The National tribune., 1908-04-23
HANCOCK AND FRERERICl1sBURG.
The Sad Aftermath of the Repulse From
he Stnue Wall.

The Sad Aftermath Of the Repulse From
the Stone Wall.
Editor National Tribhne: In my let
ter in your issue of March. I9 1 stated
that the 63d N. Y. went into the bloody
conflict at Antietam Sept. II, 1862, with
341 men (the type made it 34. We
lost in that sanguinarX contest 202,
killed wounded and missing, This ac-
counts for the fact that ~S mustered
only lis when we lined up in the
streets of Fredericksburg Dec. 13 fol-
lowing.
Allow me to continue the Story of the
repulse from the famous, "stone wall"
After regaining the raceWay, on the
north side, the writer being with the
colors of the SD, the remnant of the
regiment being scattered, 1 directed
Serg't Chambers. who carried the colors
(Stars and Stripes, to plant them in
the bank, where the earth had been
thrown up from the bottom of the race.
1 directed the men, all of whom 1 knew,
to get in line behind the flag, regardless
of company formation.
While doing so Gen. Hancock. COM
manding the division. dashed up on
horseback with a portion of his staff.
What regiment is this, Lieutenant 2"
he demanded, looking at the handful of
men before him, bloody, powder-stained
and covered with mud, many barehead-
ed, having lost their caps under the
stone wall ...- na ffs
The remnant of the 63d, General"
was my response. $3.50
'Ah, my brave fellows. A sad day
for us all" Saying so, he put spurs to
his horse. and disappeared to the right
again, followed by his handful of staff
officers. How these men escaped is a
marvel, as the enemy's guns from right,
left and center swept every inch of the
plain, but the Superb" Hancock and
his Aids. regardless of the storm, ex-
posed themselves all day long. until
darkness put stop to the harvest of
death
Late in the afternoon of that De-
cember day orders were given that the
wounded, in condition to walk or be
carried, should get across the pontoon
bridge at the dock, to the north side of
the Rappahannock. The writer was
directed by Capt. p H. Condor (the
senior officer of the 63d presen) to ac-
company the mortally wounded Capt
John Sullivan, with a detail from Co. X.
Thousands plodded across the partially
frozen river. Those who could not walk
were carried. The best conveyance we
could muster was front door from one
OF the houses. with soldier undoT each
corner While stretchers were abun-
dant, none were to be had. They were
on the other side of the river. lying
idle. We soon got lost in the darkness
after reaching the other side, but kept
going with the crowd until we got into
a ravine filled with underground, and
were compelled to halt.
1t was discouraging prcdcament of
freezing Winters night-a dying SOL
der on a rough door, his men devoid of
overcoats. who had not tasted food or
drink for two days. The precious bur
den was laid down, when | left to find
shelter in some friendly camp if posi-
bic. Fortunately l was successful in
running across a camp belonging to a
light battery, in charge OF Corporal.
the men and guns being in the fight
across the river. After stating the sit
uation in few words. /. asked for shel-
ter for the night. Yes, sir" was the
reply "Ycu can have the best that's
here, which is not much Pring Capt
sullivan at once" This was done with
in half an hour. when the Kind hearted
artilleryman made us welcome. He had
a camp kettle filed with boiling coffee
for our special use, and with abundance.
of hardtack it was feast fit for the
gods to squad of famishedr and used
up soldiers. The first, served was our
brave Captain, but after tasting he de-
clined to eat or drink. He was in a
semiconscious condition to the end.
which occurred in two days. in the First
Division hospital, where IhesiSas carried,
a couple OF miles away m the woods
John Dwyer. Captain and Brevet Major.
63d ". ", Sandy HILL. N. YUil5uu.si4t --a