The National tribune., 1901-09-05
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BY Capt. M. II. MCNAMARA, 9th Mass.

We remained in camp at Falmouth a
few days, while Gen. Burnside was per
fecting his plans for the siege of Fred
ericksburg, which commenced on Dec. IL,
1862.
The siege guns of the Army of the Po-
tomac in position on elevated points on
the right and left of the houses of Phil
lips and De Lacey, opening fire upon the
city, and continuing, for nearly three days,
to hurl into the devoted city their ire
mendous missiles of destruction. Our en-
gineerS were desperately STRIVING, under
the cover of our guns, TO lay a pOntOon
bridge, over which our army was to pass;
and time after time they were repealed
by the CALLING fire of musketry from the
rebels in the ritie-pits on the banks of the
river. But our men still continued their
work, and, driving their boats upon the
opposite bank, they Sprang at the pits,
and q fierce contest enSued, which result
ed in the fight of the enemy, who rapidly
retreated to the city, where again they
made a stand.
The work of laying the bridges was
soon effected, and a Massachusetts and
Michigan regiment passed over directly
In front of the city, for the purpose of
attacking it. After brisk engagement
these regiments drove the rebels from the
city to the hills beyond. A fierce fire
from the artillery of the enemy, which
was in position on these eminences, was
then opened, and shell and shot flew thick
and fast, but did not succeed in dislodg-
ing these gallant fellows.
THE CHARGE OF THE IRISH BRIGADE.
A strong force was then sent to sup
port these two regiments, crossing the
RappahannOck by pontoOn bridges on the
right and left of the city. The famous
Irish Brigade formed part of this force,
and they no sooner reached the opposite
side than they received orders to charge.
Posted in front of Maryes flights, q
position Of great natural strength, and I'M
der a heavy fire, this famous brigade
moved, under the leadership of the brave
and accomplished Meagher, forward on
their errand of death; up the steep hills
like lions they dashed upon the almost
impregnable works of the foe; they fell
fast, dead and dying, under the red blaze
of the cannon.
Again and again did they manfnily ~
to force the flights; time after EisDa Gid
they rally and again dash forward; but
their devotion was in vain. The contln-
uous artillery as well as musketry fire
made fearful havoc in their ranks; and,
exhausted by their herculean efforts to
subjugate this stronghold, they were COM
PEELED to fall back and reform at the foot
Of the hill. The fighting was continued
In all parts of the field, and when night
came on, and hostilities had ceased for
that day, we had gained little or no ma
terial advantage.
The next day our regiment crossed, I'M
der cover of our batteries. The wounded
of the Irish Brigade were down at the
river side, waiting to be taken across, and
were greeted with cheers by our lads as
we passed, and many a stout fellow with
the green lockwood in his cap looked at
our green flag and our long lines with
pitiful eyes, fearing that few of us would
ever return. But the laugh and joke went
round among US with the same ease and
freedom as they ever did in camp. We
were all in the best of spirits. 1t was
not for the regiment which had been bap
tized in the battles of the Peninsula to
feel otherwise.
WE GO IN.
We marched from the beach up the hill
leading to the town and soon found our
selves in long, narrow street. Here Col.
GuineY gave orders to unsling knapsacks |