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| Men of Franklin's "Left Grand Division" charge across the railroad Source |
Chère maman,
The dense fog blanketing the fields near the river reminded Joseph of Antietam, but the bone chilling cold made it far worse. They had crossed the Rappahannock the day before, against little opposition other than a few rebel sharpshooters. Their own men from the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters kept the rebel fire inaccurate. Still, a few men had perished during the crossing.
Some men of the Left Grand Division had attacked the heights to their front, but the 22nd and the remainder of Abner Doubleday's division stayed in reserve. Stuart's cavalry was seen to the south, but they kept well away.
Yet another bloodbath, praise the Lord our regiment was not part of it.
I'm sure you've seen the newspaper accounts of General Burnside slaughtering the army on the heights near Fredericksburg. Everyone bemoans the face that our Little Mac¹ was replaced by Burnside.
Our brigade was assigned to Gen'l Franklin's Grand Division for this fight and other than being pestered by Reb artillery, we didn't see much fighting. We did lose two officers and two men to that Reb cannon fire. Two other fellows went missing, I'm sure they skedaddled when no one was looking. We didn't get close enough to the Rebs for anyone to get captured.
I am sick of the Army and count the days until I can be home with you again.
Votre fils, Joseph
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| The fighting south of Fredericksburg Source |
After they had crossed the river, a great unease swept through the ranks. They could see the heights before them and they knew the Johnnies were there in force. It was with some relief when their column, part of Doubleday's division, turned left and headed down the river bank. Word had it that they would be in reserve.
"Keep yer eyes peeled boys, there's Reb cavalry out there, Stuart's boys." Sergeant Halpin spoke with confidence, though how he could see through the thick fog was anyone's guess. Maybe he'd heard that from one of the officers.
The occasional cannon shot could be heard whizzing overhead, the men tried hard not to duck. The veterans knew that if your number was up, you could duck all you wanted, the shot would still find you somehow.
One enemy explosive shell detonated overhead of the rear file of Company E, the screams of the men wounded by that made Joseph shiver. You would think that he would be used to that by now. But he wasn't, no matter how many times he heard someone cry out in agony, he would never be used to that. Thomas Dignan said he was too sensitive. Maybe so, but there it was.
"Easy, Frenchie, the Reb's don't have the range, that was a lucky shot." Dignan told him.
"Lucky for who, Thomas? You know we've seen too many good lads struck down by random chance. Our turn could be next."
"Or ye might live to be a hundred. Can't change fate, mon ami."
Some men of the Left Grand Division had attacked the heights to their front, but the 22nd and the remainder of Abner Doubleday's division stayed in reserve. Stuart's cavalry was seen to the south, but they kept well away.
Orders came from Burnside to attack, but General Franklin demurred, saying that all of his forces had been committed already. Had he forgotten Doubleday or was he reluctant to send more of his men to the slaughter? Word had spread through the ranks about the bloody attempt on Marye's Heights to the west of Fredericksburg. Hundreds slaughtered, and for what?
When the 22nd went into bivouac after the battle, the men were happy to have not seen anything other than cannon fire. Joseph resolved that when his enlistment was up, he was going home, many in the ranks felt the same way.
With leaders like Burnside, it was only a matter of time before they were all dead or crippled.
¹ General George McClellan.
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Going home when the contract is up. I can see that.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in those days!
DeleteI really like the artifice of the letter home giving an overview, a gloss if you will, of the events. I can then see him hunched near the evening fire, backpack on his knees as a makeshift desk, stub of a pencil in his hand, looking, staring, at and through the paper as he contemplates the horrors behind those words.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know my great-grandfather, he died in 1905 when my grandfather was still young, but I can picture him doing just that.
DeleteI really don't like the letters written home from that war in pencil. They are damned near impossible to read now. The ink letters hold up fine but pencil is fading away and the duller the pencil the less that remains.....
DeleteHMS, at least they exist. I can't imagine a private soldier trying to carry ink and pen in their kit. Officer, First Sergeant, Company Clerk would, or might, have access to such, but not the common infantryman.
DeleteCap'n - Yes, they fade with time, more's the pity.
DeleteJoe - Yes, they exist and yes, ink wasn't easy to cart around.
DeleteHeld in reserve during that engagement, there's a bit of luck. What with the leadership of the Union Army, can't blame enlistees for leaving when they can.
ReplyDeleteThat engagement was particularly brutal on Marye's Heights. Straight on assault up a hill against men behind a stone wall.
DeleteEven amidst that hellish tableau there could be found examples of human kindness. https://www.nps.gov/places/kirkland-memorial.htm
DeleteAn emotional memory right there.
DeleteThe combined constant edge of possibly being committed, and then the sudden realization you will not be that day. That must've made it incredibly emotionally draining.
ReplyDeleteThe emotional ups and downs of war are very draining.
DeleteAs horrible as the battle deaths were, remember that more men died from disease and poor sanitation practices.
ReplyDeleteFredericksburg was one of the few real winter battles. Most of the time, armies went into "winter quarters" to await the next "fighting season," as is still often the case.
JB
The rolls of the 22nd NYVI indicate a number of men being discharged as being disabled without mention of wounds. Disease, hard living out in the open, took its toll.
DeleteOn the night the Union units were pinned down on the heights. Supposedly the Northern Lights made a rare appearance that far south. Can't remember where I read it. I've only seen them once and I knew what it was. Can't imagine laying exposed among the dead on that hill, getting potshots taken at any movement or noise. Looking up, seeing glowing stringy tendrils of light in the sky, something you've never seen, possibly never heard of. Guess they weren't down on the farm anymore.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading that somewhere, about the Northern Lights.
DeleteMight be from the book "Gods and Generals"
DeleteCould be, I need to find my copy!
DeleteLittle mac....wait until Grant takes command! :) I wonder if Grant ever bothered to read about any of the battles fought by John Churchill and how they turned the old way of war on its head.....They were obviously men from the same school.
ReplyDeleteThey were indeed, Grant's is a fascinating story.
DeleteI was browsing around trying to find first hand accounts of the Northern Lights over that field, and came across this account of a wounded Confederate cannoneer. Nothing about the Aurora, but interesting. https://www.civilwarmed.org/wounded-artillerist/
ReplyDeleteAbout his examination upon asking for a medical discharge in 1865:
“We find Private Cash has been unable to perform any considerable duty since the receipt of a shell wound…which fractured the left superior portion of the frontal bone and injured the cerebral mass of the corresponding side. About a square inch of the bone was lost and the cicatrix is large and much depressed and the pulsation of the brain plainly seen. He is now threatened with paralysis agitans. He is unfit in our opinion to perform duty in any department of the service.”
Lead bullets caused devastating injuries.
DeleteNot where I first read it but it gets the point.
ReplyDeletehttps://belleonthebattlefield.wordpress.com/2019/08/28/light-show-above-fredericksburg/
A nice account.
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