The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-11-27
A WAR STORY.


Of three years active service in the
Army Of the Potomac should be sniff
cient for me to answer in the afrma-
tive. From the great battle of Fred
ricksburg to the Surrender Of Lee at
Appomattox Court House, | paraded
with this, the most noble army which
ever trod this or any other continent,
with the exception Of few months
while in the hospital, suffering from a
wound received in action.
The battle Of Fredericksburg was
only prelude of other deadly con
ficts which were soon to follow, and
as this was our first experience
under fire, it is one long to be re-
membered, not only by me, but tena
of thousands of others.
will here relate few details Of
this terrible defeat Of the Army of the
Potomac. The Army OF the Potomac,
after the battle of South Mountain
and Antietam, encamped at or near
Bakersville, Md, for perhaps four or
five weeks, to rest and recruit their
depleted ranks. Gen. George b. Nc
Glellan was commander of this noble
army. The rebel army had been de
feated in the aboye-named engage
ments in September 1862. About
October Of the same year, Lee com
menced falling back toward Rich
mond and the Army of the Potomac
commenced an advance movement
This continued for some two months.
In the mean time, Mcclellan was re-
placed by Major General Burnside.
General Lee fell back slowly and tho
Union army advanced at same rate.
This continued until Leo reached the
Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, Va.
Here he made stand. General
Burnside demanded the surrender of
the city The Army Of the Potomac
was then around Stafford Court House
and Falmouth The demand for the
surrender being refused, Burnside
ordered his heavy artillery brought
up. which took position on Stafford
Heights overlooking the city of Fred
ricksburg. A few hours were given
tho authorities to get the women ana
children out of the city, she intended
to reduce the city, and would open
fro at n given time. At the precise
stated time the combined heavy artll-
lery opened upon the city of Fred
ricksburg, and under the protection
Of these big guns the Union Army
advanced and crossed the Rappahan-
mock upon pontoon bridges and by
noon ON December IL, the Army of
tho Potomac was about all across this
dividing stream. And now we will
see whit took p ace. We had spent
aleepless night with all kinds OF ru-
mors and ear-splitting noises from the
combined artillery of both the Union
and Confederate armies. About 10
o'clock, when the rays OF the sun
lifted tho veil which separated the
combatants from view and when the
mist Ind fully cleared away, there
was unfolded to the nearly 1000
combatants one of the most thrilling
scenes of martial splendor ever gazed
upon by mortal man. All along the
enemy's front their batteries of nearly
200 guns in position ON the heights
and blum, making almost Gibraltar
in strength) could be plainly dis
cerned. In support of them stood
about s5, 600 as good soldiers as was
ever marshaled in battle array. These
were the men who had helped fight
the terrible battles on the PENN
sula, and had wrested victory from the
Union Armies at Manassas and Cedar
Mountain.
Along tho plains for Il distance of
some four or five miles, and through
the streets of the city, the long lines
Of blue numbering about $4,000
men, stood shoulder to shoulder,
anxiously awaiting tho order to nd
vance, but with grave misgivings as
to the result The batt'e opened on
y
division commanded by Gen. Franklin
advancing to carry by direct assault
tho Confederate right. Tho First
corps, now numbering about 10000
men, and the Sixth corps, numbering
about 10000 men, constituted the
Federal force in this part of the field.
| Stonewall jackson was in command
of the Confederate position. Directly
after noon, the Third and Fifth corps,
led by Gen. Hooker, made furious
attack ON the centre of the confederate
position, and the same useless slaugh-
ter ensued. The fighting on this part
of the field was kept up all afternoon,
and one attempt after another was
made to penetrate the enemy's posi-
ton, but all in vain. The most heroic
fighting could not carry those heights.
The darkness of the night alone
mercifully put an end to the useless
conflict. Tho battle of Fredericksburg
was fought and the Army of the Poto-
mao had received its most terrible de-
feat The Union loss rs officially re-
ported, was 1e, 1858 men. The Confed-
erato loss did not exceed $500, and
most of this was inflicted on them by
the charge made on their right.
A TRAuoRR,
Formerly of Co. A, 18TH Regt,, N, j.
Vols.
To the Public.
Allow me to say few words in
praise of Chamberlain Cough Rem