St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-04-23
Storming Mayre's Heights.
The Story Told by Comrade Paddock
Chamberlin Post, st. Johnsbury.

The Story Told by Comrade Paddock tc
Chamberlin Post, st. Johnsbury.
have selected for my subject the
Storming OF Mayre's Heights and the
battle of Salem Church, because this
was one of the few engagements in
which | took part. Although | was in
the service four years, as private, i
was for the greater part of that time,
detailed in brigade and regimental
bands as "A musician. Musicians did
not do much fighting. All of you old
soldiers remember, that the first scream
of "A shell to the musician, was as good
as an order to go to the rear. And
that was the proper place for them, for
they could be of no use at the front,
and they could be of use at the rear,
in caring for the wounded at the hos
pitfalls. The old Vermont Brigade
band did noble service in the Wilder
ness campaign, in the hospitals. In
the spring of 1868 | was with my COM
pany and carrying gun, and that is
my excuse for speaking on this subject,
before men who have had so much
more hard fighting than | have. In
what have to say, shall follow for
the most part the movements of my
own regiment, the Sd VT, not because
| wish you to think they did all the
fighting, for they did not. The part
they took was insignificant, compared
with some other regiments, but be-
cause | saw more of what they did,
than any other.
Perhaps it will be well for me to
give little description of Fredericks
burgh and vicinity, in order that those
of you who have not been there may
better understand what follows. Fred
ericksburgh is situated on the south
bank of the Rappahannock, 80 miles
inL ton, and ID or % miles from Aqua
Greek on the Potomac, to which point
there is railroad, and from Aqua
Creek to Washington communication
is 10y steam boat. Fredericksburgh is
built on ii level plateau or meadow
close to the river, and at the back of
the town rises a range of very steep
hills these hills are called Mayre's
Heights. They are so named after
Mr.. John T. Mayre who owned an ex
teusive estate on them. Mr.. Mayre's
house was on the hill just back of the
town, and it is said that fifty cannon
balls passed through the parlOr of the
house during the two battles fought
here. Just below the town the hills
recede from the river, till at a distance
of two miles below the town, there is n
broad level plain, extending two miles
from the river To the hills. About a
mile and half below the town, a
brook comes down from the hills
through deep ravine this ravine is
called Deep Run. This Deep Run
marked the boundary of the two wings
of Burnside's army in the first battle
of Fredericksburgh, the battle fought
by the LIST and 9th corps below Deep
Run bring really n separate battle from
that fought by the right wing in the
vicinity of the town. Across the river
on the north bank Il similar line of
hills extends, but they come much
closer to the river. These hills are
called Falmouth heights, and on them
our heavy artillery was posted during
both battles. In the month of NOvem-
Der 1862, when the army was march
ing back into Virginia, from the An
tietam campaign, Gen. Mcclellan was
relieved of the command and Gen.
Burnside appointed in his place. Gen.
Burnside decided to march on to Rich
mond by way of Fredericksburgh,
cross the river and take possession of
the town and heights, before Lee
should become aware of his move
ment, in consequence of the nOn-arri-
val of his pontoon train from Wash
ingtOn, so that he was unable to lay
his bridges. Gen. Lee, however, did
arrive, and took possession of the town
and heights and fortified them. On
the ] It'll of December, Gen. Burnside
decided to cross the river and fight
Lee in his stronghold. 1t was gener-
ally believed by the whole army that
this movement would result in defeat,
even before it was made. However,
the army crossed over, and on the 18th
of December the bloody battle of Fred
ericksburgh was fought, resulting in
the defeat of our army, and the loss of
over 1900 men.
Speaking of Fredericksburgh re-
minds me of a story which was current
in the army at this time of old Gen. |
Brooks, the first brigade commander
of the Vt. Brigade. Gen. Brooks was
very rough man, but an excellent
soldier. He had been in the regular
army 40 years when the war begun. |
Gen. Brooks at this time was com
manding the LIST division of the 9th |
corps. On the night after the battle,
Gen. Burnside called a council of war,
at which all the corps and division
commanders were present. After
nearly all the officers present had ex-
pressed the opinion that the only thing
to do was to retreat, Gen. Burnside !
turned to Gen. Brooks and said, "Gen. |
Brooks, what is your opinion, had we
better go back 7" Gen. Brooks looked |
up and growled out, 'Go back7 No
body but a - fool would ever come |
over here Gen. Burnside at once