The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-24
Copyright by Nelson A. Miles.)

Copyright by Nelson A. Miles)
la relating a few of the bravest,
boldest and most heroic acts that have
come under my observation, I recall a
scene at the battle of Fredericksburg,
Va, December 10, 1862. The army of
the Potomac had crossed the Kappa
hammock under very difficult circum-
stances. The opposite shore was lined
with confederate sharpshooters, and a
pontoon bridge had to be laid under
the fire of their rifles. Our own
sharpshooters were aligned along the
bank of the river, hotly engaging the
rifiemen on the opposite shore, in or
der to attract their attention, and as
much as possible draw their fire away
from the corps of engineers who were
engaged in putting the pontoon
boats into the river and flashing them
together SO hot was the fire that
many of the men were killed, and vol
unteers were called for to take their
places and carry on the desperate
work And there was ready response
10 the call; for singular as it may
seem, in almost every desperate ener-
gency there was no lack of heroic
spirits ready to volunteer to occupy
the most dangerous positions.
The bridge was finally completed,
and a, regiment passed quickly over,
Storming the banks on the other side,
driving back the skirmish line of the
enemy and taking possession of that
side. They were quickly followed by
Ibrigades and divisions who took pos
session of the grounds and drove the
enemy out OF the city, back on 10 the
hills beyond. where the army of North
Virginia had taken up its position in
battle array. Many hours of the day
and the succeeding night were occu-
pied in crossing the army over on the
pontoon bridges. The troops then
moved out across the low ground, and
gradually ascending the heights of
Fredericksburg, encountered the con-
federate forces, who were in very
strong positions, partly behind stone
walls, whence their fire was most de-
structive. and effecting in checking
the Union troops.
A COURAGEOUS YOUNG OFFICER.
While my command of two regi-
mentS was supporting one part OF the
advance line, although not at that mo-
ment hotly engaged themselves, and
were lying down in order to escape
the severe fire of shot and shell that
swept over the field, Captain William
G. Mitchell of General Hancock's staff
rode up to me and said:
General Hancock sends his compli-
y y
command to the right and engage the
enemy in that direction
This order was given under one of
the most terribly destructive fires that
l have ever experienced. Men were
falling rapidly about US, and the whiz
of bullets and the cracking of bursting
shells were rending the air ON every
side. Men under such circumstances
usually display some trepidation, ex-
citement or emotion of some kind. In
fact, it is very rare that at such time
men do not exhibit strong feeling,
either in their tone of voice. the ex-
preston of their face, or otherwise in
dicates the feelings inspired by such
appalling circumstances.
But this young officer was as cool as
ilf on dress parade. He showed himself |
the beau ideal of chivalry, and pre- |
scented a perfect. picture of the true
knight in action. His voice was as /
clear and quiet as if he were in a |
drawing room or as if he were speak
ing under the most ordinary circum-
stances; his large clear, dark eyes in
dicated the cool fortItude that pos
Sessed his soul. He had finely chisel- |
led features, a spare form, dark eye |
brows. light mustache and straight, !
black, unusually long hair, and had the |
attitude, appearance and manner of the |
true soldier
BETWEEN TWO BATTERIES.
on another occasion. in the next en-
suing desperate battle. which occurred
on the field of charlottesville, during
the worst and most desperate fighting
of the. second day of that battle when
the Union forces were being assaulted
at every point. and in several places
were being driven back in some dis
order, a duel was being fought by two
batteries. one ON the Union and the
other on the Confederate side, near
where General Hancock, with his staff.
had taken station. In the shifting
phases of the battle, a division of the
Confederate infantry made a strong as
sault upon one portion of Hancock's
line, and it became necessary for him