The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-05
ANDERSON S. c., THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 5 1881
FORWARD UNDER FIRE.

FORWARD UNDER FIRE.
The Attack on Marye's Heights At Frcder-
icksburg.
A brilliant description of the battle Of
Fredericksburg, prepared by Ma. Gen.
St. Clair A. Mulholland, appears in the
Philadelphia Times. Gen. Mulholland,
touches upon the fine condition of the
army of the Potomac, relates the circum-
stances under which Gen. Burnside took
command, tells of the opening of the bat.
tie and of Meade's advance, and
describes vividly the terrible onslaught
and repulse at Marye's Heights. The
following extract from an article is q
description of the thrilling scenes
enacted in front of the famous stone
wall:
While Meade was moving on Hamil.
toms the troops in the city were prepared
to strike. Under arms, listening to the
sounds ofthe 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 besougkt the men to uphold in the
coming struggle the military prestige
and glory Of their native land. Then
green lockwood was culled from garden
near and Meagher placed o sprig in his
Irish cap. Every officer and man fol.
lowed his example and soon great
punches of the fragrant shrub adorned
the caps of every one. Wreaths 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, closely followed 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 a 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 concentrated to crush the
heads of our column as they debouched
upon the plain. Solid shot, fired with
light charges, richochet on the frozen
ground, caromed on the pavement and
went tearing through the ranks, travers-
ing the entire length of the streets,
bounding over the river to be buried in
the opposite bluff. Shells began drop
ping with destructive effect. One strik.
ing 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 instantaneousness fthe
deaths. The column had halted for a
moment, sharp report, 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 indica-
ton 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 a 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 Col. Palmer. Han
cocks division came next, with the brig.
ade of Zook, Meager and Caldwell in the
order named. Here the thought struck
me: elbow different is the real battle
from that which our imagination had
pictured. After the reading ofour boy
hood, with heads filled with Napoleon
and bis marshals, and narrowing tales of
CORY fields of yore, with what realistic
feeling we eau 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, given in quiet, subdued
voice, are distinctly heard and calmly
oboyed. The regiments maneuvre with
out flaw.
In this trying moment the guides are
ordered out and the alignment made as
perfect as on dress parade. The destruc.
tion of human 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 shrieks, I 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 punish
ment without 4 complaint or a murmur.
Just before moving from this spot one of
my young officers, brave boy from
Chester County, Pennsylvania, 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 Eve
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 I should go on with my
company or go to the hospital ?" No
doubt had told him to 60 on he would
have done 30. Then the advance is
sounded. The orders of the regimental
commanders ring out clear on the cold
December. Fright shoulder, shift
arms" battalion forward, 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 re advance up the
slope we come in full view of the Army Of
Northern Virginia. All their batteries
open upon US. 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 OF US direct and OBJ
lioue and drop down from above shells