The Irish standard., 1893-06-10
IRISH SOL DI E RS.
The Bloody Charge Of the Irish
Brigade at Fredericksburg n
Vividly Described.


Vividly Described.
GEN, THOMAS F. MEAGHER,
That Gallant Commander is Not
Responsible for the Slaughter Il
Of His Brave Men.
In his new book entitled chaplain
Life," Father Corby says: ID.
The Irish Brigade was ordered over
the river by Gen. Sumner to explore the
situation, and, finding q battery in posi-
tion. captured two Of the guns and drew
them away by hand in short order. Gen.
Hancock said: Seen. Meagher, / never
saw anything SO splendid
Before going farther, I would say 9:
word on our position. We scamped at
Falmouth, on the north bank Of the Rap-
pahannock, opposite fredericksburg.
The ground here is elevated. Locking
across the river, we saw the city, and inn
mediately behind the city the hills rising
in terraces, in the form Of 9 semi-circle,
as If made by nature for most impreg-
nable position. It was now getting late.
in the season, and we set about fixing our
habitation for the winter thinking, Of
course, that we were there to stay. We
settled down in earnest; built log huts,
rooted them with tents, and built CHM
neys Of sticks and mud--for there was
plenty Of mud. Streets, walks, and other
conveniences were constructed. Father,
.Ouellet, S. j., and I appointed regular
times for mass, sermons, and other re-
ligious duties. In the meantime, the
Contederates masaed on the mills behind
the city, on the south OF the Rappahan-
mock, built breastworks, and got all their
heavy artillery in the best possible posi-
stions. To complete their work they had
over three weeks. On December 10 the
gallant Seventh Michigan untler 9 with:
ering fire from the opposite side-con--
structed pontoon bridge, gaining thereby
the admiration of the entire army. This
one daring deed was enough to give ma
tional glory to the troops of Michigan.
One Of my men, hearing the rumor, came
to me and said: ''Father, they are going
to lead us over in front OF these guns
which we have seen them placing, un-
hindered, for the past three weeks"
I answered him: "Do not trouble your
self; your generals know better than
that"
But, to our great surprise, the poor
soldier was right. On December u, we
were ordered to move; marched to the
banks of the river, and the men rested
on their arms all chat night, ready to
move at moments notice in the morn
ing. During the day it showed, and the
ground was covered. I got on small
brush heap, made by one of the men, to
keep myself out of the mud and soft, wei
snow. There, in the open air-,n COM
pany with my poor men-I spent the
night. They did not know what fearful
fate awaited them next day. On the
morning of December l3, we crossed the
pontoon- bridges. Cheers were heard as
we were going on, and some said: 1T
may be our last cry" We were formed
into line Of battle, and ordered up in
front, with absolutely no protection for
our ranks. As, we advanced, our mon
SIMPLY melted away before the grape
and canister, and the tens of thou
sands Of muskets, we'll protected be-
hind the carefully constructed breast
works. General Meagher advised every
soldier Of the brigade to put sprig Of
box-wood in his cap, 50 that he could be
identified as member OF the brigade
should he fall. These men were found
dead near the cannon 8 mouth on Mary's
Heights. A respondent OF the London
Times, observing the battle from the
hilltop, said:: Never, at Fontenoy, Al
buers, or Waterloo, was more un-
daunted courage displayed. BY the sons
of Erin than during those si1 frantic
dashes which they directed against the
,almoet impregnable position OF the foe." !"
But the place into which Mesgher's
b igade was sent was simply . slaughter
pen. have heard many blame Meagher
for taking his brigade into this psn; but
such persons do not know what they
.criticise. Gen. Meagher and his brigade
simply obeyed the orders Of superior of
.fcers, and went iinsst the time and place
assigned them. Had Gen. Meagher dis
obeyed such legitimate orders, he would
have been liable TO be cashIered, and thus
have disgraced himself and his race for
all futnre time. Needless 70 cay. our
brigade was cut to pieces. Many were
seriously wounded, and recovered later
on, but for the time We had only the rem
suant of q brigade. saw one of the eff
scers, Lieut.. O'Brisn, 81 the Eight eighth,