Greensboro Patriot (NC)

December 25, 1862

Page 3

Correspondence of the Patriot

From our Army Correspondent

FULL PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG

BATTLE FIELD, December 16, 1862

Messrs. Editors—Already, have you been informed of the attempt by the enemy, on Thursday, the 11^th, to cross the Rappahannock at three different points, as well also as their heavy bombardment of Fredericksburg, and the partial destruction of the venerable town.

THE FIRING

commenced at 6 o’clock in the morning and continued without intermission until nightfall, our batteries seldom opening, content to let the Yankees work their own way, except when presenting themselves near the river, at which times our sharpshooters and advanced regiments poured destructive volleys into the abolition ranks, driving them back repeatedly with the greatest loss.

THE YANKEES CROSS THE RIVER

At sundown, however, our infantry, (Barksdale’s Mississippians) withdrew, and suffered the enemy to cross over, giving him possession of the town. The Yankees, not content with the destruction caused by their shells during the day, chopped down the doors, windows, etc., of many fine residences during the night, and committed numerous excesses of the wildcat nature. Tearing up books and destroying fine and costly libraries, was a principal part of the work of the refined and polished Union soldiers, who are sent out South to set examples of good behavior for the Southern barbarians. Their wanton destruction of property is immense. But while the brutal hordes were thus occupied, their cowardly and bestial instincts prompting them only to deeds beneath the dignity of savages,

RANSOM’S DIVISION

on our left advanced to the hills in the open field commanding the town from the south-west, to support the Washington Artillery, whose batteries were thrown up, and the pieces planted during the night.

COBB’S BRIGADE

was thrown forward, and took its position behind a stone fence on the Telegraph Road, just a few hundred yards below our batteries and not a quarter of a mile from the town. At our right, about a quarter, was mounted the

NEW “LONG TOM,”

And on the following morning at 9 o’clock, our batteries opened on the Yankees, to which their artillery on the other side replied through the day, doing us no damage. Contrary to general expectation, the infantry did not become engaged, but throughout the day and the following night, the men were kept in readiness with their arms in hand.

THE FIGHT ON SATURDAY

On Saturday morning, the cannonading was resumed at daylight, and kept up furiously until 10 o’clock. In the meantime the roar of small arms reached us from down the river, by which we knew that

A. P. HILL

was giving the abolitionists battle in that direction, while the pickets along our lines on the right, had also commenced firing. At about 1 o’clock it became evident that the enemy intended advancing and simultaneous with the movement,

RANSOM’S BRIGADE

was thrown forward, and advanced as far as the telegraph road before it halted to answer the heavy fire from the Yankee infantry, whose line was advancing through the field beyond. The 15^th, 46^th and 48^th N. C. were pushed on, the men cheering loudly as they neared the batteries, where they halted to afford our artillery an opportunity to play on the Yankee infantry, now exposed so helplessly to the range of our guns. The scene was now becoming intensely exciting. The Yankee line continued to pour out upon the plain in a massive stream of solid columns, their bayonets gleaming savagely, while the deep, blue mass of soldiers seemed impenetrable to the leaden missiles which were but waiting to be sent with unerring aim to drive back the impudent braggarts who thought to crush our small but dauntless numbers with their overwhelming odds. See the countless numbers pouring on! So confident are they of overpowering the squad opposing them, that already are their brutish countenances flushed with the pleasing delusion of an easy victory. But hark! Suddenly this heavy, solid mass is seen to waver! A long sheet of flame, a murderous rattle of rebel musketry tells the poor, deluded wretches that

SOUTHERN VALOR

never can, never shall, succumb to the brute force which they endeavor to bring against it. The smoke has now cleared away, affording our men an opportunity of beholding the ranks of the abolitionists which only a few minutes before, seemed invulnerable, thinned, scattered and dismayed. Vain are the efforts to form them in line. Our men are impetuous. With a wild shout and huzza, the 46^th N. C., who were stationed at the right, charged down the hill with the velocity of an avalanche, whereupon the confusion among the Yankees became general, and they broke and fled in the

WILDEST DISORDER,

seeking safety behind the houses in town, in their ditches, or wherever shelter could be found. In vain did some gallant Yankee officer flourish his sword and wave the “Stars and Stripes.” But the fugitive Yankees could not be made to “rally,” and disgracefully left their flags sticking in the ground or trailing in the dust.

THEY “TRY AGAIN”

Now, for a while has the murderous rattle of the musketry ceased. The gray dim smoke of the battle-field is slowly wafting itself away, revealing to our eyes the movements of the enemy in the distance. Fresh troops are pouring in, and we soon become satisfied that another effort will be made to disperse the rebel soldiery. But “rebels” never were “dispersed.” ‘Tis not in their nature to “disperse,” even at the instance of a “Proclamation” from old Abe. But on comes the new line of Federals. Another column, heavier, thicker and bluer than the first. Already do we imagine that their step is nervous, their tramp becoming unsteady, and their countenances presenting a rueful vissage.[sic] But on they come. Perhaps their superior numbers this time will supply their deficiency in bravery. Ah! they are nearing the Confederates, and will soon pounce upon them. Their step becomes less nervous, their tramp more steady, and their countenances begin to assume a look of beastish satisfaction. But alas! for Yankee “calkilations.” Just at the precise moment,

A WELL-DIRECTED VOLLEY

from our forces lying in the Telegraph Road, and those on the hill in support of the batteries, scattered and dispersed the cowards like so many crazy sheep in the pasture. Never, I feel sure was an army so completely vanquished. My pen would fail me,--my pen, did I say?—my vocabulary would utterly fail, were I to attempt a description of the rout and consternation among the Yankee ranks on this occasion.

SEVEN TIMES

did their officers attempt to form a line of battle, to renew the conflict; but if only one regiment of Confederates opened fire, the redoubtable Yankees would break in the wildest disorder. At last, finding it impossible to infuse sufficient courage in their troops to make a charge, the Federal commanders gathered their scattered regiments, and retired to their ditches and the railroad cuts, the enemy contenting himself by opening a furious cannonade, which did but little damage to us.

THE LOSSES

sustained by the enemy in this effort to force our lines on the right, are frightfully numerous, while that sustained by us, is the slightest we have experienced, in proportion to the numbers engaged, since the battle of Great Bethel.

COBB’S BRIGADE

One regiment of Cobb’s Brigade, the 24^th Georgia, which did fearful execution among the Yankees, lost not a single man killed on the field. The 18^th Georgia was almost equally fortunate.

NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENTS

The 15^th and 48^th N. C. Regiments suffered severely, being exposed for three hours to the fire of the enemy’s artillery, while his sharp-shooters from the houses in town, did them considerable damage. The 15^th lost 143 killed and wounded, while the 48^th, which went into the fight with 380 men, now numbers about 160. The 46^th lost 89 killed and wounded. The 27^th lost 3 killed and 15 wounded, among them

COL. JOHN A. GILMER,

who received a ball through the leg, just above the knee. I understand the wound, though not dangerous, is severely painful, rendering it necessary for this gallant commander to be absent from his command for a short while. Your correspondent being in the same Brigade with the 27^th has an opportunity of knowing Col. Gilmer, and can truly say that for coolness and intrepid daring on the field of battle he has been excelled by no one; and where the balls fly thickest, and where dangers are more threatening, there will be Col. Gilmer ever be found, cheering his gallant “Twenty-seventh” and always leading them to victory. Company F, of the 46^th, has sustained a truly irreparable loss by the death of

LIEUT. I. P. WEIR,

who had been an officer in that company ever since its organization in Raleigh last spring; he having entered the service as a private in the Guilford Grays, at the commencement of the war, but on account of his many high qualities as a Christian gentleman as well as a soldier, Company F, unanimously chose him as one of its officers, which position he accepted, and the duties of which he ever discharged with the utmost satisfaction to all under his command. Being a member of his own company, and having marched and fought with him, and endured the toils and privations of a soldier’s life, as well as sharing its glories with him, I may be pardoned for this slight tribute to his memory. No brighter or purer patriot has ever answered to the Great Captain’s roll-call than Lieut. Weir. In the defence [sic] of the rights of his own dear South, whose honored and devoted son was he, has the sacrifice of earthly promise been made complete. And though his familiar voice rings yet upon our ears, and his deep blue eyes gaze upon us still, it is not on them that a fond memory dwells. Like the undying lamp of the vestal’s temple burnt the ardent flame of his generous spirit,--a spirit buoyant in youth, full with promise, and encouraged with hope at he beginning of an illustrious and useful career; and an unquenchable patriotism that bore him up with unflinching nerve and marvelous devotion through the heavy pressure of a rude and wearisome campaign, his zeal and courage never wavering even until the end. But for him this cruel strife is over! In the bridal garment of a spotless conscience has his generous soul been translated to the realm of peace! He met death as brave men love to die—with his face to the foe, and the shouts of his victorious comrades-in-arms yet ringing on the breeze.

GEN. COBB

The service has lost a truly brave man in the death of Gen. Cobb. He with a group of officers were standing in the Telegraph Road, near the scene of action, when a shell exploded near to them, a piece of which struck Gen. Cobb on the thigh, from the effects of which he died in a few hours. A piece of the same shell also struck

GEN. COOK

on the left temple, fracturing his skull, I am told. Previous to his being wounded, Gen. Cook was more than usually conspicuous for his gallantry. On his quitting the field, the command of the brigade devolved upon Col. Hall, of the 46^th, whose gallant bearing won the admiration of the whole line, and called forth the enthusiastic shouts of all his men.

THE ENEMY’S LOSS

As to the loss sustained by the enemy, I can give no accurate number. Nor do I feel content by simply saying “heavy,” for that would not convey a true idea. His loss was very heavy—exceedingly heavy. I do not exaggerate when I say that on some parts of the field for a considerable distance the ground had the appearance of an immeasurable blue cloth having been spread over it. Their loss may be safely set down at 8,000, though I have heard it estimated at as high as 15,000.

OUR OWN LOSS

will not exceed 1200 killed and wounded. Of this I am sure. It is gratifying for me to be able to record the fact that never were the wounded better cared for than on this occasion. No efforts were spared by those in charge to render every possible assistance to the unfortunate sufferers.

THE BEARING OF OUR TROOPS

All of our troops conducted themselves remarkably well, Georgians, South Carolinians and North Carolinians fought together, displaying equal courage and determination, driving back repeatedly thrice their own number.

The great dread among the men was the fear of exhausting their ammunition. And when twenty fresh rounds of cartridge were distributed, every man seemed as eager for his share as I have seen our “hungry rebels” for their cracker and pickled pork.

PRISONERS

A remarkable feature of this battle consists in the small number of prisoners captured. This is a good sign. For one I am heartily sick of capturing whole companies of the detested vagabonds. I am not excessively blood-thirsty, but I confess to a peculiar pleasure in seeing the varlets mowed down with grape and canister—a fate which they deserve, and which should be meted to the last brute in the Yankee service.

THE SAME OLD STORY

Those who have been captured come with the same old story of hard times—out of employment—had to go in the army to support my family—am tired fighting for the nigger, and all such nonsense as this. Not a word of it do I believe. They are all actuated not from such motives, but by a mean, fiendish spirit of conquest, raping, thieving, pilfering, and only such low, base acts as a mean, inordinate Yankee spirit prompts them to commit. The Union! Liberty! Constitutional rights! What does a Yankee know or care for either or any of these? True, so far as the “Union” is concerned, they can realize the loss of the South, as relates to trade and commerce, but so far as concerns the rights of a free man, poor dogs! they are as ignorant as their cousins, the Ethiopians! The more I see and hear of them, the more I detest them. Nothing is too low or mean for the depraved creatures to do. For example, I will give you the following

“YANKEE TRICK,”

the mere thought of which, I dare say tickles their vanity not a little, causing them to think that they are “cute” and no mistake. In order to deceive our soldiers, on Sunday night they propped their dead in front of our men, so as to make them resemble soldiers on picket duty. This trick succeeded in deceiving our own pickets for some time. But who but a Yankee nation would use their dead so basely as this? Yet after all their fanciful appliances, inexhaustible resources, and unlimited rascality, the army of the

IMMACULATE BURNSIDE

has been most soundly thrashed, and has suffered a more signal defeat than has yet been administered to the Vandal hordes, --a defeat from the effects of which they will not recover this winter, whilst our soldiers are resting quietly on the ground, only waiting for another chance to drub them again. When this opportunity will occur, ‘tis difficult to conjecture. The enemy have

EVACUATED FREDERICKSBURG,

which astonishing feat they accomplished last night—sneaking away in the dark—and I presume they will go in winter quarters as far from Gen. Lee as they can conveniently establish themselves.

--EUSEBIUS--

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]