory, and that
he might have been mistaken in some por-
tons of his report. It will be recollected
that Gen. Sigel has severely censured Gen.
Mcdowell for alleged neglect to de-
fend Thoroughfare Gap from the an
proach of Longstreet to join jackson. It
came out in evidence to-day that General
Mcdowell issued an order which was sent
to Gen. Sigel, and which Gen. Sigel adj
mits made ample provisions for the defence
OF Thoroughfare Gap. Gen. Sigel did not
remember the last part of the order refer
ring to the disposition of other troops than
his own, but was obliged to admit that it
was his duty to have made himself &C.
quainted with the whole. order. It appears :
that Mcdowell defended the Gap with
twice the force that Sigel estimated should
be put there, and Sigel did not know it. u