Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-12-17
Every Soldier Wore IL Sprig of
Green in Memory of His
Native Land.
During Six Frantic Charges
They Lost Over Five
Hundred Men.
NEVER WERE THEY so DETERMINED.

Fredericksburg is located in fertile
valley on the right bank of the Kappa
hammock, fifty miles north of Richmond.
The Rappahannock at this point is skirted
by low crests of hills, which, on the
northern bank, run parallel and close
to the river, and on the opposite side
stretch backward from the river, and
leave a semi-circular plain six miles in
length and from two to three in breadth,
inclosed within their line before they
again approach the river. Immediately
above the town the bluffs are bold and
bare of trees.
On this range and between these spurs,
in December, 1862, the Confederate army,
under Lee, 20, 600 strong, was posted. The
command of Gen. Longstreet occupied
that portion of the range in the imme-
diate vicinity of Fredericksburg, his
right resting on Marye's Hill, on the
crest of which was posted Col. Walton's
far-famed Washington artillery. This
range of hills was so completely com.
manded that Gen. Longstreet the day
before received the report from his chief
of artillery, Col. Alexander, that I'VE
will comb it as with a fine comb. A
chicken could not live on that field when
we open fire."
Burnside, who succeeded Mcclellan in
command of the Army of the Potomac,
crossed the Rappahannock on December
70, and prepared to give battle the next
day, a delay which gave Lee time to
bring Jackson's corps to his assistance.
As Lee was strongly intrenched he did
not wish to oppose the crossing of the
ri,zer The attack ON the Confederate left
could only be made on Marye's Heights.
The dreadful engagement and the
charge of the Irish brigade is thus de-
scribed by Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher,
the commander of the Irish brigade, in
his report to Gen. Burnside:
A little before O'Clock Saturday, the
18th inst, we received orders to fall in
and prepare instantly to take the field.
The brigade being in line, addressed,
separately, to each regiment, a few
words, reminding it of its duty and ex-
horting it to acquit itself of that duty
bravely and nobly to the last. Immedi-
ately after the column swept up the
street toward the scene of action, headed
by Col. Robert Nugent, of the Sixty
ninth, and his veteran regiment-eyery
officer and man wearing sprig of ever
-. L. f,. of ta Ia nd
of his birth.
And in their caps-tho' all around
No tree nor shrub was seen-
They wore-heaven knows from whence
procured
Each man, sprig of green.
Emerging from the street-having
nothing whatever to protect 1.-THE
brigade encountered the full force and
fury of the enemy's fire, and, unable to
resist or reply to it, had to push on to
the mill race, which may be described
as the first of the hostile defenses. Cross
ing this mill race by means of single
bridge, diverging to the right, we had
to deploy into line of battle. The Sixty
ninth, under Col. Nugent. being on the
right, had to stand its ground until the
rest of the brigade came up and formed.
l directed Col. Nugent to throw out
two companies as skirmishers on the
right flank. This order was being car
ried out, when the other regiments of
the brigade, coming up with brisk
step. and deploying in line of battle,
drew down upon themselves a terrific
fire.
Not long they stand in waiting
The bloody strife's begunl
Harkl From the rivers further side
Rings out the signal gun!
Nevertheless, the line was beautifully
and rapidly formed and boldly adj
vanced, Col. Nugent leading on the right,
Col. Patrick Kelly, commanding the
Eighty-eighth. being next in line. both
displaying courageous soldiership.
Major Joseph O'Neill, commanding the
Sixty-third, was as true that day as he
has ever been. His command took posi-
ton on the left of the center of the line.
The center was assigned to the Twenty
eighth Massachusetts,. commanded by
Col. Byrre. the regiment having in its
possession the only green flag under
which the Irish brigade had the privi-
lege that day to advance against the
enemy.
On the left appeared the One Hundred
and Sixteenth Pennsylvania. A new reg
iment, it had but recently joined the
brigade, but in its Conduct from Bolivar
Heights, where Il was first associated
with the brigade, to the present moment,
when its gallantry is placed on record. it
has proved itself worthy of the cause
into which it threw itself with so much
enthusiasm.
Thus formed. under the unabating
tempest and deluge Of shot, the Irish
brigade advanced against the rife pits
aud batteries OF the enemy.