Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-01-29
War Story.

who had succeeded General McClel-
Ian was encamped on the east side
of the Rappahanock River opposite
Fredericksburg, while Lee and his
army were on the heights on the west
side: His army was encamped as far
back as the Spottsylvana Court
House, while Fitz Lees Cavalry was
on Lees left near Charlottesville.
The town of Fredericksburg was be-
tween these two armies. Before this
battle all the inhabitants had orders
to leave the town, which they did.
Both armies fired several days at each
other before the battle; in the mean
time, Lee had thrown up breastworks
in his front. Up and down the river
for several miles these two armies
we're in plain view of each other.
We could see them moving around
very plainly on Friday night Under
cover of darkness they put their
pantoon bridges in the river and at
i daylight Saturday they commenced
crossing the river at different places.
perhaps boys these days do not know
what Pontoon bridges are; they are
composed of a lot of flat boats to be
placed in the river and with bridge
on them they will bear a tremendous
weight. When not in use they are
hauled by wagons with the army in
order to cross the swollen streams
AS soon as our army saw them
crossing they commenced firing on
them with long range guns. They
crossed over under heavy firing from
our artillery (Which was very brave
act.) They formed line and charged
our breastworks. They were driven
back with great loss, but the next
day, Sunday, they charged us again,
and were again repulsed with heavy
loss. Our men charged them as they
recrossed the river and lots of them
were shot and drownd in the river.
This ended the Battle of Fredericks-
burg.
After the battle we marched through
the town. I counted over thirty
cannon ball holes through one church
steeple. Our soldiers that were killed
in this battle, over two thousand,
we're buried on the battle field, in
rows. 1t was nice level place and
today it is beautiful cemetery and is
kept up in fine style. One rich
woman from Mississippi, had three
sons killed in this battle. She had a
fine monument put to their graves,
with the following inscription: "Here
tlie my only three boys"
After the Battle of fredericksburg
our army went in to winter quarters;
the Infantry and Artillry, under Long
street, Picket and A. P. Hill went to
Culpepper Court House SO they could
be on the railroad in order to get
supplies from Richmond and other
points.
After this battle, Burnside was re-
moved and General Hooker succeeded
him. He went into winter quarters
near Fairfax Court House, fifteen
miles from Westerton and ten miles
from the Bull Run battle field
would like for the boys to look on
their maps and see if they can find
these battle fields and towns and see
if | am correct. I would also like to
find some Union soldier who fought
with Burnside and see if am right in
describing this battle. Of course ]
can only write what I actually saw
with my own eyes and with the help
of a memorandum book. / was scared to
death part of the time and of course
have forgotten great deal.
Our Cavalry Brigade Gncluding the
9th Virginia Cavalry under General
Fitz Lee and Rosser was sent down
the Rappahanock River near its
mouth, some one hundred miles from
Fredericksburg, to Urbanna, Va,
little town on the Chesapeake Bay, il
order to get forage for our horses
during the winter. This is a low
rich, level country; it is called the
J tide water of Virginia. 1t is a grea'
country for fish and oysters, 30 We
had good time that winter. CHEESE
peake Bay at Urbanna is thirty mile
wide; you cannot see across it. The
sun looks beautiful rising up through
the water. The United States kept
: gunboat with three large rifle gun
) out some ten miles from us. 1t was ;
blockade vessel. We could also Sc,
vessels going to Baltimore, New York
and return with supplies for th'
: Union army at Fortress Monroe.
Now will tell you of another in
cident that occurred while we wer,
7 encamped near Urbanna, Virginia
, General Lee conceived an idea tina
he could capture that blockadini
vessel, so he sent lot of brav
fighting soldiers Zone hundred il
number) from the famous gunboat-
Merrimac. They hauled about twent.
row boats on wagons to Urbanna som
one hundred miles from Richmond
They landed the boats in the Chese
peake Bay, and under cover Of dark
ness they rowed out to that gunboa
and captured the last man of ther
and never fred gun. They brough
! that vessel to land and destroyed tn