THE STORMING OF FREDERICKSBURG HEIGHTS. SUNDAY, MAY 3, 1863.
Sunday, May 3d, was a proud day for the Union arms—the boasted Heights
of Fredericksburg were stormed by our brave boys, and the Stars and
Stripes planted triumphantly over that “Gibraltar of America.” Whatever
the result of the fighting in the rear, that in front crowned our arms
with imperishable renown. “This crest of hills,” wrote the London Times’
correspondent, after the battle under Burnside, “constitute one of the
strongest positions in the world—impregnable to any attack from the
front.” The achievements of that memorable day again demonstrated that
what is impossible with John Bull becomes possible with Jonathan. The
members of the Thirty-third can ever point with pride to the conspicuous
part which they bore in this brilliant achievement—the crowning glory of
their two years’ career.
[Illustration: FREDERICKSBURG HEIGHTS.
Stormed by the Sixth Army Corps.]
Though Gen. Lee had withdrawn his infantry from the ridge below the city,
he left, as he supposed, a sufficient force to hold the hills immediately
in the rear. Here was planted the best of his artillery, supported by
the flower of his infantry, under command of the haughty and supercilious
Barksdale, who a few weeks later breathed his life away on the crimson
fields of Gettysburg—abandoned by his own men, without a slave even to
bring him a cup of cold water.
About one o’clock Sunday morning, a courier arrived at Gen. Sedgwick’s
headquarters, with orders from Gen. Hooker to storm the Heights, and
pushing on beyond, join him at Chancellorsville. After crossing below
Fredericksburg Saturday evening, Howe’s Division had advanced up
towards the city on the Bowling Green road, as far as Hazel Creek, the
Thirty-third and Forty-ninth New York being deployed as skirmishers. When
Hooker’s orders arrived, Gen. Newton’s Division passed to the right, and
later, Howe’s also moved further on, connecting with him. Brooks likewise
came up from below, and formed on to Howe’s left. The positions of the
various Divisions became then as follows: Gen. Brooks, extreme left; Gen.
Howe, centre; and Gen. Newton, right; connecting on with Newton’s was
Gibbon’s Division of the Second Corps, extending above the city.
The Regiments for the assault were selected from Howe’s, Newton’s and
Gibbon’s commands. The following comprised all, or nearly all, the
number: 31st, 33d, 36th, 43d, 49th, 59th, 61st and 77th New York; 23d,
61st, 82d, 93d, 98th, 122d, 127th and 139th Pennsylvania; 7th, 19th and
20th Massachusetts; 5th Wisconsin, 6th and 7th Maine, 21st New Jersey and
1st Long Island.
To Gen. Neill’s Brigade was assigned the honor of leading the left one of
the storming columns, and to the Thirty-third the honor of leading the
Brigade. The reader will remember that the line of works to be taken was
about one third of a mile in the rear of Fredericksburg, constructed on a
natural bluff, extending above and below the city for some distance, and
known as “Marye’s Heights.” Beneath ran the famous stone-wall, forming
the western boundary of the plain over which the charging columns must
pass. Along the lower edge of this plateau, close by the reservoir, which
separates it from the city, the troops were massed, lying on the ground
to avoid the enemy’s fire. The diagram on the opposite page represents
the scene of action, with the relative positions occupied by the advance
Regiments of the assaulting columns.
Heavy artillery firing was kept up during the morning, between the rebel
batteries and our own, planted along the edge of the river. The siege
guns posted on Stafford Heights fired repeatedly on the enemy’s works,
doing good execution. One of the shells exploded a rebel caisson at the
redoubt near the stone-wall, and killed ten horses. After blowing up
the caisson it struck two directly behind, and hurled eight others down
the steep precipice in the rear into the yawning chasm beneath. They
presented a hideous spectacle as they lay at the bottom, dead and dying.
[Illustration: Diagram Showing Position of the Storming Column.]
At length, as the City Hall clock struck eleven, came the order for the
charge, and the lion-hearted men rose to their feet. The hundreds of
spectators in the rear held their breath in terrible suspense, expecting
to see them the next moment prostrate in the dust. “Forward!” cries
Gen. Sedgwick, and they echelon up the open plain, regardless of the
frowning batteries which vomit grape and cannister upon them. Col. Spear
drops dead from his horse, and the Sixty-first Penn., at the right of
the Chancellorsville road, momentarily recoils; but the Forty-third New
York comes rapidly to the rescue, and the columns again press forward,
delivering the battle cheer, which is heard above the roar of artillery
and fierce roll of musketry. Three hundred yards are passed, one hundred
more will bring them to the stone-wall. All the guns along the crest
now concentrate their fire on the plain. Col. Johns falls, Col. Newman
falls, Major Wheeler falls; Captains Gray, Ballinger, Irwin, Burke and
Knickerbocker are dead; the ground comprised within the focus is strewn
with the bodies of the slain. But there is no wavering, and in a moment
more the “Slaughter-Pen” is ours. The Sixth Maine and Thirty-first New
York scale the wall, bayonet the defenders, dash up the crest, and amid
long continued shouts and cheers, turn their own guns upon the fleeing
enemy. “What men are these,” inquires a terrified gunner, as our brave
boys appear upon the ramparts. “We are Yankees, ——; do you think we will
fight now?” is the response.
Neill’s Brigade, further to the left, has likewise swarmed over the wall,
and now unfurls its banners on the Heights.
Only part of the work is, however, done. The guns on the right and left
of the Chancellorsville road have been stormed, but there yet remains a
heavy battery further to the left, which is now turned upon the portion
of the works occupied by us. The Thirty-third tarries but a moment, and
then starts for these guns, followed by the remaining Regiments of the
Brigade. Quickly descending to the ravine at the left, they double-quick
through underbrush and obstructions of every description, cheered on and
led forward by the Colonel, Lieut.-Colonel, Major and Adjutant. The rebel
gunners see them coming through the thicket, and depressing their guns,
rain down a tempest of cannister. Captain Root falls, pierced through
the thigh; Capt. Cole is prostrated by a _minie_; Lieut. Byrne lies by
his side; seventy men are wounded or dead. The old flag, which waved
in triumph at Williamsburg, Golden’s Farm and Antietam, goes down. A
second color-bearer seizes the banner and raises it on high, but a bullet
quickly lays him low. Another and another grasps the standard, until six
have been shot down, when Sergeant Vandecar rushes forward, hoists the
tattered banner on his musket, and the Regiment presses forward. As they
emerge from the wood to the opening, they are saluted with a rapid fire
from the rebel infantry supports, but unmindful of the deluge of iron
hail, they push on, clamber up the green glacis, sweep over the parapet,
and capture a thirty-two pounder at a bound. Oh! it was a splendid sight
to see those gallant fellows rush boldly up to the cannon’s mouth, and
snatch victory from the jaws of death.
The artillerists, with the exception of a few who fled, were captured
or killed. The supports fell back and formed in line of battle. A squad
of them, who lagged behind, were ordered to surrender. They refused to
do so, when a ball from the musket of Sergeant Proudfoot brought one of
them to the ground. Again they were ordered to halt, and again refusing,
Sergeant Kane killed a second. A third and fourth were likewise shot
down. Having formed in line, the infantry opened a heavy fire on the
Thirty-third, also drawn up in line. The Seventh Maine soon came up to
its support, being received with loud cheers, and formed on the left. The
Twenty-first New Jersey not long after followed, and the rebels were put
to flight.
It was with the greatest difficulty that Col. Taylor could restrain
his men from following. Many of them, unmindful of the orders of
their Captains, did push forward in the pursuit, killing and wounding
several of the fugitives. The Thirty-third’s banner was unfurled over
the captured redoubt, and the men lay down to rest after their arduous
labors. Two more guns were taken by the Regiments of the Brigade further
to the left.
[Illustration: MARYES HEIGHTS.
Showing the Redoubt captured by the Thirty-third.]
This part of the enemy’s line of fortifications consisted of four
detached earthworks, very strong and inaccessible to infantry, as they
supposed, on account of the steepness of the hill and dense underbrush,
which intervened between it and the city. Lieut. Col. Corning’s horse—a
magnificent animal—was shot from under him, as he was fearlessly charging
up the hill with the Regiment. While passing through the woods below,
Capt. Draime discovered a party of rebels a short way off, and taking
a few of his men started after them. He returned after the redoubt was
taken, bringing with him Col. Luce of the Eighteenth Mississippi, and
one Captain, four Lieutenants and thirty-eight privates, belonging to
the same regiment. Capt. Tyler narrowly escaped, having his clothing
perforated eleven different times with bullets. It seemed almost a
miracle that any of the officers or men could have passed through such a
fiery ordeal unscathed.