1862 December 13 Fredericksburg

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]


Sat. 13 – Mild quiet morng. 9. A.M. had breakfast & prayer – good
sleep on floor – am ordered to move shortly to support Franklin –
10 A.M.  We have moved by left flank to support F. heavy cannon –
adding in that direction.  Got down on left & halted – walked
along lines encouraging & talking with men.  Our men seem to be
reconstructing R. R. bridge – a balloon is up nr. Burnsides headqur.
12 ½ firing in front – a body of our skirmishers went fr. house
near us – deployed – a shell from rebels struck house at once –
another burst over them – sharp musketry & cannonadg. in front.
Constant roar & explosion – A spent shell just fell sissing into river
behind us.  As Lt Bateman & I sat in rocking chair & arm chairs in road in front of our lines
 talking about Xth [i.e. Christian] experience.  The balloon is up again.
[Order of words in the previous sentence is a best guess.]
There goes another shot close by into river.  Our horses are grouped by
the gas house – another shot in river (-1 P. M.) it got too hot for them at
our quarters where we first left them.  Cheers now in front –
Soft hazy day – wind So. W. but little of it.  Rebels are pouring heavy
musketry fire into us in front.  Shots strike around us.  While I go
to walk along lines encouraging men to pray that God would give us
the victory a shell struck Keef [?] Co A. in  face   he was sitting just back
of place I had left.  Hurried to see him & thence for surgeon, he was
carried on stretcher to hospital, but soon died – Quite a number
have been wounded near me.  Large bodies of infantry have crossed
& recrossed river near us & are now coming back again.  Sigel
has come up & is in other side it is said.  and  Hooker is now crossing
the long columns pour down the gorge & over the bridge.  We are
steadily gaining I am told.  The hulks of old ruined burnt ves-

sels are close by us in river.  It is almost 4 – Battle very hot in
front – heavy musketry – roar & booming – Our troops bow to the flying
shells – Co. G has had a man wounded.  Indeed several of our men
have been slightly hit.  The enemys entrenchments in front are
strong.  About sunset an just after our regt. was in & followed
in rear.  Shot & shell flew over me.  I found a wounded boy
took him to a surgeon – left him   returned to front.  twas sd. our
our men had carried enemys batteries – loud talking – in front just
then a tremendous volley of musketry came.   I was near R. R.  I fell
flat on this side - & heard a shower of bullets whiz past & close by
for some minutes – Our men were falling back – Our men were
falling back.  I returned to wounded boy - & found one of our Lts.
hats – reached our house took little supper & returned after looking in at
hospital to field.  Jacob with me – very dark – found our regt. on R.R.  very
cold – I gave them coffee, went along whole line – batteries near by but
silent.  Regt. ordered back to town – I went to left - & saw that all were
awake - & brot. off – also some of other regts.    one I uncovered thinking
him wounded was dead.  The field covered with blankets & haversacks –I
left field with last of our regt   went to hospital   found many of our men
some badly wounded – a fearful, painful sight – Met Col. D[errom].   Made list of
wounded – gave them water, coffee (even whiskey) by direction of Surgeon-
Staid till late helping & comforting them.  It is now 1.40 – Sunday morng.
returned to our quarters – a wounded man is on lounge – I must try to get
to bed – with prayer to God for deliverance.  I don’t know how the battle has
                                                                                                      turned

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935