The National tribune., 1884-01-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Cur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
rl.e stormInr o. Marye,s Height..

IN perusing the columns of IHE TRIBUNE OF
November %, my glance fell upon the words
aNarve's Heights at the head of an article
over the signature of one Of the " Vermont
Bows as we used to term them in the days
long ago" when we of the 6th Maine marched
and fought in The same line of battle with them
SO often What magic there is in those words,
and what memories they arouse. How they
carry me back over the twenty years, and
see again in memory and participate again IN
imagination in the glorious yet sad work OF
that glorious IN its victory and sad IN It's
memories. 1t is not my purpose here TO detract
from the gallant part the ID Vermont took in
this action, nor would / pluck one bright
feather from their plume. 1t is my purpose
simply to tell my story Of Maryes Heights as
saw Il and participated in it on that memoir
able Sd Of May, 1863. During the winter
months Of 1853 there was organized in the 9th
CORPS what was known as the light division. or
slight brigade" as more commonly called. 1t
was composed Of the 9th Maine, 18th Wisconsin,
slst and 43d New York, and 6lst Pennsylvania
AL volunteer regiments. These regiments
were put under the commsnd Of ana drilled by
Briaadier-General C. l. Pratt, Of New York.
Theirdslinguishing badge was green cross,
worn upon the cap. During the winter every
pains was taken to bring their efficiency up TO
the highest point Of perfection in drill and
discipline and when spring opened and march
ing orders were received no finer brigade ex-
listed in the Army Of the Potomac On the
afternoon Of May it was understood that We
were sooa 10 move. and that evening We broke
camp and started for the Rappahannock River.
All night long we made pack mules OF ourselves,
Iug1ing pontoons dowa TO the river, and 50
quietly gas this done. the night being ex-
fremelv dark that when we had launched the
PORTIONS no intimatioR OF our doings had
reached the enemy across the river. deiach-
ment of our regiment and, think, details
from other regiments We're feTried across,
and captured the rebel pcllets on the south
bank OF the river before they knew what
was up This was in the early morning OF
Nav and about two miles below the city Of
Fredericksburg. Nothing Of much importance
tEanspiTai during the day, except sanae heavy
skirmisliine all along the lines and towards
night We lad driven their line Of piciets ID,
and an hands judged them to be very weak all
along the line. The next morning. May 3.
daEned bright and clear and the thunder Of
great guns tod Us The battle was on. Our
heavy batteries on Falmouth Heights, above
the city. c01meneed sleiiing the rebel works
in a steady and deliberate manner, and, ever
and ans.l. some Of the shells burst within our
own linss. The light brigade marched, by the
right flank. up the river and took position d.
rectly III the rear of the city and below and
under 5iarges Heights. And now, TO the sur
prise OF al, came the news that General Pratt
had resigned and the command Of the light
brigade had deyolved upon Colnzel Hiram
BurDhaH OF the 9th Maine and that we were
soon 10 assault the heights Everything was
got III readiness and that calm which is said
always 10 f.raCede storm rested FOR few mo-
merits over the scene. The brigade was formed,
as near as my memory serves me, as follows /:
Sta Wisconsin, Colonel alien, II advance, with
Eve companies Of this regiment as a double
line o. sksrsnisAars. Following the 9Th Wis
c0nsin came tie 9Th Maine, uader command of
Lieutenant Colonel Il. f. Harris this regiment
numbered 40 mem, IN tie following order:
COmpanics s. +. D, J. G, II, Z. K. 9, Be be-
ing the color company. On our right was. II
mistake not the sd NeE York Colonel Ba-
keTl and the 3lsf New York Colonel Jones',
while further To the right was the 6Ist Penn-
syiFl1aia aionei Spear Between - aid II
c'cipck tie order was gwen 20 advance The
gallant EuFa'Iaza- disd4in5ng the tugls call.
rOoe doEa the llne. and n stentoTlan voice
gave the D-ler: I" Forward" The command
OF Colonel Harris 10 theFjth Maine was: Boys
We're sosng 10 charge those heights yender
aud we'te going TO take rhem- too. Arms
apOrt, doa -e-gulck. nsaTea - And 10 crdadel
sight nss ever seen in the battles or tie arms
OF tic foan82c. Steadily the lines swept on
over the te&nt ful green grass. soon to he red
dene6 T.th the blood Of 50 many Of ny com
raies-
TIE BAH oPESs.
The she. and shell few ike missiles from
tornado TIE grape and canister hurtled
through Ire ranks. cutting great gaps il
the iiEg walls. Orders We're given
Close ua STEADY, boys and The mex; time
another voice gave tse command. i case-sho
orAhTapAAl bad exp ode3 at.he head of fieBIs
PcnnsyiTaaia regiment, killing Colonel Spear
and Eileen men. aud fer a iime throwing th9
Regiment i.lto confusion. VIZ were now on thl
very gr0eaG where the brave Neaeiier and al
nnRie lr5saI8en We're "a fearfuliy cut np OF
December -. 1852. OF the 9th Maize. Maio
Hayc9ck had fallen shot through the heart
aud Captains Gray. NoHnE. B&liancer Brick
and k9aci Sere Gown. We lad reached tie lrs
line Of Elhe-a.ts. aad the 9Th Maine and the 81
MiscomsiH, mingled as one regiment Wild.
broke ever the rlde-P5ts carrying all before
them. the rebels IL itis line throwing dowi
their arms AID iAatcliug 70 the rear. A few
rods furtaer ca. iusi q. tho foot 0f the tiiil W
came u FAe Second .iHe 81 TiAe-pits Here Iii
fighting WIS desperate. The JOhnnics work
not yield q foot 81 ground. aud orr boys sgeal,
not tuFn back. Cur line WAS Intact and irgn
Although nearly aYeTy commissioned ogicei
was killed ~ wounded. and companies wsn
commanded by sergeants aud corporais Ia
best q cises % ine was OBSERVED. and the me.
fought - th the courage 81 despair. maidenei
b. T1eig AaafN loss, and the feFhag Oi the reDel
who had surrendered IL The frs; line, an,
seeing Us temporarily checked. attempted L
shoot us goa .Be rear. len became feais
The laia ..eG.a ~ Maine 2ni Wisconsin SIR
hal handled pick and spike al their Ewes 81
the rivers aal iog.jams. here used their gua
much ID tfes&n2e manner. Mike Casey, 2 s5al
war; trishman from the toxin Of Topsseld. Ne
ar oia log-8rireT. when he ssw the Johnnie
break!ne ~ ~ oat Basg galfrpy. Ssys l.aus
boom FL boom EN-" asa junIlng ap0n II
eartanurks hs kicked . siaat Confeasrat t
the ground ana drOve his bagoaef 10 the hii
ia bis breaet Corporal Bre@a of company G
used 4is yRa as a c.nh, aud. ike razd 1e.aou
Drained afe ueH. wiry little Frcnchsnat
Miles bE isa1ae. IT co.apasy q, bayoaetteI ma
after man, sid wben ialpiorcd by a rebel I
spare h.m. FER God s sake" cried BE kno,
10 God sea lliH NE iae NH You. Aud afoy
az this beliyve5 forth the guns above on
heads, 81 i.e.r then tba. bat little hsrn 81.
zone.
Bow TIE Day WAS woE.
The line swept Oh, aad now up the stes
hill and oger tire cscarpmcDt 81 the stoac w;i
pclimcli sergeant 81. tie color sesee;tstt
the 9Th, was knocked down aud the colo
badly shattered asd tera. Sergeant Hill - con
many &, efA Maiae, gF7spad the Gag. ail
sprilgiRg gloa tAa PaTaPet Just rs . cGaiig
was discaafxcG, tao smoke el which iiacke8s
has face planted thc STANDARD friaiy Ia II
earth, and tlie Stays aad stripes foatca aigr
ssl