Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-05-09
The Ftghtisg nj Fredericksburg.

The going down Of the sun on Satur-
day found our troops OF the left scalted-
ing out on both sidcs Of the river, some
two miles below the city. The Flying
Division had advanced to tho Old lien
mond road. Gen. Buik's command lay
back, nearer to the river. Gen. Howes
and Gen. Newton's forces were Oh the
plain opposite. To mention where the
other troops were would not be Pru-
dent.
Under cover ofnight Gems. Howe and
Newton crossed over tho river. lben.
Newton's division is now temporarily
commanded by Gen. Wheaton, be hav-
ing assumed command OF Gen. Sedg-
weeks corps). About two O'Clock IN
the morning orders came TO move al
once on the enemy. The greater portion
OF tho forces moved quietly up the Rich
mond road, aud winding down through
the gully just below tho city, reached
the outskirts of Fredericksburg, between
4 and s O'Clock. Gems. Howe and New
tons divisions we're in advance, then fol
lowed the "Flying Division" or Light
Brigade aud Gen. Brooks forces were
extended on the extreme left. Meantime
companies OF the 5oth New York Engi-
ueers had constructed pontoon bridges
directly across to the city, both above
and below the Lacy House. and the i2d
New York, 10th and 20th Massachusetts,
59th New York, aud tho l27th Penn
syvania, constituting llalI's-Danas old
brigade, ID Corps -together with three
other regiments, including the "a New
York and 18th Massachusetts, crossed on
the upper bridge and deployed out
along the bank above the city. Batter
les were also brought up and planted
close to the city among them Harnc's,
Martins, Battery i, ID Rhode leland,
Licnt. brown ; Battery G, 9Th Rhode
Island, Capt. Adams, and Battery ID, I'd
Artillery. The lst Maryland and "Hex-
amer's" Pennsylvania battery were post
cd on the PLAIN further below, where
they could deliver fire either up or
down the range OF hills. The obi CT o.
this movement to the city was to storm
the FIRST line OF rebel earthworks above,
which Gen Sumner attempted ia vain
to take last December. losing 900 men
in the effort. Nor did the lea OF again
charging against those formidable in
trenchmen,s appear 80 insane 10 the
troops as one might think. So buoyaut
and hopeful were the boys chat they felt
as il they could 90 anywhere and sur
mount any and every obstacle. The
reader will remember that this line OF
earthworks is about one.thlrd OF mile
from the city, extending close along The
monument erected to Mary, the mother
Of Washington, which il erected on
Fort of natural bluff. Beneath runs the
famous stone wall and road leading of
in the direction OF Richmond. Between
this road aud the city is an open plain
commanded by the rebel work. Across
this plain and over the stone wall the
charging column mad to advance before
reaching the fortified bluff.
About l-2 o'clock in the morning
Cochrsne's old brigade (Newton's d.
vision. now commanded by Col. ShaIer,
aud led by him in person, charged over
the plain aud succeeded in nearly reach.
ing the stone wall but were obliged to
fail back. The ca New York, it i.
said, endeavored to storm the works be.
fore this hour OF the morning The
rebels kept up a constant fire Of mus |
kerry from behind earthwolks, buildings |
and rifle pits, whilo tho guns from above
rained down perfect storm of grape |
and canister on the troops. Gen.
Brooks division, which was on the ex
IRENE lett. suffered least, though fired
at the mos, owing to the fact of most
Of the encmy's missiles passing over the
heads OF the troops. 1t WAS now IL
O'Clock, continuous fighting had been
going on for full six hours, and the reb-
els still held their works. Gen. Sedg-
wick now determined on having the
F" Light Brigade" charge the heights
Col. Burnham commanding moved his
forces along under the protection OF
abandoned earthworks, and the hill.
side formed by the sloplng down of The
plain near the city, until be had arrived
directly in front OF the most formidable
position, known as the Slaughter en-"
knapsacks and any article Of clothing
which might impede their rapid move,
ment, were cast aside by the men, and
they were deployed out in the follow.
ing order: one-hsli Of the 9th Wiscon-
SIN, Col. Allen, rs skirnish line 3ls,
New York, Col. Jones, on the LET, 9th |
Name, 1t. Col. Harris commanding.
and the remaining portion of the 9TH in
the rear OF and supporting the 3lst a,
the same time. AT the same time a
force consisting ct the AID New York !
and clst Pennsylvania, aud ono or two !
other regiments, were sent up the road
at tie right OF the stone wall. Gong
On to the regiments Of the Light Brig,
ade, prepared Tor a charge, were the
Seth New York and eth Massach usetts.
and still further on other regiments.
tUantv ,p,ostaa ,a.t al Il |