The National tribune., 1882-01-21

MY tlLle 3 uOt ytt up, W"ie'
In December 1862, Tom and [ were in one of
the first boats that crossed the Rappahannock
into the beleaguered city of Fredericksburg.
We had been aroused from our slumbers at an
early hour, and in the gray dawn of that chill
December day had marched down to the margin
of the river, where for some little time, we were
detained awaiting the preparations being made
for the purpose of crossing US over. l had never
before, and have seldom since, felt so cast down in
spirit as upon that particular occasion. The raw
atmosphere the gloom, a knowledge Of what was
expected of US, all tended to produce anything
but comfortable frame of mind
As we sat- Tom and I, side by side, listening
to the sullen ripping of the water at our feet
and to the low hum of half-whispered voices
mingled with the scraping and thudding sounds
ofmoving timbers and plankng as the pontoniers
prepared the boats, l heard the same voice-the
identical words repeated-that had so startled
both of us nearly six months previous at Malvern.
Though he did not speak for moment, yet
knew by the shiver which ran through his form
that Tom heard them also. Presently he said,
with what seemed sigh of relief, "There it is
again but Im all right for this time; it will
come once more-when l am wanted"
Wanted for what-by whom?" 1 asked,
more for the purpose of engaging him in CONVEX
sation than for any other reason.
80, can't explain-I don't understand at all
its mystery" he replied.
But why haven't you endeavored to find it
out have you never written her about?"-
No; no. I would not do so for worlds-it
would worry the poor girl to DEATH" he ex-
claimed.
But has she never intimated"-
Never; not syllable. Her letters are, as
they always have been, bright, cheerful, encour-
aging"
Our further conversation was interrupted by
sharp fire from the enemys sknmishers and
sharp-shooters on the opposite bank, whose ready
ears had caught sounds Of the movement upon
our side of the river.
In a short time fall in was whispered
through the growing light. We took our proper
places, marched down to the edge of the stream,
and, entering the boat assigned our company,
started for the opposite shore We had barely
showed off when the musketry fire increased in
volume; our own rifles began to reply: our guns
from the heights in our rear opened their
cavernous mouths hurting their ponderous mis-
siles into and beyond the doomed town, and the
artillery of the foe sent the bolts of death over
the heads of their skirmish line and up towards
the Lacey and Phillips Houses.
Then came the morning of the 18th, and the
great battle was begun. The story of that fearful
conflict, that terrible slaughter of human lives.
has been often told; the whole world has read
how we crossed a deep and sWift-fowing river.
in the very face of vigilant and powerful foe:
how we charged impregnable heights again and
again until there were as many of our numbers
lying upon the earth dead or wounded as
remained in the ranks unframed; and how we
failed but to fully comprehend what transpired
one must have been there to see and to hear.
Step by step we made our way into the town,
through the town, out Of the town, and up the
steep incline leading to Maryes Heights Men
fell by the way in scores to rise no more and
flags and banners went down beneath the blast.
only to be raised by other hands, which in turn
lost their power as the leaden or iron messenger
touched them with deaths relentless finger
Driven back by the deadly fire that met US as
we reached the vicinity of the historic stonewaH.
we reformed and again pressed forward and up
ward. Three times we traversed the same road
in advancing, three times we trod over the same
frozen track as we were hurled back by the
mighty force of the tempest we were breasting
And such carnage! The earth was steaming
with gore and the frozen soil was thawed by the
hot blood poured out as freely az though it were
water-but all in vain
Evening came, and with it reinforcements
Grandly the stalwart regiments, perfect towers
of strength, marched through the gathering gloom
of night and into the smoky cloud that had set
tied down, until it lay like heavy pail along
the base of the ridge where the storm beat fercest
These sturdy heroes pushed back the vaporous
curtain and pierced the thick canopy enveloping
their front, with the bayonet On, on they pressed
until they reached the line of fire, of destruction
of almost utter humiliation, and then, as had
been the case with us, they were forced to stay
their course. Flesh and blood-nay, not even
iron and steel, could withstand the fearful temp
est that swept from scores of cannon and thous-
ands of rifles, striking down everything before it.
Darkness brought relief from our post of danger
We left the field, slippery with blood and strewn
with thousands of forms, some writhing and
grooming in agony, others silent, motionless, dead
Ah the visions of scores of those pale, upturned
faces, as saw them dimly on passing them by,
are with nae yet and will remain with me always
until ole.
IL