Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-02
From the Second Delaware,

EIOm tuc oocOuu OcAhWdtct
The Rev George NJ. Condrou, chaplain Of h0
Second Delaware, writing to the hepuNieap,
over the signature Of Brumley," in etter
dated Falmouth, December 18th, says - ii
For nearly two weeks after last wrote you,
nothing Of any consequence happened amongst
u.s.
We had mud ankle deep and weather cold
enough to frost our garments while We slept and
puzzle our mems brains for ways and ineans 10
keep warm
Supplies were sent regularly from Washington
to Arquia Creek, thence by rarlnd to Falmouth,
and Everything was going 90 as usual, when, On
Thursday, the lllh inst, at Goclock in The
morning, came orders to strike tents and match
We accordingly proceeded to Gen. Sumnets
headquaite ters and lny all day in line oG battle,
While our. batteries nj ntergis fired on Fred
rricksburp. The city WAS aeau burning in seVe-
raj places aud with its flaming houses, It's church
spires looming up spectre like through the luri
-nnke. and men hulrying coniusedly to nnd fio
in the streets, formed u spectacle grand beyond
le eripton.
Meantime the engineer Corps commenced lay
ing plnloon bridges, covered by the brigade IL
which, We are attached. While thus occupied
twn regiments, the 61th and GGth New YORK;
suffered severely, being 6rel upon from the
houses, hut troops were sent over in boats who
were finished.
Next morning vast tide OF soldiers poured
over iuto fredericksburg which was soon crowd.
ed with troops, who entered the houses many
Of them already ridllel with cannon shot) aud
dragged forth every conceivable article of iurui-
iure, clothing and ornaments.
Nothing can convey the least idea Of the dis
order; clicks, stoves, kettles and pans rock
ing chairs, sacka Of -four sofas anl ladies' dresses
scattered nround, chimneys torlding over, rebel
dead lying In the streets, soldiers THtndlng
hlher aud lhither, with white hats, umbrellas,
sunshadea, ANY thing aud every thing they could
| lny hands On, ruin and confusion everywhere.
| The "a Delaware, after marching the whole
length Of the city, were halted III the muddy
streets on the river banks. Here We remained
all night, the officers sleeping in IL warehouse,
the iuen in shanties or on the streets, most Of
them with the rare luxury nl u feather bed, mat
| res3 or sOth.
Saturday. the 18Th, We proceeded through the
main streets, aud out behind the city 10 storm
/ the rnemy'A breasiWOtka, their pckels retiring
before us. one Of them who killed u corporal
Of the 9th New York. was hayoneted by our
men.
Az the regiment advanced over board teuoe
which separated them from the battle ground.
Col, Bailey aud Major Ricketts, were struck, but
the men kept ca and maintained their position
under hot fire. They behaved nohly, aud the
wounds Of both officers and men attest their
bravery better than words
As soom M possible Dr., Houston established II
hospital up town. Dir. l'lunkei took house
near the river, aud the chaplain turning surgeun
lor the time heng, made his Iuafters in lobac
60 warehouse GA the river hanb, where he was
busy dressing wounds of a descriptions, during
the rest OF the day mud night. joel Taggart, Go.
G., was brought here with his leg shattered below
tde kuee, evidently sinking. He was very heer.
lul mud remarked PLEASANTLY, Well they've
spuiled QUE ot my troiter. J." After being made
hs comfortable as possible, brandy was offered
him which he took. saying "Dn give Lieut.
Bird some, too, chaplain, he's worse hlt than |
am Ia less than an hour after being brought
in he died
Our hospitals we're all full, aud Dr. PlunLetl
deserves special praise; hs services were ,o-
valuable
TN Monday and Tuesday, all the wounded WHO
could walk, aud several in ambnlauces. Srre
brought over to this side Of the river
On Wednesday, the Corps Surgeon detailed Dr
lluhkeit aud the chaplain 10 90 under fas Of
truce and dress the wounds Of aomr rs Federals
left on the battle ground They found tho rrhels
in t0rce, were politely received, and coudnrted to
the field, where lay over Thousand Of our lend
stripped entirely naked. II WAS "a ghustly sighi,
those, who ihnugh living, were stretched among
tho dead, as helpless az they, but conscious Of
the horrors all around them.
The rebel officers eonyerssd freely with ours
mud seemed inclined to complain IT the lepreda-
tiOns committed in fredericksburg by Union
soldiers, but We're silenced when pointed 10 the
naked dead around az Witnesses Of the outrages
practistd by their own men
Our wounded were well treated while in the
1 tu.. IL a5r 81. ~ IL
raroled and brought over on this side in hoats
Here they are placed III fine hospital tents,
warmed by stoves; hnt while the care j. neccs-
sarily not what it would he at home, il is very
good the worst cases are being shipped north
as fast rs possible.
One bounty man who had been out six weeks
refused 10 be parolel, prelerrng rather to 20
into the Rebel service.
At this present writing, we are hack in our
old quarters which were unmolestel during our
absence.