The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-24
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG
Mr.. BARLEY Writes of His Recollection


Burr Hill. Orange Co.. Va, Dec II.
To The Free Lance:
read your editorial on the An
nlversary OF the Battle OF Freder-
ericsburg," 18th OF December, 1862,
with much interest. and to one
who was there II brings back 10 me
very wildly many OF the scenes OF
that eventful day. fOrty-eight years
ago. and perhaps a few recollections
of mine may be OF interest at least
TO some of the old fellows who may
still survive.
My command, which was the 7th
Virginia Infantry, Kemper's Bri-
gade. Pickett's Division, was not
engaged in the main battle. for
many OF the Confederate troops
were not in the fight We occu
pied the heights on the east Of
Telegraph road. about our center.
We spent the night of the 18th
on the heights. and on that cold
December night you know what suf-
fering we had to endure. On the
morning of the 18Th We well remem
ber that Gen. Kemper, our former
Colonel and afterwads Governor OF
State, made a speech to his old
regiment, telling US, in that fiery
and eloquent language SO character
istic OF him, that IL We would do
our duty as men and soldiers in the
pending battle we would soon be
allowed 10 go home to our wives,
sweethearts, etc. While he was a
gallant soldier and a great counsel
lor, yet |, as young as / was thought
he drew a very highly colored pic
ture.
Alas how many thousands fell
after that day and found soldiers
graves. On the morning OF the
18th we were moved down to the
swamp and a detail was made up
from our regiment OF picked men
to 20 in front as skirmishmen and
pickets, and the writer of this was
selected to take command of them.
OF course | felt quite honored. hav-
not long before received my COM
mission as second lieutenant in my
and fully appreciated
the duties that might fall upon
me and admit that felt
rather "shaky," but having receiv-
ed the inspiration from the speech
OF our beloved old colonel,I braced
up and went forward. posted my
line and awaited the approach OF
the enemy, but our center was not
attacked and we soon became quiet.
In the meantime the fighting was
raging on the right and left.
a tree and got a clear view
of the town and could plainly see
the bursting Of the shells OF Burn
sides artillery knocking the dear
old town to pieces and causing ter
ror and death TO the inhabitants. a
part OF the day we witnessed a
very grand sight. On our right,
down towards Hamilton's Crossing.
where Jackson and Hill were hay-
ing very hard fight with Burn
sides left we had full view from
our position on the heights and the
ebb and flow of fortune Just then
was exciting to us indeed, and 10
the poor fellows on both sides there
was nothing but fight and death.
Late in the afternoon we were NOV
ed towards our left. crossed Well
ford's mill pond and marched south
OF Marye's Hill, and during this
march we received heavy IRE
from the enemy. though not aimed
at us, our loss though was small.
About twilight We were marched
down the old Orange stone pike
and took position under Marye's
Hill. behind the fence and
relieving General Kershaw's men,
who had so gallantly beaten back
the hosts of desperate men VINO
had so recklessly thrown them
selves against this strong position.
As soon as we were In position we
went to work in every way possible
to heighten our works and by day
light on the 18th Sunday we
were pretty we'll hidden behind the
wall The enemy had left great
number of their wounded immediate
ly in our front, many of them very
near our line. and that night they
had to come without lights ana
lift these poor fellows into the am
balances, and the crys and groans
and prayers OF those poor fellows
in the death-,ike stiffness OF the
night you know must have awakened
within us thoughts like these that
the glories of war one gained at a
dreadful sacrifice. We thought we
were hardened veterans, having
lust returned from the bloody fields
of 2nd Manassas, Boonsborough Gap
and Sharpsburg, but those groans
that night was the mOGt horrid ex-
perience of our life. AS soon as
day came on the 14th we commenc-
ed firing at any and every moving
thing in our front and were vast
ing so much ammunition and do
ing so little damage to the enemy
that three men from each company
only were allowed to shoot. Some
time we would see a man run from
one house to another and we would
fire hundreds of shots at him. All
the houses along the road from
Marye's Hill toward the Rowe res
idenee had badly wounded men in
them, and the few other buildings
about the old fair grounds were
also used as temporary hospitals.
The few older citizens will remem-
Der that there were but iew
buildings then from Marye's Hill
toward what is now the Narrow
Gauge depot.
Well Burnside went back across
the river, after getting badly used
and we went into quarters near Tor
the balance OF the winter, we camp
ing for a while near Tom ferDy
and then near Guiney's Station, ana
TO tell YOU the balance to Appomat-
tox would be too long.
Nathan T. BARLEY.
Formerly Lieut.. Co. C, 7th Va. In
fantry, Kemper's Brigade, Pick
ett's Division.