Marye's Heights /Second Battle of Fredericksburg
The following are excerpts from diary and letter accounts by local soldiers of the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, 4/30-5/6/1863:
War Diary of William H. Shaw (born in Cummington May 14, 1833, residing in Meriden Ct at outbreak of war, originally assigned to 3rd CT Infantry in 1861, but reassigned to 37th MA Infantry).
From the Preface: “A Diary as kept by Wm. H. Shaw, during the three years and three months of service in the great civil war. A few incidents have been added from memory, but a large part of it is just as written in camp, on the march, and on the battlefield, not enlarged or overdrawn. I have put it in print to preserve it, as it was written in pencil and growing dim.”
[April] 30th [1863] Company D, reported to regiment in the morning, evening the 37th regiment went with a pontoon train as guard up the river about ten miles, the roads were very bad and we had to help the mules in many places. One of the drivers was knocked from his mule and killed. We returned the next morning.
Friday, May 1st. Marched all night with the pontoons, tired and hungry when we got back at ten o’clock, this morning.
May 2d lost on my diary to-day, have been marching back and forth to blind the rebels. IN the evening received a nice watch from my company as a present just before we crossed the river.
May 3d at daylight we marched into Fredericksburg, had been there but a short time when the rebel batteries on the heights opened their canister on us, a brick ash-house near us received a charge scattering the brick all over us, one of the men John Bissel received a slight wound in the face. We then moved to the railroad cut and remained until the charge was made by the 36th NY and the 7th Mass regiments about 10 o’clock, when we drove the rebels some five or six miles where we met the whole of Lee’s army, we fought until after dark, neither losing nor gaining any ground, but many were killed. After dark, Co. D was sent to the skirmish line and remained until the morning of the 4th when we returned to the regiment which was in the frontline of battle. At ten o’clock A.M., the enemy came upon us in three lines of battle, we could not stop them until within ten or fifteen rods, then by stubborn fighting with the aid of plenty of artillery whose guns were double shotted with grape and canister we held them and sent them back. The artillery at so close a range made fearful havoc within the ranks of the enemy. WE remained here until five o’clock, P.M. with only an occasional shot, then Co. D was again sent on the skirmish line. We were hardly in position when the rebels advanced on us, we fired a few rounds on them and were then ordered to retreat which we did after dark to the river where our pontoon bridge was laid, we awaiting our turn to cross.
There was the whole 6th army corps to cross one bridge, and while waiting the enemy found our position and gave us a severe shelling. We had nothing to do but stand and take it. Officers as well as men were blue that night and all thought we should be captured before we could get across the river, but morning found us all across at Bank’s Ford where went into camp, some of the boys threw away everything but their guns and equipment. General Sedgwick displayed as great generalship in getting his corps back across the river that night without being captured as was ever displayed by any General on any battlefield during the whole civil war.
Hubbard M. Abbott Diary
Friday, May 1, 1863
It has been a beautiful day. It cleared up yesterday by the afternoon. + has been very warm to day. We were ordered to fall in last night about dark without Guns or Equipment to
go [on] [fatigue] work. We had to go up to Banks?
[ford] with the pontoon train
We were out all night [got]
back at half past 8 AM
to day. We went to help the
Pontoons over bad places
All quiet today we fell in
at 7 PM + went to the left +
waited till 10 PM + then came
back + bunked for the night
We went about 14 miles with the Pontoon[s]
Saturday, May 2, 1863
All has been very
quiet to day
We fell in early
In the morning
+ went down to the left
[+ lay] till afternoon
+ then [moved] up to
the right again to our
old camp. We were
ordered to fall in again
about dark + moved
up to the right [where]
the Pontoons are laid
we expect to cross before
morning + before tomorrow
night we shall have the
[lights?]
Sunday, May 3, 1863
We crossed the River at about 9 [last night ]
+ camped for the night we
lay about an1 hour + then were
ordered to fall in + [advance]
we lay in line till 12o c + then
started. we marched a while
+ the first [thing] we knew we
were in Fredericksburg. it [was]
about day light when we got
to F— we were formed in [line]
of battle in the [rear] of the City
+ lay till half past 10.am + then
we were ordered to charge˰* on the [Rebs]
we advanced + took the batteries + lots of
[prisoners]. we rested awhile + then
moved on. we advanced about [24 ?]
miles before we [met] the Rebs
they made a stand + gave us a
hard fight + tried to drive us back
but we held our ground [??? 60? 2 wounds ?? Kinney + ??rick]
Monday, May 4, 1863
Beautiful day. The Rebs
have the best position they
are in the woods + we in
the open lands The Rebs
sent out their Skirmishers
about 11 oclock. our Batteries
opened on them as well
as our infantry + drove
them back. our Rgt had
a chance to fire at them
About 5 o’clock PM. the Rebs [began]
to [show thin] in our left flank
in force. Co C + D of the 37th
were ordered to [suppress? support?] other
skirmishers. we held our
position till the Skirmishers
were [driven in] + formed
behind us. not a man was
wounded. the rebs had [flanked]
us + we were obliged to retreat
Tuesday, May 5, 1863
The Rebs had flanked us
+ we were obliged to retreat
The retreat commenced about
8.oc last night + such a Ski-daddle
never was known to
the army of the Potomac
Co C + D were the last to leave
the [ground]. the Rebs were in
sight of us when we started.
[Men] [threw] [away] [their] [knap-]
-sacks? + over[Coats] + all [they?] could
[Dr?] [lost] the Rgt + did not [find ]
[it] till we [got] [next] to the
River. we came to the River +
formed in line of battle to protect
the crossing of the rest of the troops
we did [not] [even] till about [day]
light. we are about [played out?]
[the] [Brigade] has been to the [front?][all?] [the?]
[time] [we] [been] [over] the River + we have not had [any] [sleep] [for] 3 nights + we are all played out
Judson Bradley Diary
Thursday 30
Rainy this morning. Ordered
to pack up ready to move at 4
AM Have not moved more
than 4 rods. Hooker is on the
Right + doing well. Reb. Battery
Playing now at 6 P.M. Ours
Replying. Artillery moved from
This place to the right today
Friday May 1 1863
Pleasant + Foggy. Warm all day
All quiet along the lines
On guard all night without
Relief. At night packed up
-
Went down to the left
-
Back to the old place
Where we slept. Firing
Heard on the right. Letter from home.
Saturday 2
Pleasant today. Firing on
the right commenced. Early
Moved to the left this morn-
Ing. firing on the left com-
Menced about 8 AM.
Moved back to the right +
Then about 10 pm crossed
The river and finally rested.
Sunday 3
Waked about midnight
-
Marched to Fredericksburg
Lay in the street until
day break when the ball
Commenced by the cavalry -
Gen Sedgewick + escort riding through the lines
+infantry and artillery. Took the
Hights [sic] about 11 AM. Had a hard fight about 4
[P.M.] until dark. Went on picket tonight.
Monday May 4, 1863
Warm + Bright this morning
Picket firing commenced about
Daybreak. Very quiet all day
Until six P.M. When firing
Commenced on right + left.
The 6th corps commenced a
Retreat at dusk + a sorry time
Of it I assure all men
Tuesday 5
Morning found us across
on the Potomac side of the
Rappahannock. Our retreat
Was a grand skedaddle +
Has a demoralizing effect
On the men. We slept some
Last night or rather this
Morning. Commenced raining this
Evening.
Wednesday 6
Still rainy this morning +
We still being in the wood
Where we stopped yesterday
Morning
Rained all day + in the
Night
Wrote to father
From the Civil War Letters of Charles Brewster (The original letters at held at Historic Northampton, Forbes Library has facsimiles):
“...one week ago today, yes at this very hour, i was in one of the toughest fights of my experience. Again the old 10th has had satisfaction of turning the tide of battle and driving back the grey backs when all seemed lost. Again have i experienced the delights of bursting shells case shot and solid shot fired at u8s by the vindictive foe, again have i listened to the humming of minnie bullets about my ears, and again I have slept upon the battlefield among the dead and listened to the groans and shrieks of the wounded , and yet sitting here the beautiful quiet Sabboth afternoon, i can not realize it at all, but let me see if i can give you an intelligible account. …[after crossding the river and waking in Fredericksburg] Never was a calm waked up so fearfully on a quiet sabboth morn before. It was but little while before every street was full of blue jackets we staid here until about 9 o’clock Col Eustis having been sent for twice by Gen Newton to see to the planting of some Batteries finally orders came to fall in and we moved up the river to a long street with rifle pits on both sides connecting the houses and every little ways crossing the streets as [we] moved out of town on the other side onto a long plain the enemy commenced shelling us from the top of the hills and following along the crest of the hills and in the rifle pits keeping even with the heads of our column. They had perfect range of us and there was no shelter for us, but the boys never faltered or wavered a particle but marched along as though at a dress parade or drill amid that shower of iron and lead the kind of shell they fired were what is called Spherical Case and is a hollow iron ball filled with Musket bullets and when it bursts it is just like taking a handful of beans or shot and throwing them all at once only the effect is much more serious if they hit you. We lost one man killed and 16 wounded in about 10 minutes meanwhile as we drew this force down to watch us the troops left in the city formed their line, and without firing or loading up a gun marched up the hill in the face of a galling fire a distance as long as from the end of Gothic Street to the top of Round Hill. the Rebels poured their shell and musketry fire into them but stern and silent they marched along men dropping from the ranks but not a lick was spent on them as the brave fellows advanced. It took “Johnnie Reb” by surprise it was a new feature, but the summit was gained the Rebels fly in all directions the gunners leave their pieces in our hands some of them with the charge half rammed down and 17 guns, and lots of prisoners fall into our hands. The stars and stripes were planted on the battlefield and lusty Yankee cheers rent the air.