The National tribune., 1908-01-23

| atmosphere one deafening crash of
sound. There could be no aiming, on
account of the dense fog. The only
directions were some church steeples
peering above the thick vail. Present.
ly dense columns of smoke, lifted by
fog. showed that the shells were taxi
ing effect on the buildings, and Fred
ericksburg was On fire. Fortunately
large portion of the people had left
the town upon Summers notification
that it was liable to be shelled at any
time, and it Is said that altho the
bombardment was the fiercest ever
seen on this continent, not single
life was lost, and as far as was known
no citizen was severely injured. Most
of them took refuge in the cellars, but
many exposed themselves recklessly to
save their furniture and goods from
the burning houses.
While this bombardment was going
on the pOntoniers rushed back to their
work, but they found that Barksdale's
men were just where they were be-
fore and just as intent upon murder,
not in the least disturbed by the storm
of shrieking shells that passed hum
dreds of feet above their heads. Again
the pontoniers fell SO rapidly that their
work was stopped. Gen. Hunt, COM
manding the artillery, brought some
light guns to the extreme bank of the
stream to more effectively reach the
fringe of rif1emen, but these proved as
Intellectual as the grand cannonade
which lated about an hour, during
which time every one of the $50 pieces
fired so rounds into the devoted town.
Then a breeze sprang up which
swept away the veil of fog and the
tens of thousands of eager spectators
on Stafford Hights, who had expected
hot nalt e,frN l. 11rN
upon another, were surprised to see
that the only damage done by the
many thousand tons of iron hurried
upon the plain was few houses in |
flames. 1t reminded students of what
the great French master of war had |
said about bombardments having far
less effect than anyone ever thought, |
hoped. or feared. They are spectacu-
lar and terrifying, but single we'll
drilled infantry regiment has much |
more mortal danger to its enemies in |
it than many siege batteries of heavy |
guns. Fredericksburg was a finished |
town long before the war, and there
has been little change in it since. In
passing thru the town to-day, one has II
to look for the consequences of that
thunderous and appalling eannonade.
The 7th MIch.'s Gallant Achievement.
When the failure of the artillery to
dislodge the sharpshoeters became ap-
parent, Gen. Hunt, Chief Of Artillery |
for the Army of the Potomac, ap-f
preached Gen. Burnside with the sug-
gestion that some soldiers might en-
bark in the pontoon boats and be |
rowed across the stream TO drive off |
the sharpshooters. 1t. was proposed
that the pontoniers should row and
steer the boats, but these had suffered |
50 fearfully from the fire of the enemy
that they showed no willingness for
the hazardous work. The suggestion
looked like desperate one, but Col
Norman ]. Hall. who had been Lieu
tenant under Anderson at Fort Sum-
ter, and now commanded a brigade
consisting of the 18th and goth Mass.
7th Mich, AID and 59th N. Y, and 127th
Pa, promptly said that If there was
brigade in the army that could do that
thing it was his, and he offered its
services, which were instantly accept
ed. Col. Halls regiment was the 7th
Mich, then commanded by Lieut.-Col.
Henry Baxter, and this was given the
post of honor and danger. On being
informed of what was wanted the regi-
ment volunteered to a man for the ser
vice, and the 18th Mass, under Capt
Fl. G. o. Weymouth. gallantly took its
place alongside of its sister regiment
The 7th Mich. ran down to the waters
edge and took shelter behind the pom
toon boats, piles of material and 9TH
er objects, while the 18th Mass de-
ployed as sharpshooters on the bank
back of them. The artillery reopened
this fire, aiming at the houses along the
opposite bank and at the stone walls
behind which the sharpshooters SEEM
ed to be sheltered.
Col. Hall had some misgivings as toi
his men could successfully