The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-08
II. 6. ENGINEERS.
Who Laid the Pontoons at Frederlcksburgl


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1t will be
task for the historian to sift out the wealth of
material which is being now placed upon rec
ord. Once it seemed marvel to me that there
could be any doubt about the particulars of
any conspicuous event of the war, but since |
have gone into some researches of the kind
myself it is no longer wonder, and / believe
the comrades are doing great service by their
remarks and criticisms upon published state
ments.
1t may seem to many readers that the laying
of pontoon bridge is an uIfimportant matter
but have yet to find soldier who would like
the task, and armies have always waited until
the work was completed. However, l will add
little more information to the matter in hand.
The United States Engineer troops and the
18th N. Y. Engineers laid two pontoon bridges
below the city of Fredericksburg, Va, Dec. IL,
1862. When they were about one-half COM
pleted the working parties were driven away
by an attack of the enemy. Al this time Sergt
Robert Ayres, of the United States Engineers,
with an abutment party, without arms, were
on the opposite shore and thus were the first
to cross the river. One of the party was capt
ured. While they were huggng the bank
whimsical incident occurred One of the party
was behind bit of wreck of some vessel, and
a rabbit frightened out by the racket, came
hopping along, and when just by our man was
pulled in the first grayback to be taken prls-
Oner, ana UnaG 0lBuD Il JerTlDl6 IeEuldI
turned out to be u cannibal of a rather common
type at that date.
These bridges were ready for troops to cross by
10 a. M but none went over until about sunset.
During the work the Engineers were without
arms, but were supported by a volunteer regi-
ment which drove the skirmishers of the enc
my away, aided by the fire of a battery of
artillery. / would like to know what regiment
this was. Thev were good, brave fellows.
will relate another incident of this occasion.
The Engineer troops from Serg't Ayres crossing
over etc, had an idea that our forces had
| crossed above and held the opposite bank,
which even the attack upon them did not en-
tiTely dispel. The enemy had just got out OF
sight and while there was some firing even
going on, an officer having on a United States
artillery oveTcOat, with the cape thrown back,
mounted on a sOrrel horse rode out and then
called out in commanding way, Stop fir
ing!" This, with the idea in our minds, caused
the firing to instantly stop. He took good
view of the work, and then raising his hat
called out Three cheers for JEFF Davis!" He
was Immediately the target of every man with
rifle, but he still stayed there, his horse WING
ing a little and his cape flying out as though
hit, when he suddenly rode away. 1t could
not have been other than mad freak, as he
was found dead, understand, when our troops
crossed there. Maybe some ComTade knows
more about this circumstance.
Anyway we learned at Fredericksburg that
in the face of the enemy the best way to throw a
pontoon bridge is first to take the infantry
across in the boats and get possession of the
opposite bank, a real man-of-war fight for the
time being.
The bridge opposite the city was finally built
in this way at that date. 1t should have been
done so at first. In an account before me it
states that the 18th Mich. 10Th and goth Mass, of
Towards Division, rowing themselves over,
Il oil
gallant action enabled the engineers to COM
plete the bridge. Gen. d. A. COUGHS Century
article)
There seems to have been an agreement on
the part of the enemy to allow the bridges to
be about half completed and then to drive the
men away. In 1881, in Arizona, one of my
packers was one of Barksdale's sharpshooters
on this occasion, and gave me very good de-
scription of it. They had it all their own way
until the troops crossed, the artillery fire only
driving them into better holes.
When the United States Engineers built the
bridge there May 3, 1863. picked up in one of
the houses near by a rough drawing-Chinesc
style-of the laying of the bridge 1t was
| inscribed Barksdales brave Mississippi boys"
! still have it, but even at this late day don't
think Harpers Pictorial would publish it. When
the history of the 50th n. Y. Engineers begins
will cheerfully place it at the service of their
historian.
In closing this, I fear, long article would
state that have taken up the writing of the
| History of the United States Engineer
Troops" and be assured that every Engineer
Regular or volunteer, will be impartially men
toned. ] would be much obliged for the adj
dress Of anyone who could give me informa-
ton. I have now q very fair daily record from
1861 to IS, T. Yogi, J. II. Black and II. Ma
loney have placed their war journals in my
hands. Officers of the corps have already
given me valuable information. l trust that
these articles will spur the comrades of the
volunteer engineers to the same duty, as time
is wearing out records as well as recollection
GILBERT THOMSON United States Engineer
Battalion, Box 59r Washington, d. c.