1862 December 12 Fredericksburg

[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]


hour Bradge  Went over
the Rever to Frickburgh
at 7 Oclock on the
moringin of the 12th
Genl Rowley get is
comishen this armey
nice Day
Dec Trusday the 12th
hoar  Brigde Went
over the Rever at
7 Oclock this mornigin
ther as bing  fahting
all Day and the
Rebeles are failing
Back the Rebeles Sharp
Shuters Was behind
the Chimles and
Genl Burnside orders
to Burn the City
this was a verey Nise
Day


 ther was from fiffty
to sexty of our men
keld and wonded
Wile laing  down
the Pontune Bridges
the was 25 man
Whent into a Boat
and 20 of the Same
Was kill and the
other five charge
on the Rebs and [-]
them throuth the town
and got Back Safe
[The rest of this entry is lined out.]
the Fightin lested
untll 7 oclock at
Night ther was
a grat dill of
musket firing affer
Dorek

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

amended transcript as follows:

hour [our] Bradge [Brigade] Went over
the Rever to Frickburgh
at 7 Oclock on the
moringin of the 12th
Genl Rowley get [h]is
comishen this armey
nice Day
Dec Trusday [Thursday] the 12th
hoar [our] Brigde Went
over the Rever at
7 Oclock this mornigin
ther[e] [h]as bing [been] fahting [fighting]
all Day and the
Rebeles are failing
Back the Rebeles Sharp
Shuters Was behind
the Chimles and
Genl Burnside orders
to Burn the City
this was a verey Nise
Day

 ther was from fiffty
to sexty of our men
keld [killed] and wonded [wounded]
Wile laing [while laying] down
the Pontune Bridges
the[re] was 25 man
Whent into a Boat
and 20 of the Same
Was kill and the
other five charge
on the Rebs and [-]
them throuth the town
and got Back Safe
[The rest of this entry is lined out.]
the Fightin lested
untll 7 oclock at
Night ther was
a grat dill [deal]of
musket firing affer
Dorek [dark]

MSS 12913