The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-02

order was given to strike tents and fall
into line, for the long looked for battle
of Fredericksburg had begun. We
marched down the river opposite
the city of Fredericksburg to await
the laying of pontoon bridge. Well
do | remember that cold morning,
AZ years ago, as we laid down behind
the hill out of range of the sharp
shooters who lined the opposite side of
the river. For a time the pontooners
worked diligently. Then the sharp
shooters opened numerous fire and
the men fell back from their work.
Soon the wounded began to 60 to the
rear, and how l envied them as they
passed; some with only slight wound,
which would put them out of the fight.
Soon the men returned to the work, but
only to be driven back again. Burn
side saw that something desperate
must be done and called for troops to
cross the river in the pontoon boats
and drive the sharpshooters out. The
10th and goth Massachusetts and the
18th Michigan were soon in the middle
of the river, and although the bullets
flew like hail they landed on the other
side and the Johnnie's had to 'tgit up
and git" The bridge was soon in place,
and we led the column in crossing and
entered the city. The orderly sergeant
made detail for picket duty and it fell
to my lot to go. We picked our way to
the outskirts of the city, where we
eagerly watched and waited for the
first break of day. When it came we
were in front of the rebel works. We
soon got out of that and were back in
the city, where we found the regiment
supporting battery that was Smelling
the rebel works. Gen. 0. O. Howard
was in command of the division and as
the shells were bursting all around us
the boys would dodge. The old General
said: Don't dodge, boys, the danger
is all over when you hear the report!'
In few moments the joke was OH him.
As he sat on his horse, which was pranc-
ing around, shell burst close by his
side. For an instant he lost his pres
ence of mind and ducked his head down
on his horse. Some of the boys saw
that their time had come and sang out,
Don't dodge, General, the danger is all
over after the report" He saw the
joke and a smile lighted up his face.
He could take joke as well as give
one.
About noon on the last day of the
fight our brigade was ordered into the
field and formed in line of battle by
! regiments, the 10th Maine leading.
Scarcely had we formed in line when
the rebels opened a cross-raking fire
from their works and the shells came
! thick and fast. The men dropped to
the ground. The 18th Massachusetts, was
not ten feet from us and a New York
regiment close to them; then the 1st
Minnesota. We Rugged the ground for
OH w NCAO "olVll. VI OoSo Nv Y
more than three or four months from
home in such hell hole as that was !.
My hair stood on end. Oh. if | could
] have been at home: but we We're in for
! it. | remember one shell that passed
over the right Of my company and lodg-
ed in the New York regiment, taking out
a whole company. History tells us that
shell killed 10 men, beside wounding
many more. | can almost see the place
at this late day, where that shell burst,
not ten feet from where We lay. The
other regiments of our brigade got out
the best they could. No troops could
stand such a fire. Our regiment was
not quite so much exposed and it re
manned and Rugged the ground. think
half of my body was bedded in the soft
ground. After dark we got back into
the city, aud that night recrossed the
river to our old camp ground, sad but
not discouraged. Sad from the loss of
nearly 10000 brave boys and nothing
gained But such are the fortunes of
war.
We returned to our old camp ground
at Falmouth after the battle of Fred
ericksburg on Monday night, and can
never think of this camp without a
shudder. Here we passed our first win
ter. Here sickness and death thinned
our ranks. Almost daily, and some
times twice day, we performed the
last sad rites over the remains of a
comrade. l can now hear the mourn
full notes and the muffled drum and see
the slow sad procession winding it's
way down the wood road across the
flats and up the hill to leave comrade
in his final resting place. How sad l
felt, and then l would think of home.
The regiment lost more than hundred
men from sickness and exposure, and
they were among the most robust men.
1t was not shot and shell that thinned
the ranks most. Right here let me
describe the regimental hospital at the
front. know something about it, for
l was carried there with others who
were stricken down with southern