The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-12-26

| Glenn was ordered with the right wing
of the Odd to make feint in the direction
of the stone wall at the foot of Maryes
Nights, so as TO develop the enemy's line
The morning was very foggy. You could
scarcely see your hand before your face.
The deployed line advanced to within 10
rods of the wall, when it was met with a muir
derous fire from the road and hillside For
tunately. the fire was rather high and did
very little execution The position of the
enemy being developed, the regiment was or
dered to fall back short distance, and held
the ground, with the aid of our batteries, I'M
I'll the final charge was made.
Preparation was then made for the assault
of this intrenched position, in which the
enemy felt so secure, the plan adopted be-
ing that of Gen. Newton, our division COM
mandeI, at the consultation invited by Gen.
Sedgwick, the corps commander, which was
to deplOy the encmy's line as much as pos
sible with this in view.
The 65th n Y Tor Chasseurs) Col. Joe
Hamblin, and the 122d n. Y was sent of
TO the enemys left rs feint to attack
Taylor's Hill. This caused WilcoX's Brigade
to be sent in the direction of Banks's Ford,
leaving the enemy troops and batteries with
out immediate support; our brigade COM
mander. Gen Alex. ShaleT. forming a column
of attack in one of the streets of the town,
consisting of the 6lst Pa, Col George Spear;
81 \. Y. Tor Long Island. Col. Cross; 43d \.
Y, and SD Pa, Maj. Bassett.
This column was to charge up the road that
passed around the left ofthe flights, while
line to the left of the road, composed OF the
9th Me, 9th Wis, and 31st n. Y, under the
command of Col. Johns, was to charge directly
on the stone wall at the foot of the Nights.
About II n. m. the attack began.
Shaler's command moving down the road
III column of companies was met with muir
derous fire of musketry and canister the head
OF the column being almost annihlated at the
crossing Of the Canal road bridge. Here
Shaler distinguished himself for which he
was awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor, IN personally pushing forward his
column, carrying everything before them,
piercing the enemy's line on their left, and
thanking the position.
The column of Col Johns charged directly
on the stone wall and up the Nights The
23d Ia. was not of the stOrming party but at
a critical moment of the charge on the stone
wall spontaneously, without orders, joined
In the column that swept over the wall and
mp the flights, losing u killed and wounded.
All hail TO the 9th Me- and the 9th Wis, for
the heroic work of that day
After the capture of the flights the division
(Newton's) was ordered to advance to Salem
Church, about five miles in rear of Fredericks-
burg, where the First and Second Divisions
of the Sixth Corps were holly engaged; Gen.
Sedgwick, our Uncle John" commanding
the corps, having pushed on to this place TO
form junction with Hooker and the bal
ance of the Army of the Potomac who were
at Charlottesville.
Here the greatest blunder was made. In
stead of Hooker attacking the enemy on his
front when the Sixth Corps was laundering
in his rear at Salem Church. he contented
himself with holding his position. 1t now APP
pears that Gen. Lee left 1900 troops on
H0okcr's front, keeping up continuous fire.
while the balance of his army was sent back
to crush the gallant Sixth Corps.
The glorious old corps with Sedgwick
formed lines with both wings refused and
maintained their lines, repulsing attacks in
front and on both TANKS, holding the army of
Lee in check until. late at night of May i,
they recrossed the river with the loss of one
piece of corps property, that Of a blacksmith's
forge which drove into the streets of Freder-
icksburg after the enemy had reoccupied the
town.
The Sixth Corps lost IN the two battles Of
May ,, Marye's Nights and Salem Church,
4, 900 killed and wounded, bringing off the
field four stands of the enemy's colors, five
pieces of artillery, and 13 600 prisoners The
balance of the artillery captured in the morn
ing were left in the streets of Fredericksburg,
and fell into the enemy's hands when they
occupied the town. The corps did ali that
1t was expected TO do, and more, and its sur
vivors believe had Hooker at Charlottesville |
attacked Lee vigorously while the Sixth
Corps was holding its end up at Salem
Church the close OF the day would have seen
Lees army destroyed.-WM. J. WRAY,
23d Pa, Erie, Pa.