The Republican journal., 1917-04-19
A Volunteers First Experience
at the Front.

am writing this little story hoping to
call out some other comrade who may
have had similar experiences. In the
early morning of December 10, 1862, the
thunder of cannon awoke US from our
sumbers and the long roll sounded, an
nouncing to the army that the long ex
pected battle of fredericksburg had be-
gun. We struck tents, packed our small
kit of goods, ate breakfast of pork and
hard bread. and marched down the river
opposite to the city of Fredericksburg.
We then laid down to await the laying
of a poBtoon bridge for the right wing of
the army to cross the river 1t had
showed some the day before and the
ground was wet and cold. A New York
regiment had charge of the work on the
bridge, which progressed finely until
they got about half way across, when
the rebel sharpshooters from the banks
of the river opened fire on them with
deadly effect. Soon the slightly wound
ed began to pass by where we lay; others
were carried on stretchers. / remember
how envied those slightly wounded fell
lows, who had got out of the fight we
knew must come. am writing this
hoping some other fellow might have
felt the same. am willing to admit
my courage was not as good at that time
as it was many times later on. Those
New York boys were driven back from
their work many times. Men could not
work when their comrades were falling
all around them. Burnside called for
men to pole the pontoons over the river
and drive the sbarpshooters out of the
city. The 7th Michigan and 18th and
goth Massachusetts regiments bundled
into those pontoon boats and crossed the
river under calling fire, during which
many of them were killed or wounded.
AS soon as the bridge was laid the
brigade, with the 10Th Maine leading,
crossed the river into the city. Then
there came a call for a detail from my
company to 60 on picket. l was feeling
somewhat elated that my name was not
ca led, when orderly Smart-afterwards
captain of Co. E., as fine man as Swan
vile ever raised-said: "Stinson, you
will have to go, as such one is sick. "
| almost wished l was sick, but fell in
with the squad. The night was dark
and we did not know where we would
land. We marched out of one of the
streets leading toward the rebel works,
crossed the canal turned off to the right
and took up our position for the night.
My position was on the extreme right of
the Union army. There was none at my
right and the left hand man might just
as we'll have been ten miles away as
where he was. We did not dare to speak
or scarcely to move. Imagine green
country boy not four months from home
and you will have the position down fine.
Oh, the thoughts that passed through
my mind that long, cold night. The
lie asst noise would almoet cause my hair
to stand on end. As the first streak of
daylight came in the East l found my
position was right in front of rebel
battery. l could see the guns and hear
the men talking. Soon the sharpshoot-
ers opened fire and the bullets went
zip, zip. all around. Then the men
on my left began to leave and I thought
it was time for me to depart, and if ever
my legs did me good service it was then
and there. If any old comrade had this
experience I would like t, hear from
him.
When we got back to the city the brig