1862 December 17 camp near Fredericksburg, Va.

                                  Camp near Fredricksburg, Va
                 Wednesday Evening December 17th 1862
My Dear Father
                                       I suppose ere this time what
you have heard all about, our adventure across
the river, the the Army has had three days and nights
hard fighting because we fight as well at night
as day Our division crossed the river on the
morning of the 14th inst  I lost 3 men in crossing the
bridge by a solid shot, from the enemies batteries
that were firing upon us all the time we were en
crossing, the shot passed within six feet of my right
side and stuck three men of my co immediately
in my rear, "we were at a halt at the time" it went
through to mens legs and struck the third on the left
foot, they were three of my best men two
of them I saw their legs amputated, and the
other the doctor told me would not loose his foot
it was a terriable shot, leaving the legs hang
nearly by the skin and a little flesh, we laid
at that place for some ten minutes under their
artillery fire. we then cross the bridge  The third
3rd Infty leading the column I made the remark
that I thought we would come back a great
deal faster than we went across.  It seems I was
right, by the time we got across we were it was
dark and we were put in position in the

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extreme front behind a wall and in a  Grave Yard
Their we laid under a terrific fire of the enimies
Artillery who by this time had completely driven
our forces back there was no getting over that, beca-
use I saw them run with my own eys
About twelve oclock that night we the 3rd & 4th Infty
were throwen to the front about 200 yards in rear of
a tanery as I supposed to open the fight the
next day, but  kn no it was only to lay under the
enemies fire for 24 hours as soon we were put in
position my Co. was throwen out as skermishers
as soon as the day had broken the enemy opened
on my co. we were lying on our bellies as close
to the ground as possiable their fire got to hot
I could not stand it I reported the fact, by
passing the word along the line, we got orders
to fall back to the Grave Yard fence, we lost heavey
how I escaped I do not know I was not even
grased by a ball but they buzed a passed me
in all direction I was fired at y by their
Sharp Shooters who kill every man they fired at
I lost ten men in retreating two hundred yards
to the fence Lt Benedict of the 4th Infty who was
out with me was shot through the left lung
by theirs sharpshooters the men that helped him
off the field with the exception of one were shot
we could not show even our hand without being
shot at..they the (Enemies sharpshooters) even shot
the wounded after they fell.  One of my men that

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shot in the Adams Apple in the throat
and had the ball pass through his lung was
shot throug throug the bowels while tring
to get shelter it was perfect murder Our
Division lost heavily in Officers and men
O it was awful I never never want to see the
like again we were relieved whenesdy night
by volunteers who were served pretty much the
same way, except that they were driven in and
run like a pack of cowards we could not hold
the City so we had to leave it after a loss of
about 15,00 men not a man less, I am sure
the enemy did not lose 2,000 men they fought
behind their breast works and when ever we got
close enough why they drove us back they
never let us get closer than a 50 yards of their
works, I read the Inquirer of to day in which
it says we took their works it is no such thing
we never took any of their works what is
more we never can take the works opposite
Fredericksburg.  A great many of our troops beha
=ved shamefully they were like sheep I saw
when this army at present can not ship
25,000 of the enemy it is completely demorilized,
where is Burnside now?  The first thing you
know the enemy will be in front of Washington
when they will call for Geo. B. McClellan
once more to save our glorious Capitol
mark my word, The enemy will take advantage

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of their success of driving us from the
City, We were the last troops that left the
City the only troops that they could depend
uppon as the others all cleared out, we left
about 7 Oclock in the morning of the
16th inst after the 3d Infty got over the bridges
were torn up and distroyed so as to prevent
the enemy from crossing after us
After 6 days hard work, sleeping on the ground
with one Blanket when the water froze in
our canteens without any fires we are again
in our old camp with about 400 less men then before
what is to be done we cannot go in winter quarters
here without great expense, we must do one of two
things, viz move nearer Washington or put the Govement
to great expense in transporting food and Keeping
the river open, the Acquia Creek freezes every winter
and the Quartermaster & commissary. Genl say they
cannot provide the Army at this point all winter
I think we will go to Washington or close by and go
into Winter Quarters no more battles for this army
this winter if they do fight they will be whiped
as sure as fate.
Now is the time for you to get my leave as I am
much in need of it to recruit my health as the
last six days work as has made its mark upon
my health I am being cramped up with
rhumatism ever since we returned and suffer a
great deal with it I received a letter from Henry to night
Dear Father do get my leave, if possiable
Ben Williams run from his regiment while in front of the
enemy on the night of 14th inst we think he has gone to
Washington Give my love to all
                                                       Your Affectionate Son
                                                        Geo B Eckert
Isaac Eckert
                    Reading
                                   Pa

George B. Eckert, 1840-1899,  48th Pennsylania

MSS 8282