Daily Mississippi clarion and standard. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1866, 1866-05-30
For the Clarion and Standard.
"Reminiscences of the Second Battle of
Fredericksburg.
soLoN L. wHITTIGToN.

The brigade, Barksdale's, to which
l belonged, was posted the night of I'd
of May, 1868, upon the heights in rear
of the city of Fredericksburg. General
Hooker had begun his son to Rich
mond" movement, and Gen. Lee had
moved to Charlottesville to thwart
him. We were left to prevent General
Sedgwick from crossing the river at
Fredericksburg, and advancing upon
Lees rear by the Orange c. H. and
Fredericksburg plank road. General
Early's division was to support us.
But l am not going to attempt to give
detailed account of the battle, or the
maneuvering of the forces.
The 18th Mississippi was stationed
at the Howerson House; the 18th five
hundred yards to the left, at the foot
of Lees Hill; the 18th at Marye's
Heights, and the 21st two hundred
yards to the left. This was the posi-
ton at day-da on the Sd.
1t was not yet light, when the enemy
began to pour their iron hail upon us,
from the hills across the river and the
valley around us The whole earth
seemed in a blaze, while the howl of
the shells, and the dull "whirr'' of the
grape, were continuous. When it be
come lighter, the whole country APP
peared to be covered with men, in blue,
and batteries were as thick as leaves in
Vallombrosa.
Upon Lees Hill we had a battery
stationed the enemy concentrated their
| fire upon it as soon as it was perceived.
Our General headquarters were there
also. All of the staff and the artille-
rists had ensconced themselves behind
the earth work which crowned the hill,
while stragglers from the bomb-proot
departments, that had collected there
with a hope of viewing the battle from
afar, were suddenly reminded of i'm
| portant business at the wagonyards,
| that needed their attention. But there
| was one-a privatc-whOse noble,
manly soul knew not what it was to
dread that death which "does make
towards of us all" | think / see him
now, lin his position of peril upon the
work; on the lookout for the advance
of the enemy. He was repeatedly adj
vised by his friends (the writer among
| others) to seek a more secure posi-
ton He had been directed to keep
the General (who was at the time on
another part of the line, advised OF
any movement of the enemy. He
knew that was the place for reconnois-
ance; he felt that a soldiers first duty
was to obey orders and he scorned
that safety which could be had only by
the negligence of duty. Every mem
Der of his company will bear witness
that he did his duty, upon every march
and in every fight; at Manassas
Leesburg, Malvern Hill and Sharps
burg, at First Fredericksburg and this
his last.
Just as he was about to be relieved
a shell bursted in his front, and frag
ment entered his forehead he fell up
on the bosom of his native South
| his last act one of devotion to her
There was no tree about the place,
| SO meath the fortress shade
We carried him, and carefully,
Upon the red earth laid"
Thus died one of Mississippi:
bravest soldiers; Scion L. Whiting
ton, Co. B, 18th Miss. Vol, acting a.
courier to Gen. Barksdale. Had h
lived he would have been one of tn,
shining lights of the State. At The
age of twenty one, by his own exer
lions in his chosen profession, tina
of printer he had risen to be edito
of one of the leading journals of Nortl
Mississippi He now sleeps in tn
cemetery at Fredericksburg, Va NJ
tomb marks his resting place; but hi
memory will ever be cherished by hi
comrades L. II. b.