The site of the fight of December 12th this area played a vital role in the battle of Chancellorsville for this is where General John Sedgewick’s 6th corps finally took Marye’s Heights and the surrounding area. From here Sedgewick moved off in support of Hooker on May 3. Prior to that confederates occupied the town and this area.
We are here in the city yet and I do not know how long we will remain here, we sand guard on this side of the river and the yanks on the other. We stand in speaking distance to each other but we do not shoot at each other I think both is a fraid. We are having our fin here a saining for fish and ketching fish with a hook and line we drag them out by the hundreds with sains. They are mostly shad and herring but the water is very cold.
Henry Brooks, 51st Georgia Infantry, Seemes Brigade, McClaw’s Division
In April the balloons went up every day and we could hear the Yankees drilling and having sham battles. They were teaching their fresh troops hot to fight Confederate soldiers. We could hear them charge, one line would try to yell like the Confederate soldiers and the other would “huzza, Huzza, Huzza” like the Union army.
G.W. Nichols, 61st Georgia Infantry, Gordon’s Brigade, Early’s Division
MAY 3
At one o’clock this morning (May3) the sixth corps following the River Road entered the city of Fredericksburg. The Rebels in the city fled to the forts on the hills in the rear, while the Corps formed for the attack in the streets. The 2nd RI formed in Princess Anne Street. At daylight the Rebels opened their guns from the forts on the hills and shot and shell came crashing through houses like volleys of musketry.
Elisha Hunt Roads, 3rd Brigade (Edward's), 1st Division, Sixth Corps
At daylight the Rebel batteries from Marye’s and the neighboring heights opened on us, but they found difficulty in depressing their guns enough to do us any injury, and as we were on the outskirts of the city, they could not fire on us without damaging the city.
Lt. Col. Mayson Whiting 37th Massachusetts Infantry, Brown’s Brigade, Newton’s Division
About 10 o’clock we moved into the railroad cut half-way between the edge of the city and the sunken road at the foot of the terrace of Marye’s Heights. After two abortive attempts to carry the heights, General Sedgewick organized five columns of assault…all five columns were successful in capturing the works they attacked, and were closely followed up by the rest of the corps. The 37th reached the summit of the hill just in time to see the surrender and to aid in some of the captures.
Lt. Col. Mayson Whiting 37th Massachusetts Infantry, Brown’s Brigade, Newton’s Division
My brigade was ordered to “Double Quick” from Hamilton’s Crossing on the extreme right of the line to Taylor’s Hill, above Fredericksburg and on the extreme left of the line, a distance of about five miles our route followed closely the Confederate line of battle, just in the rear of which our course was taken, and of course at many points we were exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy’s artillery and skirmishers… and after a fatiguing race, a small portion of the brigade, breathless, drenched with perspiration and utterly fagged-out, reached our destination and gladly seized the opportunity for resting in the rifle pits and trenches already constructed. I doubt whether more than two hundred men composed the advance of our force. The remainder were dragging a long, as best they might over rough and dangerous road were compelled to follow. Gradually, however, these stragglers came up, until a respectable force was gathered around us. But our arrival was none too soon, for, just at the foot of the hill, Gibbons’ Division was preparing to seize our position. Fortunately a small canal, which here crossed in the valley below had delayed the enemy and thus afforded us time to gain the defenses of the hill.
Henry E. Handerson, 9th Louisiana Infantry, Hay’s Brigade, Early’s Division
We advanced at the double quick (for second line of works) and the Rebels left their works taking their cannon with, but leaving one caisson in our hands. A case shot burst in front of my company throwing s shower of iron about us. One iron bullet stuck me upon my foot causing me to jump into the air, but only lamed me a little. I picked up the iron bullet and put I into my pocket and will send it home.
The entire heights are now in our hands and her we rested until 3:00 when the corps advanced some three miles and met the enemy again at Salem Church.
Elisha Hunt Roads, 3rd Brigade (Edward's), 1st Division, Sixth Corps
May 4th While General Sedgewick worked toward Banks Ford on the 4th Rebel General Early recaptured the Marye’s Heights.
We advanced about two miles when the skirmish line struck the Yankee skirmish line, and we drove it in at once and pushed on the heights. Our line of battle forwarded and retook the heights with but very little loss to us. In this little battle of only a few minutes, my shoe sole was shot in twain and my foot stunned. Captain Kennedy had his sword strap shot in twain and Corporal Holloway had his canteen buts open with a ball.
G.W Nichols, 61st Georgia, Gordon’s Brigade, Early’s Division, Jackson’s Corps
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