The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-04


WIZ I| In the first place. the
y j flights of Fredercks-
burg are formed by long chain of hills, joined
by elevated ridges of land, the most prominent
of which is Taylor's. upon the northern or right
flank of Union position. In tho center is
Marye's Hill, and the left and to the south
of it is Lees Hill, where that General had his
headquarters at the first battle of Fredericks-
burg. After crossing Hazel Run, which
empties into the Rappahannock, the ridge is
more continuous until it reaches Hamiltons
Crossing, where its lowest elevation is in the
interval of land bordering upon the Kappa
hammock Therefore, strictly speaking. there
is no Maryes flights, but there is a Marye's
Hill, and as that was the objective point of
Newton's Division, 1 will confne my remarks
to the same
NewtOn's Division moved into Fredericks-
burg ON the morning of May g. 1863. Col.
Shaler's Brigade leading the coIumn-Brookss
Division in the rear Of Newton's. while Howe's
Division of the corps was left to protect the
bridge heads and left rear flank Of the corps in
its movement. An assault was made early in
the morning by two or three regiments, but
was quickly repulsed by the enemy. As there
alternative but direct assault, Gen.
Sedgwiek gave orders to Gen. John Newton to
prepare his division for assault upon Marye'5
Hill, defended by Barksdales Mississippi Bril-
gade Of Rfiemen and the Washington Light
Artillery of New Orleans, La.
Two columns of attack were decided upon,
to be supported upon the right and left by regi-
ments in line of battle, which were to be ready
at a moments notice to rush forward in sup
port of the assaulting columns. which were Or
dered to pierce the key-points OF the rebel
position upon the hill.
Under the orders of Sedgwick Gen. John
Newton formed two columns of attack. The
right was commanded by Col. Spear, of the 6lst
Pa, and consisted OF the 61st Pa, and Add N.
Y. This column was supported by the 9th
N. Y. and the 83d Pa commanded by Col.
Shaler, the brigade commander. The left
consisted of the 7th Mass and 36th n. Y,
with Col. Johns as commander of column, and
Lieut. Col. Walsh, of the Seth N. Y, supported
upon its left by Col. Burnham, who CON-
manded the line of battle, composed of the 9th
Wis, acting az skirmishers, and the 9th Me.
and 31st n. Y. belonging to the Light Brigade;
also the 23d Pa, belonging to the division CON-
manded by Gen. Pratt
The position of these several commands was
this before the assault was delivered The
right column, under Spear, was upon the Plank
road, more probably the Frederick sburg and
Orange Plank road; the left column was
formed upon tho Telegraph road, which runs
under Marye's Hill, turning abruptly to the
left as it reaches the foot of the HILL from hi ch
point road branches to the right just before
reaching the hill. and runs directly over the
HILL turns to the left, and re-entera the Tele-
graph road, after crossing Hazel Run. at Alum
Springs Mill, to the West Of Lees Hill. It was
up this road the left column advanced to the
assault of the redoubts upon the hill.
There was no stone wall upon the north side
of this or the Telegraph road; therefore, Mr..
B. A. Campbell First Sergeant, Co. G. 9th Me-,
is wrong in supposng he saw the 6lst Pa.
and ADD N. Y. upon his right. If he saw any
troops they were the 7th Mass. and 36th N. Y
- r. e. Al 4
sault upon the point of the rebel stronghold
this line of battle being the proper cover and
support of the columns left flank and rear.
Now. brother soldiers. in the severe rehec-
tons of each upon the other be sure you are
right and then go ahead. The division of New
ton covered itself with glory that day. There
was glory enough TO go around without pluck
ing the laurels of any. AS relates to the first
flag to rest upon the top of the rebel works, l
will relate circumstance that, to my mind,
proves that the flag of the 7th Mass. was the
first to wave over the fort of the enemy. On the
morning of the Sd of May, 1863. received a
visit from my brother Albert Hutchinson, Ar
tificer, Co. c. Regular Eng ineers, who staid with
me until the order given to assault the
works, whose company helped to lay the pom
to0ns upon which Gibbons Division came to
our support, and who returned to Stafford
flights and saw the assault, always said the
fia2 of the leading regiment of the left column
was the first up the hill, and of course that was
the 7th Mass. Also, the Poet Scout, Jack Craw
ford, says the same thing. So much for the flag
question. | see the 9th Me. boys claim many
prisoners captured and you will see that Gen.
Howe's Division captured prisoners and cam
non; so that Newton's Division did not mOnop-
olize all the good work done that day.
i would ask any member of the several Or
CARNATIONS who fought in Newtons Division.
if their commanding officer addressed any COM
munications to the several Governors of their
States calling attention to their meritorious
services in the assault upon the hill that
day? If so, 1 have failed to see it in print
or find it upon the records of the Adjutant-
Generals Office. But l do know that Gen.
Newton did so call attention to the 7th Mass,
and mainly attributed the success of the assault
to that organization, which has been published
in a previous communication from Capt. Math-
ewson, of the 7th Mass
Therefore, comrades, / acknowledge the
ability of all New England regiments as each
one had some special epoch in its service
where its success shone out more fully than
others The assault of the 7th Mass. upon
Marye's Hill on the Sd of May, 1868, is such a
one in its history, and its members have always
been proud of the confidence tho division CON-
mander had in its staying qualities when he
selected it to lead that deadly assault. and when
it covered itself with imperishable glory under
its able Colonies, Johns and Harlow.-N. V.
HUTCHINSON, Corporal, Co. K, 7th Mass, North
Arlington, Mass.
Non-Committal.
BOSTON Courier.