12/17/1862

Camp near Fredericksburg Virginia

 

My dear Wife,

                        I have the pleasure of writing to you again after a very exciting and I may truly say a very dangerous interval. I presume you have been somewhat worried about me since the battle of Saturday, and would like to have some information regarding the part the 119^th took in it. I think I last wrote to you on to-day one week ago. The next day (Thursday) we started from our encampment at 4 o'clock A.M. the Colonel having previously called his Captains together and informed them that the Regiment would in all probability participate that day in one of the bloodiest battles on record. The men knew that some dangerous work was ahead, but looked as if we could depend upon them. We had not many miles to march and before the column had marched far, we heard the fire of heavy guns in front. Shortly after daylight we were halted and our muskets were loaded, bayonets fixed, and again we were on the march, the firing in front being constant. About 9 we reached the bank of the Rappahannock, and were drawn up in several lines, in a large valley between the bluffs and the bank. We here found the heavy firing was from our own batteries shelling Fredericksburg and protecting the engineers who were laying a pontoon bridge across the river. We heard that several of our men had been killed while assisting in the work. We remained in this valley all day in the mud, the shells from our batteries passing over our heads, the Rebels not deigning to answer us. About noon quite an excitement was caused in our Regiment by the imprudence of some of the men. In spite of our cautions some of them would creep down to the waterside to have a peep at the Rebel pickets on the opposite bank. At length 3 shots were fired from the other side and one of our boys a member of Co. G was shot in the thigh. The shots came from behind a large brown house and we could plainly see the rascals watching the opportunity to aim at our stragglers. We were marched back to a woods just after dusk that evening to encamp for the night, the bridge not being completed. We threw ourselves on the ground and slept soundly knowing that severe work was preparing for us next morning. We started from camp at sunrise and occupied the / same valley we had laid in the day before for a short time when we recd orders to cross the river. We were not the first Brigade to cross, but our Division was the first over, and on the opposite bank our Brigade was ordered to the front. We had four pieces of artillery, part of Snow's splendid battery with us, and our Regiment was to support it. We marched down the bank of the river after crossing in full view of the Army, and halted at the house, where we had seen the Rebel pickets the day before. Here skirmishers were thrown out and roads were cut through the fences and shade trees for the artillery. The house is a splendid one the residence of Burnett an exmember of Congress. I will describe it to you when opportunity offers. He must have been a slave breeder judging from the number of young niggers about the place. At length we had orders to march, and moved across some fields, in company front, our skirmishers being but a short distance from our left. We were halted and drawn up in line of battle, on the brow of a hill, and the morning fog clearing away, our position was clearly defined. The battery was on our left, and was all ready for action. Our own skirmishers were across a road not 120 yards in front of us, the Wisconsin 5^th immediately on our right, the Rebel pickets in the same fields with our skirmishers, and not more than 150 yards distant from them. Right and left and in front, as far as the eye could reach, we could see the smoke of the Rebel campfires. They were encamped in the woods which seem to stretch for 6 or 8 miles along the summit and slope of a long ridge the highest point of which, opposite Fredericksburg is crowned with earthworks. Between us and the Rebs, was the Richmond Railway and a small creek. The first smell of powder we had here, the Wisconsin 5 attempted to cross the road in our front, and were driven back by a shower of bullets from the Rebs. The bullets flew over us thick and fast, and the sensation was anything but pleasant. We laid flat on our faces in the mud / in order to escape them. A man in a Regiment in our rear was shot dead while standing looking on. We remained in this spot all that day and night, having changed our position and being placed behind a high embankment along the side of the road. From here we could see the various movements of our Army in the valley below. Thousands after thousands crossed the river, and marched to our left or formed in our rear, until we thought we had more than enough to overwhelm the Rebs, but alas! it seemed not. Well Friday passed over us without anything stirring, and on Saturday morning we fell back some 200 feet and formed the 2^nd line of battle. About 9 o'clock the skirmishing in front became sharp and our battery opened, and the first line of battle advanced on the Rebs on the double quick. Then our danger became imminent, and all the horrors of a battle field were displayed. We were on our backs or sides the shells bursting over, around and among us. I cannot describe all to you I would like, but I shall never forget that scene. The heaviest firing was on our left about ¾ of a mile from us. The roar of battle completely deafened us. About an hour after the battle commenced, a shell struck the ground some 10 feet in front of me, bounded in the air, and burst between my Company and Major Knight, who was in the rear on horseback. I had turned to escape the shower of dirt in my face, and saw him struck. He fell from his horse as if dead. I caught the horse by the bridle, and Sergeant Major Hanline and Sergeant Marsh carried the Major off to the hospital. He was struck between the shoulders and severely stunned, but fortunately the round side of the shell struck him. The same shell or rather pieces of it struck 6 of my men, but fortunately their clothing or knapsacks caught and stopped the pieces. From this time until dark we were in great exposure. I wish I had time and space to give you an account of / the whole battle. The firing for 3 hours was more steady and severe than any during the whole war. In fact we were in a constant shower of shell—bullets, rail road iron and every conceivable kind of missile thrown by the Rebs. On Sunday we were placed back on the 3^rd line of battle, but there was but little fighting. On Monday there was but little either, but we were in constant dread of shell from a Reb battery just opposite us. We threw ourselves down on the ground again at night to get some sleep if possible, but about 8 o'clock the Adjutant stole up to me, ordered me to form my Company with the others of the Regiment as quietly as possible, and prepare to march. This rather puzzled us but in an incredibly short time we started and found we were to cross the river again—we called it a retreat. The Rebs were again found too strong for us. How bitterly we are disappointed you can imagine. We are almost ready to cry. But we hope to have another chance at them. One thing we have reason to congratulate ourselves upon Col. Ellmaker has been tried, and has been as brave and cool under fire as any man can be. Every confidence is placed in him and the men are truly enthusiastic about him. This is capital and rest assured the 119^th Rgt will be heard from. But I must hurry up for I hear we are about to move again. I will write again first chance.

 

Give love to all—Write soon

 

Yours devotedly

Andy

 

Decem 17/62                           

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