The National tribune., 1897-04-29
che immediate command of Lieut. Col Bax-

ter.
The Confederates occupied fredericksburg
with the Army of Northern Virginia, num-
bering about $4,000, strongly intrenched.
and had Constructed O line Of rife pits on
Front street. in which was posted q brigade
of infantry as sharpshooters. This was the
FIRST street just on top of the bank of the
river, and ran parallel with the river This
force made 1t quite interesting to those who
dared to show themselves near the water on
our side of the river, for the distance be-
tween the two banks was just good rife
range.
Early in the morning of this day the Both
n. Y, one of the regiments Of the Engineer
Corps, attempted TO lay ponioon bridge, and
succeeded in putting . nnmberoi the pom
toons into the river and in laying the bridge
part of the way across the river: but soen
the fog cleared away, and the fire OF the
enemy was SO severe and deadly. after the
loss OF several men and officers the regiment
drew of. and abandoned the partially-con-
strucied bridge.
This regiment had drawn up Q portion of
the roaioon train close TO the hank OF the
river. and some OF the boats had been leit on
the trucks, while those taken off were either
put into the bridge or left in the water tied
TO the bank.
Several days previous to this morning .
rumor had spread through the camp that
soon a general movement would be made
acro>s the river for the purpose of capturing
Fredericksburg. Dotw outstanding the strong
position of the enemy and his Notifications.
So on the morning of the l1th, Just alter the
Both n. Y. had been driven away from its
par;ally-oonstrucie bridge, Gen. Burnside
remarked TO Col. Hall, who, in the event
the 50th \. Y. had succeeded in laying the
bridge, was to cross his brigade first, that
the bridge could not be laid unless the
emmy could first be driven from bis rife
pits on First street, and in order to dslodge
them troops would have to cross the river
BY some means
Col. Hall said he had . brigade which
would cross for this purpose, but finally
modified this statement by saying he had
regiment which would cross. Gen. Burnside
asked: What regiment?" Hail replied:
Tie 9TH MIcb.n Gen. Burnside hesitated,
then said that under the circumstances he
did not feel like assuming the responsibility
o. ordering any troops TO cross, for the effort
meat death to the most OF those who should
undertake the voyage, but if any should
cross under the conditions it would be one
OF the greatest military feats Of the war.
While Ibis conversation was gong on be-
tween these two officers / was standing
close by item, gave the matter close stien-
tion, aud Heard all thai was said at this
time Several other me hers oil the regiment
were near, and heard this conversation. Col
Hall turned 10 the men and proposed TO
cross the river, and the men signified their
willingness to make the effort by giving
three cheers.
Lleut-Coi. Baxter gave the regiment the
necessary instructions, marched it to the bank
OF The river at the point where the 50ih n.
\. had attempted TO lay The poDtoon bridge,
where the men concealed themselves from
the enemy and protected themselves from
his hre by lying hat on the ground. in this
CONDITION We patiently waited for the signal
to rush 10 the pontoon boats. The men
were instructed not to IRE We were further
instructed that, on reaching the opposite
side of the river, no regular line was TO be
formed, but the men were TO keep close to
each other and make q rush for the enemy's
rifie-pit~ each man to make the best fight
be could.
About o'clock in the afternoon The sig
nal v ar gwen Tor the regiment TO cross, and
out OF l35 men present for duty, 1874
emerged from their hiding places and rushed
tVi Tue bodtt ~ WAS tue UNDERSTANDING
that the 50ih n. Y. would be in place To
man the boats, but for some reason this regi-
rept was not present. Now, let il be I'M
derstood, the TIN Mich. WAS the only regi-
ment in position Oh The bank, or that made
any effort 10 cross at this ;ime, or, 80 far az
j know, volunteered to Cross
Some OF the pontoon boats which were to
be used were in the wafer, others had 10 be
taken from the trucks which stood near the
bank, where they were LEI. by the 50ih n.
Y. in the morning 1 succeeded in getting
into one of the boats which was in the
water, and a rush was made for the opposite
shore with all possible speed. The enemy
opened with brisk fire from the pifle-rits,
and during the time the boats were cross
In men and boats were under q heavy fire,
without protection of any kind OF an oppor-
tunity to reply.
Az tie boats cut loose from the shore 100
pieces OF artillery belched forth shot and
shell upon the enemy. and he air was filed
with q hail of lead and iron. AS soon
as the bow of the boat struck the shore.
the men in that end made the landing dry
shod, while those midships and in the stern
jumped into the water and waded ashore.
The water was cold, but il was no time for
ceremony, or to dehark in any regular order
Tor the enemy was raking our craft fore and
aft
Immediately, and without forming line,