The National tribune., 1890-06-19
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Laying the Pontoons Before the Disastrous Bn

Cf1R IN L lSLNDSSV ILLE.
Laying the Ponoons Before the Disastrous Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having read
with interest the letter Of Licut-COl. X. II.
Dawes, 9Th Wis, in recent issue of your paper,
being present Mt the time spoken OF by him,
and taking some little part in what transpred,
n few words may not be deemed out of place.
The Engineer Brigade Army Of the Potomac.
consisted of the 50th and 18th n Y Engineers.
aud, think, four companies of Regulars. They
were under command of Gen. II. w. Benham at
tho battle of Charlottesville, and as they had
to lay pontoon bridges at several different
points on the Rappahaunock, tho brigade was
necessarily broken up in detachments aud
scattered many miles up aud down the river
For several days before tho army was put in
motion, the Engineer Brigade were cutting
new roads through the forest leading TO tho
river, and putting their poutoons In shape for
the forward movement, and during tho night Of
the 2Sth OF April, 1865. all the pnraphernalia for
laying pont0on bridges were moved 80 the
different places where IL was decided to cross
the river Co. II and. think il was Co c of
the 50th went TO the place called by Col Dawes
Pollock's Mill. or Fitz Hugb's Crossing but
was known TO the Engineers rs Deep Bottom
situated about four miles below fredericksburg,
whore the First Corps were 20 cross. The Sixth
NtIF5 tIpSNtu HbUuA TWO blllcS ABOVE, AT 81 place
called by the Engineers Fraukiin's Crossing
A portion of the 18th laid the bridges for the
Sixth Corps
As ] recollcct the facts while they are not
materially different from those stated by Col.
Dawes, still there are some details not quite in
harmony with his statement There was q
stone wall about two feet high, with rails on
top, intended for fence which was then in
diApdated condition, at right angles with the
fuH htlurt sb.tra 4 "a
lay the bridges. In the early morning the 9Th
Wis. and 2ith Mich. were under cover of this
stone fence or wall as sharpshooters, picking
of what few rebels venturcd To- show themselves
outside OF their rlfle.pit upon the opposite
side Of tho river. The batteries OF the First
Corps were also some distance back from the
river, sending stray shells ut every object to- be
seen on the opposite side. Al about o'clock
a. III. the Sixth Corps had crossed aud were
IN line Of battle above IA. ecu. Hooker then
sent an order 10 Gea. Reynolds To cross
the river with his corps Mt once and at
all hazards. Cos. III aud & of tho 5Oth were
then ordered 10 take their pontoOns to tho
river aud carry over tho 9th Wis. and 9th Mich,
which regiments were To- seize the rebel rifle
pits which would enable us 20 lay the bridges
without annoyance from rebel bullets. The
boats were sufficiently large TO carry about 80
men each, aud while the Engineers were carry
ing tho p0ntoons 10 the river q heavy cannon
aiding was kept up from our side, sending the
missiles directly over our heads. The rifle.
pits had been previously prepared, so as to giyo
the men III them decided advantage. The
grade on top Of tho front of the pit had been so
made that the gun could be- laid on this grade,
aud the ball would strike when fred lust where
our men would necessarily BIO in attempting to
cross tho river at this point; hence the rebels
were entirely out OF sight, hidden i'm tho rifle
pi!, Their guns only appearing upon the out
side, The shells from our side however being
landed MS near or on top of the front of the pit
as possible, made 10 somewhat warm for oven
the rebel muskets 10 bo put outside.
Each boat was manned with rowing squad
detailed from tho Engineers, whose business
was 10 row the boats across the river, which
thcy ala. Gen. WadSworth was there in com
mand OF the First Division, First Corps, giving
general directions aud seeing To things in per
son. My company being one of the two whose
business 1t was To get the infantry across and
then to lay the bridges brought mo in direct
contact with Gen. Wadsworth. His horse stood
near the river bank, while he, dismouuted. was
engaged In getting the men into the boats and
sending them across When tho last boat was
hlled and just ready 10 DO pushed of he said
" Hold on J" and stepped 10 his horse. threw
the lines over his head tthey were hanging
loosely upon the saddlo) and with them in ono
hand jumped into the stern of the boat and
-A'N W 'AN' AsSulCHhnl, push him ln," L
directed some OF my men 10 assist, aud while
the animal was not eagerly anxious to make q
plunge INTO the deep water, sufficient force
from the rear caused him To take what might
be regarded as very unwelcome bath As tho
General stood erect, ] should say about six
Icet thfee inches in his boots, crossing That
stream, with bullets flying thick aud fast in
almost every direction. the laundering of bat
teries ana mnhketry from our side playing by
Tor the largest part. it is not strange that tho
writer hereof should make the remark Mt the
Time, 1en. NadSwOrth will never 20 through
ihis war lie is too brave man. He'll be
shot before tho end" Aud so il turned out
Gen Wadswofth's life was laid upon his coun.
Try a'thf NJ inc Wilderness, and "a Drawer, bet
ter man never fell upon Virginia soil.
After the two regiments were over and had
carried The riic.pits and captured all tho reb.
els III them, which my diary says was about |
lpo, We at once commenced laying two bridges !
i ne stream was about $50 feet In width and |
there was quite strife rs TO which company
should lay It's bridge the quickest Co. III
haa the lower and Go. the upper one, and |
both commenced TT the same time. Co. G fin. |
ished theirs III just % minutes and Co. III |
were Just 80 minutes. Just how this could be |
30 was decidedly hard for me TO understand. as |
knew my company" couldn't be beaten bv |
any other In the regiment But shortly after |
suggested that our bridge was the |
lohsesl, anu on counting IL was found that we |
had laid I'D boats, while the upper ono only |
lS This eVened matters up. and |
some called 1t square. BY 10 o'clock the bal. |
ance of the corps began to cross our bridges. |
and by noon all were over
Inc diagram as given by Col. Dawes. and |
printed In The NATIONAL tribune, seems To |
be wrong'sde up. In order TO see the ground |
from our side the paper has TO be turned up. |
side down. The "brick "houso which he speaks |
Of and gives in the diagram, WAS q log hut, but |
It's location is correct. / remember ID very dis
tinctly, as ] was close to it several times, and |
that ia the morning a rebel gun was
run down behind it, and run out to one side
Of it, one shot given, when it was as quickly
ilsmounted by shot from one of the First
Corps batteries.-JNo. Il. DAVIDSON, Captain.
20. ii, Goth N. Y. Engineers, Elmira, N. Y,
Consumption Surely Cured.