The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-03-21
Fredericksburg, Va,
Dec, 1ltb, 1862.

1862, Lopgstreet's corps lay il camp
around fredericksburg. Jackson's
corps was down the river near Hauil.
tons crossing.
We we're aroused on the morning Of
the 1lth away before day by the boom
of big cannon; in minute by anoth-
cr. 1t seems that these were the sig
mails for the beginning Of the great bat
tic that was to follow.
In talking about those two big guns,
l heard member of the Quitman
Rifles say they soared him nearly to
death, for he knew what it meant.
The long roll was beat, and the com.
mand to fall in was given, and we
were soon in motion. <;ouriers were
dashing in every direction. We
moved 10 the direction of the breast.
works up to the right above the city.
Kershaw's brigade took position on
the right Of the Telegraph road. This
road runs winding around Mayrie's 8
hill. There was a rock wall on both
sides Of this road, I'D th.re was q
small stresm running between our
position and Mayrie's hill. 1t was
yet dark when We took up our posi-
tion here. We could hear the rattle
of musketry down on the river, driv-
ing off the bridge-builders-that il
the pontoon bridge. A pontoon il =
largo bateau with two rings on each
eide, so they can be fastened together,
and with short chain or rope at one
end, so it can be fastened to large
rope stretched across the stream.
Heavy scantlings are laid on these
pontoons side by side, then the floor
ing is laid on loose, and the bridge is
ready. This is the kind of bridge the
enemy were trying to build. It was
not Gen. Ices intention to keep
Burnside from crossing, but to keep
him from crossing till ho could
get his scattered army in position.
He had his army scattered watching
Gen. Burnside, to see which course
he would take; and it was on this
morning that it had developed that
he was going by way Of Frederioka-
burg.
Anderson's division of our corps
was on the extreme left OF Lees armv.
at Taylor'e hill. There were three of
these hills on our side Of the river,
where Longstreet's corps had taken
position. Our division (iiciaws' J
was between Mayrie's, on our right.
Cobb's brigade Of Georgians, Of Mo.
Law 8 division, were posted behind a
stone wall along an old road at the
foot Of Mayrie's hill, aud back OF
them at the crest OF The bill was
another line that could fire over the
front lines This was the point upon
which all the fighting on the left was
to hinge; not BECAUSE Of any weakness
's this point, but there was 8 level
plateau extending for nearly a mile
nut to che woods on the river bank,
and this place afforded q footing
where they could mass their troops
after crossing ths river preparatory
for charge.
Jaokson's corps reached from a
little below Lees hill along the river
to Hamilton's crossing. :.
B'rksdale's Misaissippians kept the
Yankees from laying their pontoons
until everything was ready TO lot them
GROSS. -: =. -
It seems that Gen. Burnside had
brought up every piece of artillery he
had along our front from left to right,
and opened on us; and for about one
hour they made the earth culver.
There VIA hardly . house left that
was not torn by shot and shell. : :
BarkedaIe's brigade, having accom-.
plished their purpose, were with
drawn, and the enemy were allowed to
GROSS. They had laid two pontosp
bridges-one right down in our front
and cne about q mile below, down to-
wards Hsu,ii:on's crossing. They
we're allowed to oross unmolested, and
they kept it up. All that day and
night we gould hear their wagons and
artillery CLOSING the pontoon. , = =
The next morning, the 18th, as the
fog along tho river clearod away, We
could see on the hill beyond the
river one solid moving mass Of blue,
making their way 70 the river. All
day long they kept coming over-not
. shot. nothing 20 molost them. They
were walking right into the trap set
for them, to get them over The river
into the low grounds, 81 ssas 4!.s=: .!.::ee::.:
large: gaas THAT they could not uss
N. . =