Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-19
Mistellaueuns &eading.
FORWARD UNDER FIRE.
THE ATTACK ON MARYE's HEIGHTS AT FRED
ERlCKSRIRG.

FORWARD UNDER FIRE.
THE ATTACK ON MARYE's HEIGHTS AT FRED
ERfcKsBURG.
A brilliant description of the battle O
Fredericksburg, prepared by Maj.-Gen. St
Clair A. Mulholland, appears in the Phila
delphia Times. Gen. Mulholland, touches
upon the fine condition of the army of thu
Potomac, relates the circumstances under
which Gen. Burnside took command, tells oi
the opening of the battle and Of Meade's ad
vance, and describes vividly the terrible on
slaught and repulse at Marye's Heights. The
following extract from an article is a descrip
tion of the thrilling scenes enacted in front Of
the famous stoneswalls:
While Meade was moving on Hamilton
the troops in the city were prepared to strike
Under arms, listening to the sounds of the
fight on the left and waiting patiently for
their turn to share in the strife, Gen. Thomas
Francis Meagher, mounted and surrounded
by his staff; addressed each regiment of his
(the Irish) brigade, and,in burning, eloquent
words besought the men to uphold in the
coming struggle the military prestige and
glory of their native land. Then green box.
wood was culled from a garden near and
Meagher placed sprig in his Irish cap.
Every officer and man followed his example
and soon great punches of the fragrant shrub
adorned the caps Of every one. Wreathes
were made and hung upon the tattered flags
and the national color of the Emerald Isle
blended in fair harmony with the red, white
and blue of the Republic. At noon, Meade
not yet having reached Hamilton's, Gen.
Couch ordered French and Hancock to the
assault French moved first, close ly follow.
ed by the superb. As we wheeled into the
streets leading towards the enemy we were in
full view Of the frowning heights and
THE MARCH OF DEATH BEGAN.
Nearly mile away arose the position that
we were expected to carry, and though not
yet clear Of the city we felt the pressure of
the foe, the fire Of whose batteries concentra-
ted to crush the heads of our column as they
debouchcd upon the plain. Solid shot, fred
with light charges, richocbet on the frozen
ground, caromed on the pavement and went
tearing through the ranks, traversing the
entire length of the streets, bounding over
the river to be buried in the opposite bluff.
Shells began dropping with destructive effect.
One striking in the Eighty-eighth New York
placed eighteen men hors du combat. will
ever remember the first one that burst in my
regiment wounding the colonel, cutting off
the head of Sergeant Marley and killing two
or three Others l was struck by the instan.
taneousness of the deaths. The column had
halted for moment, sharp report, a puff of
smoke and three or four men lay stark dead,
their faces calm, their eyes mild and life like,
lips unmoved, no sign of pain or indication
of suffering. Marley had not fallen, but
dropped upon his knees, his musket clasped
in both hands and resting upon the ground.
After getting into the open and crossing a
mill:race rise in the ground hid US from the
enemy, giving an opportunity to dress the
ranks and prepare the column of attack, which
was by brigade front, Gen. Kimball's brigade
in the lead, followed by those Of Col. j. w.
Andrews and of COL. Palmer. Hancock 3
division came next, with the brigade Of Zook,
Meager and Caldwell in the order named
Here the thought struck me "How different
is the real battle from that which our imag-
nation had pictured. After the reading of
our boyhood, with heads filled with Napoleon
and his marshals, and narrowing tales of CORY
fields of yore, with what realistic feeling we
can see the wild confusion of the storm.swept
feld-charging cavalry, hurrying artillery,
the riderless steeds madly rushing to and fro,
their shrill neighing mingling with the groans,
screams and shrieks of the wounded" Here
there is no disorder. The men calm, silent,
cheerful. The commands Of the officers, Civ.
en- in quiet, subdued voice, are distinctly
heard and calmly obeyed. The regiments
maneuvred without flaw.
! In this trying moment the guides are Or
dered out and the alignment made as perfect
as on dress parade The destruction of hu.
man beings is done with order and system.
Yet it is terrible enough the very absence
of confusion and excitement but adds to the
dreadful intensity of the horror. AS for the
screams and shreks, have never heard
anything Of that kind, either on the field or
in the hospitals. 1t may be that the soldiers
of other nations indulge in cries and yells !;
our men took their punishment without a
complaint or a murmur. Just before moving
from this spot one of my young officers, a
brave boy from Chester county, Pennsylva-
MIA, Lieut.. Seneca g. Willauer, was badly
torn by a she'll, which stripped the flesh from
his thigh and left the bone for four or five
inches white and bare He came to me, and
holding up the bleeding limb for inspection,
said, with the most gentle manner and placid
voice: "Colonel, do you think that l should
20 on with my company or 60 to the hoSplt-
al?" No doubt had l told him to 60 on he
would have done So Then the advance is
sounded. The orders of the regimental COM
manders ring out clear on the cold December.
fright shoulder, shift arms" "battalion for
ward, guide centre, march! !" The long line
of bayonets glitter in the bright sunlight.
We have no friendly fog, as Meade had, to
hide US from our foes, and as we advance up
the slope we come in full view of the Army of
Northern Virginia. All their batteries open
upon U.S. We can trace their line by the
fringe of blue smoke that quickly appears
along the base of the hills, and we see that
we are marching into an arc Of fire. And
what reception awaits US! Fire in our front,
from our right and our left. Shells come at
US direct and oblique and drop down from
above shells en6lade our lines, burst among
us in front, in rear, above and behind U.S..
Shells everywhere torrent of shells !; a
blizzard of shot, shell and fire. The lines
pass on steadily. The gaps made in the ranks
are quickly closed. The colors often kiss the
ground, but are quickly snatched from dead
hands and held aloft again by others who
soon in their turn will bite the dust. The
regimental commanders march out far in ad-
vance of their commands and they, too, fall
rapidly, but others run to take their places.
Still in good order, we push forward until
FIVE hundred yards of the long half mile that
lay between US and Marye's Heights is passed,