Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-11-19
ON MAKYE'S HILL.
REPU-Ss OF THE FEDERAL lines
AT FREDERICKSBURG.
An TX -Confederate's Account of tina Work
Done by the Washington ARTILLERY
The First Assault Nsagher's
Gallant Irish Brigade.

New Orleans Times Democrat Boos Reyiew.i
The attack OF the Union army Oh Marys's
hill at tbs battle OF Frederick sour. is thus
described by Aijt W. IL Owsn in his in
teresting narrative:
At last the Federal line il s.Irme1. and ap-
pears above -he ridge and advances. What
a magniicsas sight 1t Is! We have never
witnessed such battle array before; long
lines following one another, OF brigade
trorr IL Seemel like soms huge blue SER
penJ about 10 encompass ani crush US in its
folds, their muskst barrels cleaning brightly
in the sunlight their gay colors euttsring
in the bresza The lines advance at the
double-quick, and the ali.nmsnts ara beau
tifuily kept The board fences inclo.ing ths
gardens fall like walls of mere paper Then
the loud. full voice Of Col Walton rings
out: "'Teation! Commence fir-i-ng.!' aud
instantly the ed 20 of Marye's hill is fringei
with flame. The dreadful work OF the
Washingto artillery has begun.
WARNING UP.
The boys soon warm up % their work and
aim and fire coolly ami deliberately. Nearer
and nearer the enemy's line advances, and
now they ars within range of canister. and
we give IL 20 them. Now they are nearer
enough TO the infantry in the sunken road,
the Georgilns and the North Carolinians;
and they are unseen by the enemy, for the
smoke is beginning TO cover the field. All
at once the gray line below us rises; one
moment TO glance along tho trusty rife
barrels, and volley after volley i poured
into the enemy's rank. Great gaps appear;
we give them canister again AMI again; a
few leave the ranks-mors follow; the lines
halt for an instant, ani, turning, ars seen
running in great disor1 or toward the town.
The first assault has been met and repulsed.
The field before US is dottei with patches OF
blue: they are the deaf ami wounded OF the
Federal infantry.
It was the division of French that had
charged the hill. and was shattered, with
the loss of half their numbers.
Hancock's division now advances in
splendid style, and being joined by remnants
OF French's comHIani, pushes on valiantly
10 and beyond the point French had reached,
and then. in little more than fifteen minutes,
like our first Assailants, are forced back.
OF the 5000 men Hancock Led into action
1000 fell in the charge. With Hancock
came the Ecuaves and the Irish brigade Of
Meagher, bearing aloft the green fiag with
the golden narp OF Ireland The brave fell
lows camg within five and twenty PAGES Of
OF shot,. shell, canister and musketry as no
command was ever known to live through.
The results was that twO-thirls OF this
spiel. lid and gallant brigade was left upon
the field killed and wounded.
DRIVEN BACK.
To relieve Hancock's and Freuch,s hard
pressed battalions HOwari's division now
came up, with the division OF Sturgis and
the brigade of Carroll. and again assailed
the kill. Observing this movement Gen.
Ransom brought up the three reserve regi-
ments Of his brigade TO within 100 yards of
tie crest Of the hill, and pushed forward
the Twenty fifth North Carolina volunteers
TO the crest The enemy. almost massed,
moved TO the charge heriocally, and met
the withering fire OF the Washington artil-
lery and small arms with great stsaiiness.
On they came TO within less than l51
PAGES Of our line; but nothing could live be-
fore the storm OK lead that was hurled at
them from this distance. They wavere1,
broke, and rushed headlong from the field.
A few, however, more resoluts than the
rest, fingered under cover of some houses
and ANNOYED US with scattering but we'll
directed fire. The Twenty fifth North Car
oliaa volunteers reached the crest of the
hill, where Miller's guns were postal, halted,
dressed their lines, and poured n few vol
leys into the enemy at a most deadly range,
and then dashed down the hill and took
position shoulder to shoulder with Cobb's
aud Cooks men in the road. Men OF the
Twenty fifth North Carolina had fallen
upon Millers redoubt, and he had II drag
their bodies away from the muzzles Of his
guns