Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-09
SOME CLOSE CALLS
AIT FREDERICKSBURG
sY w A. MARLIN, CO. =, s1sT GEORGIA REGIMENT.

To the Editor of The Journal:
Our last brought us to Fredericksburg.
I will state that 1 had one or two close
calls during the battle We met General
Burnside's forces on Saturday, December
L. 1862, drove their first and second line
to their third, which was heavily posted
near the Rappahannock river I think
there was a misunderstanding amongst
the officers OF our brigade, as some of
the regiment stopped when they got to the
r. & +. railroad, but two or three of the
regiments of the brigade followed the
Yankees to, I suppose, within 80 or 70
yards of their third and heavily entrench-
ed line. Our regiment, the 31st Georgia,
being one OF the regiments that was pur-
suing the Yankees, but when we glanced
about and found so few of our soldiers
there we had to fall back to the railroad.
and there is where the trouble came in.
We sure caught 1t in going back across
that field. they had their artillery massed
there and If ever I saw the earth torn
up by shells and minnie balls it was there.
1t seemed that there was not much chance
for our escape, but a few of us went
through, but a good many were left on
that field.
We remained on the railroad till night
or after, and then relieved by other troops
were permitted to go a piece in the rear
a
battle, but our loss was only four killed
and one wounded in our company, s. C.
Bass. w. F. Farley. w. H. Colquitt were
killed; our captain, ]. w. Murphy, was
wounded.
The next morning, Sunday, we were
marched back, put in line of battle; be-
fore we commenced to advance, the Yam
KEGS commenced Smelling us; they threw
a shell that exploded so near us that it
killed r. L. Irwin, of our company, and
I think one or two Of company 2 were
killed and several hurt, more or less,
being one that was stunned sharply as I
was just to the left, or you might say
touching r. L. Irwin when he was killed.
]. Y. Irwin, his brother, was done up
pretty badly, he being just in the rear of
his brother in the second file. They con-
tinued Smelling us so heavy we were
marched by the flank under cover of
hill until we came to ditch. We took
position in the ditch, stayed there all day
skirmishing with them; were relieved
again that night, brought up again next
morning, but found the Yankees had
crossed the river and thus ended the
battle OF Fredericksburg.
Our loss was said to be 4,2O1 killed and
wounded and about 100 captured in Fred
ericksburg. The enemy's loss was said
to be 1881 killed. wounded and captured.
Another close call was at Spottsylvania
Courthouse, on the 10th of May, 1864. The
enemy broke General Rhodes line and
drove them from their works, but Gener-
al Gordon, who was supporting General
Rhodes, promptly drove them back, as
was our custom, gaining the works again.
About dark, or a little later, they called
for pickets or videttes to go forward and
ascertain something of the Yankees that
we had driven back. So, 1 went from our
company, one man from each company
went on picket. The troops were order
ed not to fire on the enemy until the pick
cts came in. Well, we advanced short