The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-17
The Brigade and the Battalion at
fredericksburg

of 1862, in the Southern Pilot of this city
afterwards suppressed by order of General
Sherman, in the days that tested mems con-
sistency and courage:
Desperate and unwailing were the charges
Emade by the Irish Brigade-men who, in
the impetuosity of battle, gave no thought
to danger, and in whose lexicon dismay is
unwritten--at the late terrific encounter at
/ Fredericksburg. The brigade similar to
their countrymen at Vittoria, Salamanca
and Badajos, We're of the "forlorn hope" on
the trying and dread occasion named.
Bravely unainchingly, and with imperturb-
able coolness-- for many of them within the
/ hour were destined to sap with the gods
they met death, but not defeat. While
pIatoons of them were swept down by the
fiery hail that was beched forth on them
from the lannon's mouth-the cannon OF
the artlierists of one of the most potent
and death dispensing batteries in either OF
the hostile armies-a battery that has OBJ
tanned an undying celebrity; the battery of
Col. Walton-a battery so well known to
the old citizens of the "Crescent" and dis
tinquished alike for its uneqnafed skill and
nice precision, long before our happy war
rendered both attributes so palpably man
] ifest.
The journal from which we Gull the sub
joined GRAPHIC sketch says, "that, as usual
the Irish brigade occupied the post of dan
ger, and was foremost in the melee" Aud
here it may not be either inappropriate or
|inopportune to introduce reckless Incl
dent OF The olden fight at Talavera, in Spain
as being strikaly evinciye Of the foremost"
qualities Of the Irish soldier. The 97th
regiment, whose slogan Of battle, so ex-
pressive of determined resolve, is "clear
the way!" rushed ont, muskets at a present
| from Picton's fighting brigade, when the
hughes sounded the charge and Gnryoaeen
adg1oria, came family borne to their ears,
from the bands playing in the rear. With
wild headong haste, they bounded over the
CORY fed, but discovering that their hav-
ersacks, in which were couple of days
provender, somewhat retarded their speed
they impradently flung them from them
A Scotch regiment following leisurely in
their wake, deliberately stopped and picked
up the discarded haversacks and contents.
When the point was carried, and Paddy
acutely hungered he had flood for reaec.
ton but none to allay his empty stomach's
cravings; and to discover Sawney the prov
ident, at such time was as useless as
impracticale.
Since the termination of our internetine
strife, the writer has ascertained from an
authority as reliable as competent an Amer
lean gentleman of the medical profession,
formerly attached to the Southern army,
that enrolled in the ranks Of the Confed-
eracy were not less than eighty-three thou
sand Irishmen. Yet the prejudiced against
the race thought that the Irish too yielding
y aided the North in the struggle for mas
terry, and would hardly concede that one
half of the number above specified fought
for the IL st Cause" and, what is still
more pointed and poignan, fought to the
DEATH But to the extract:
1.-THE Forlong Hope black
threatening ridges before noticed, complete
ly scared the enemy from our fire, and If
they could be taken success was certain.
Gen. Sumner commanded the right wing
Immediately opposite these works, and it
was determined to try and dislodge the
enemy by charge of infantry. The duty
was assigned to Gen. Frenth's division,
supported by Gen. Towards. 1t was i'm
possible for men to rush to a forlong duty
with more alacrity. Their path vas as
quiet as parks until they came within
about fifty. yards Of the batteries, when they
were met with scatlling fire that drove
them back. in spite ofrepeated efforts, fran
tcally made, to gain the heights for which
they had started. 1t was in vain that they
plunged almost up to the lannon's mouth
with their naked bayonets, and it was like
wise ia vain that our batteries covered them
as well as they could with their fire, the
deadly artlllerists on the ridge plowed them
down with grape and canister, until human
endurance could stand it no longer. They
fell back 10 d ravine, while anotherd division
was coming to their aid, and then another
united effort was made to carry the works.
But the assaiants were dashed back by the
iron bail, and q sight of the piles Of dead
upon the field, and the huge gaps III their
lines, filled the remainder with such dis
may that they turned spd fled.
"Again and again It was attempted to
organize them, and lead them back to the
fearful struggle. But the attempt was use
less. and the infantry were called off tc lei
the artillery 6, mmence his portion Of the
bloody programme.
'ffhe loss in these charges was terrible.
The Irish Brigade, as usual, was 10 the.
front Of danger, and its record Of losses
will not be the smallest reported. COL
Nugent. Of the 69th, is reported wounded.
and the officers are said to have suffered