Franklin County: Samuel W. North to his brother,
December 18, 1862
Summary:
North discusses the fighting at Fredericksburg and gives a report of the dead
there. He also mentions the pleasantries of camp life.
Brother
Dec 18th 1862
Camp near Fredericksburg
Dear Brother
Yours of the 12th is at hand. I wrote a letter to mother in
Fredericksburg on Sunday. it was just a
scribble with a pencil it was to let her know that I was safe then. but I knew
it was not all over for the shells were flying about pretty thick at the time.
we were sitting behind a stone wall at a grave yard in charles st. yesterday I wrote to Sula but was in such a hurry
that I could not write particulars. We have failed to drive the enemy from their
entrenchments and have retired over on to this side of the river. on thursday
morning we were ready to move. the bombardment commenced at daylight and we
moved about the same time. we waited all day about a mile from the river. on
friday morning we were moved out to our batteries on this side of the
rappahannock but on Sat morning the troops commenced crossing and soon we heard
the musketry mingle with the artillery it was most terrific. we crossed about
three o'clock when we were going down this side the
rebs threw shells at us but no one was hurt we crossed on the pontoon bridge and
as soon as we were in town the artillery commenced [unclear: playing] at
us but could not do us much damage as we were under the cover of the houses. the
town was all ransacked books chairs and every kind of furniture were lying in the Streets. we left our knapsacks in a store and moved
out on the battlefield. We were moved out and drawn up in position in a meadow
when a rebel officer on a white horse rode out in front of the fortifications
and soon a cannon was
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but we got back safe to our old camp and saved our knapsacks and
tents most of us at least. I brought back all I took over and picked up a gum
blanket. the streets were full of knapsacks as we came through Some of the boys
got books and some other [unclear: things] Haze Boyd got Milton's complete works lying in the Streets. there was
abundance of flour fish pork and in short every thing but salt. the story of the
South starving is all a Hoax. they had things just as plenty as we have at least
in Fredericksburg. our soldiers helped
themselves as well as they could there were some people living in the cellars
Bruce and I went after water one night - it was not safe to go in daytime - when
a lady came out of the house and asked us to get her some water. we filled her
bucket and she said it would do till the next evening. I have heard of the
horrors of the battle field but the reality is terrible. in the action and
[unclear: existing] it is not realized but the thoughts and
impressions seem to be [unclear:
burned
] in my brain the still pale faces of the dead and the shrieks and
groans of the wounded and dying, oh! it is awful I
think our loss must be very severe I saw a great many dead men we could hardly
step without tramping on them. I cannot praise our Captain too highly and the boys with but few exceptions did their duty
nobly. I did not expect them to take that battery when we started but we tried.
The Second Maine boys say we made the eleventh charge on it we failed but we
done our duty it is said we lost nine commissioned killed and wounded in the
regiment and over one hundred men. I forgot to say
that we heard of one of our missing boy - Fritz of the little cove he is in the
hospital has been run over and is badly injured he makes Co. C.s loss two killed and four badly wounded Capt Doebler of Co A is
wounded in the arm. but I am sick and tired of this subject and have done now.
Mother was anxious to know how we got along this cold weather we have a right
cozy chimney and fire place in our tent and have made ourselves pretty
comfortable and have not suffered any yet. Aunt Sade sent me a sleeping cap Aunt
Kate sent Jacob one I want you to write often my love to all friends
your brother
S.W. North
tell pap that the other $27.00 are safe has not left here yet but it will be sent on Immediately tell him to write when he gets it
