Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-22
Colonel ". W. Robinson
On Fitzhugh Crossing

The following report written by
Colonel w. w. Robinson, VINO succeed
ed General E. S. Bragg as senior vice
president of the iron brigade associa-
ton. will be Of interest:
Headquarters 7th wisconsin volun-
teers, In the field miles below Fred
ericksburg, Va. May 18th. 1863; Hon.
Edward Saloman, Governor of Wis
consin, Sir: have to report the death
OF Captain Alexander Gordon, Jr. of
Company K and Second Lieutenant
William o. Topping. of Company c
of this regiment. They were killed in
The action of the 29th of April in
crossing the Rappahannock In boats,
and storning the enemy's field works
at point about four miles below
Fredericksburg. In the same charge
First Lieutenant w. w. Ryan, COM
handing Company A, was severely
wounded by musket ball through the
chest. Private William Ross, Company
F, was killed. Sergeant Conrad
Gunkle, Company A. Corporal Spencer
H. Bronson, Company B and Private
Benjamin Hayden, Company E were
slightly wounded. Major Finnicum
was slightly wounded in the right arm
by a piece of shell in the artillery
duel of the 30th
In the death of Captain Gordon, the
regiment has met with a heavy loss,
which cannot be replaced. He was the
last one of the original captains in the
line, and one of my most efficient
officers, prompt and faithful in the dis
charge of his duties, remarkably
brave under fire and a congenial gen.
tlemanly companion. May God, and all
good spirits comfort his afflicted fam
lily.
Lieutenant Topping was a young
officer lately promoted from the rank
of sergeant From his tine soldierly
qualifications and SsGtlemanly bearing
he won the esteem of the entire COM
mand, and his loss is deeply regret
ted.
The duty of crossing the river in
boats and carrying the enemy's first
line for the purpose of covering the
laying of the Pontoon bridges was as
signed 20 our brigade. The order was
received at IL o'clock the night of the
2Sth, the brigade being camped at the
time about one and one-half miles
back from the river. The plan for
crossing, as shown by the order re
ceived. was for the two flank regiments
10Th Wisconsin and oath Michigan) to
cross over in the first boats. The
and 18th Wisconsin and the 10Th Indi-
ana,) were to cover them while cross
ing, and to follow as soon as the boats
could return. The eros ing was to be
made at o'clock a. IN. of the 29th.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
order We moved down near the river
but from some cause. unknown to me,
the boats were not ready to launch
until daylight, when the enemy open.
ed brisk fire upon us from their
rife pits. This was warmly returned
by our sBirmishers. Our artillery got
into position upon an elevation in our
rear and shelled the enemy till about
8 o'clock a. M, when We were ordered
to cross over. The men threw off
knapsacks and haversacks and the bri-
gade moved down to the bank in
double quick the Sth Wisconsin and
gath Michigan leading. The enemy
opened CALLING fire and we were or
dered to jump into the boats without
regard to companies or regiments and
cross over; which was done amid a
storm of balls from the enemy's rifle
pits, and storm of enthusiasm from
the "Old Brigade" Boats were seized
from the wagons on the bank, thrown
into the river and filled with men as
soon as they touched the water. AS
near as | could see, every boat had
representatives from every regiment
in the brigade. From the time of re-
ceiving the order to cross over till
the enemys line OF works was carried,
prisoners taken and our line of battle
formed with every man in his place
in his own regiment, was about
twenty minutes.
The pontoon bridges were then
thrown across and the othe, brigades
of the division crossed over. We en-
trenched and held our position till
Saturday morning, May End, (artillery
duels being fought daily over our
heads between our batteries on the
hill on this side of the river and the
He smiled q nnrinns Smi1a