The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-16
U. S. ENGINEER BATTALION.
Their Services at FrcdericEs5nrg. Va, 1862, IS.

L. /. Wiley concerning Who Laid the Pom
ICONS at Fredericksburg? and in regard TO
this, as is often the case in general statements,
both are wrong and both right. The .. S. En-
gineer battalion was part Of the Engineer Bril-
gade Army of the Potomac. at least from No
vember, 1862 TO date OF Gen. Mesde's taking
command in June, 1853 This brigade was
composed of the U. S. Engineer battalion, 10th
and 50th n. Y. Engineers, and at the time
mentioned was commanded by Brighten. Ii.
w. Benham, Corps Of Engineers U. S. a. On
one occasion he reviewed the brigade and IS
sued complimentary order concerning us
services. Except during the time mentioned,
the o. S. Engineer battalion was under the d.
rect orders of the commanding General of the
Army of the Potomac from the date of the or
ganization of that historical army until its dis
bandment.
Its services before Fredericksburg were as
follows:
Nov. 81, 1862, bridge-building parties were
detailed but did not go out. Dec. 10, 1862,
moved cut with pontoons at dark and COM
pleted bridge across the Rappahannoek River
at about 10 a M, after having been once driven
away from their work by an attack of the enc
N.Y. and before and during this attack had an
abutment party on the opposite bank, one OF
whom was captured. Tho 18th N. Y. Engi-
ncers built bridge a few yards distant at the
same time. The location of these bridges was
nard place. | will here state fact of general
interest The boats during the night were al
most nOiselessly put in the water by the Engi-
neers, but Just at the break of day they were
discovered at their work by the picket who
then took a brand from the fire near him and
waved it over his head certain fixed number
of times apparently, when colored light was
Immediately shown back of the city and q sig
nal gun fired These bridges remained at this
point Of crossing until they were taken up af-
ter daylight Dec. is. at this time the 00th
n. Y. Engineers built the bridge opposite the
city and another was built several miles down
the river, possibly by detachment of the 10Th
n. Y. Engineers. Jan. 20, 1863, was IN the al
vance to the right, but were unable to reach
the river on account Of the storm, and as last
resort took the boats from the fOundersd
wagons and were dragging them along over the
mud until ordered in person by Gen. Burnside
to stop. (The volunteer Engineers were cut
also NEST probably, but at this writing | can
not state where) April 29again built bridge
at same point May they made this bridge
into RATS and moved them to Fredericksburg by
water, and built a bridge just down from the
railroad bridge at the town. The rats were
| fred upon By WhitWofth gun Of the enemy.
The successful assault on Marye's Nights by
the Sixth Corps took place just as the bridge
was completed. AS the Sixth Corps held the
town, there was, Of course, no opposition 70
building This bridge, aud the artillery lost the
range and stopped firing upon them. This
bridge was taken up by them when the Sixth
Corps retired May 4 by way of bridge built
By the volunteer Engineers at Banks's Ford
June built a bridge by daylight at same
| place as Dec. H. and under a severe fire, Capt
| Charles Z. Cross, their commander, being in
! stantly killed by shdrpshOoter. This bridge
was taken M by them June II. The author
of Washington Gossip" in your issue Of jane
%, describes this occasion, and has since kindly
/ informed me that they were supported by the
| Artillery Brigade Of the Third Division, Sixth
| Corps, ard the Infantry Brigade of Brooks's
! Division, Sixth Corps. During the Winter
! they attended to the binding of Qualifications
| at Acquia Creek and st0ckadcs along the rail
road, made typographical surveys, ana kept {
record of the condition Of the river, etc.
/ will close, however by stating that in the lat
| ter part Of August, 1862, they destroyed bridges
! etc. from Fredericksburg to Acquia Creek
Thus they we're seen, at least By the enemy
while on ornamental duty III that section o
! Virginia.
remember with pride that served in thi
organization three years, from November, 1861
| to 1865 1t was never in other than fatigue
uniform, and it is the universal testimony thai
| we went where we were told, and did our duty
cheerfully and zealously. No soldier can d.
more. Permit me to state few facts, which
| trust viii be OF genera interest.
Co a was organized "a 1916 and did duty il
the Mexican war The late Gen Mcclellan
| was at that time Lieutenant 10 this company
At Contreras Cherubu5c0, MOiino del Rey
ChapulLepec and City OF Mexico they were par
! of the stormiug party. This company, Capt. j
c. Duane (late Chief Corps Of Engineers, y.
A. in command, Jan. o. 1861, arrived a
Washington, d. g., and this little company o
sappers aud miners was a loyal and true re
/ enforcement On March 4 it was the persona
escort of Abraham Lincoln at his inauguration
From April 10 TO Sept. IL it WAS on coutinuou
duty, putting Fort PIcllens, Fla in a condition
for defense. 4 detachment was also at Wash
iugton, and was the first to cross into Virginia
aud took an active part in the construction Q
the Notifications.
IN October the company had returned Il
Washington. Three new companies were or
gained and recruited, one, however, by trans
fers, aud these 800 and over recruits enlisted
just much from patriotic motives as any On
at that time, and the character and disCiplin
of the old company was equal to the task o
making Regulars" out Of them in a compare
lively short time and I consider this vslua
able precedent, for the to0-cOmmon expression
Z" / didn't como out to drill, come out to fight,
had 40 room on their parade ground. On tn
organization Of the Army of the Potomac tn
10th and 50th \. Y. were detailed to enginee
duty, for which they we're particularly we'll
fitted, and at first they were drilled and IN
structed by the old hands j." of the U. s
Engineer battalion, and l have heard numbe
Of them speak Of our Sergeant-Alajo Gerber
with respect and esteem.
] will not go OH with their history, as it
only my purpose to show that they did som
service at an important time in the history {
this country and in loyal, hearty way, an
being permanent organization, in any futaT
emergency they viii be the first to be called {
the front, and it is not right TO belittle wha
they have accomplished in the past or sheer q
what they may be capable of doing in th
future. 1t appears to me to be the patriot
way to have kindly feeling toward our littl
band of Regulars and if there should be
rivalry it should be only generous one an
helpful to all. As to Regulars" being goo
: citizens, go and huns up bow many 80
, diers and sailors of the Regular Army an
, Navy deserted their flag in 1860, 81 aud wei
, to the enemy.-GILBERT THOMPSON, Wasi
) ington, d. G.
shelbyyille 10 Huntsville.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In looki1
, over what the old veterans have to say abol
%I,o T ION