Near Fredricksburg Dec 18^th 1862

 

Dear Mother

 

            The great battle is over and the 36^th has got through without firing a gun or losing a man. I suppose you would like to know something of our operations during that time. Thursday Dec 11^th we were ordered to be in line with our blankets ( we left our knapsacks behind) and three days rations in our haversacks at 8 oclock. We were on hand at the time and laid under arms all day expecting every moment to march to the river. Our camp you will remember is about two miles from the river. The bombardment commenced about 6 oclock A.M. and gradually increased till about 11 o'clock. At that time the cannonading was the heaviest. Our lieutenant counted 35 discharges of the cannon in half a minute. In the afternoon it was not so heavy. About 5 oclock we started for the river and had got about half way down there when we were ordered back to camp to be in readiness to march the next morning at daylight. Friday morning we crossed the river about 7 or 8 oclock A.M. opposite the city on one of the pontoon bridges. We remained in the city that day and night. I looked round in the city some at the lower end where we were. There was scarcely a house but had one or more shells through them and in the majority of them a family would hardly escaped alive. I went into one very nice large house that several shells had been through although none had burst in it and the furniture was knocked round the library tipped over and the books all sprawled round. The soldiers were allowed to roam over the city and take just what they wanted. If I had had my knapsack or any place to carry them I might have got some nice books. But I supposed we were going into a fight and I did not want to load myself down with plunder. Friday night afternoon one of our batteries on the opposite bank of the river fired at the rebels over our heads and the rebs replied and dropped some of their shells amongst our troops but most of them went into the river some of them struck near our regiment but no one was hurt. Our battery soon silenced the rebel cannon though. /

 

Saturday morning we were marched out about a mile or so from the city and lay all day behind a hill supporting a battery. This was the day the fighting was done. We could hear the roar of the cannon and the rattle of the musketry on our right and left and on our left we could hear the cheers of the soldiers as they made their charges. We could not see anything of it without going up to the top of the hill and we were ordered to keep down from there as our officers did not wish to attract the attention fire of the enemy. Some did go however and the rebels threw a few cannon shot at them and wounded one man. The boys skedaddled down in a hurry then. After laying behind the hill all day a little before sundown we were ordered up to the top and were marched off to the left a little ways where our brigade and one or two others were drawn up in line. The hill was a sort of table land a little rising in our front for a few rods and then descending. It was rising sufficiently to screen us from the enemy. When we were drawn up in line we expected to be called upon to make a charge but we were ordered to lay down and after laying there till it began to grow dark we were finally ordered to unroll our blankets and make ourselves comfortable for the night. About two A.M. in the morning we were routed out and marched off a mile or two and curled down behind another hill and staid there an hour or two when we were ordered back to our old place behind the hill. We did not remain there more than two or three hours when we came back to the city and remained there through the day. While we were there I had a chance to send a letter and I wrote a few lines but I did not have much time so I had to hurry it through. I forgot to number it. It should have been no. 4. There was not much fighting on sunday only some skirmishing. We remained in the city till about sundown when we marched out to our first position behind the hill where we remained that night and through the day monday without much of interest occurring. At night we were told we might spread our blankets and make ourselves comfortable for the night but in about an hour afterwards we were routed out and started for the city again. We were told to be careful and make as little noise as possible. When we got to the city we found several other regiments of our division there and as soon as we could get straitened out we recrossed the river and made the best of our way back to our old quarters where we now are. The bridge was covered with sand so as not to make noise to alarm the enemy. Thus ended our expedition to Fredricksburg. It seems to me it must be regarded as a failure on our part. I hardly expected as much from Gen Burnside. But a general cannot always be successful and I hope the next time we shall have better success.

 

I received your letter No 1 day yesterday giving an account of how you tried to send us some boxes. I should like the things very well but after I had written I heard that they would not take boxes for our reg^t so I did not much expect it.

 

I do not know whether we shall remain inactive long or not I think things indicate that we shall not stay here long but make another move across the river soon but it may not be so. While we were across the river we had delightful weather. It was not uncomfortable laying out nights with our blankets without any fire. We have had some pretty cool snaps though. There is no snow on the ground now.

 

I believe I have nothing more to write at present only that I am well and the rest of the Harvard boys also. With much love to all the folks at home I will now close

                                                                       

From your son

E. W. Stacy

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