INTRODUCTION

CONCERNING The LIGHT DIVISION of the 6TH

CORPS

Even at a remove of some 150 years following the cataclysmic conflict of the Great War of the Rebellion or CIVIL WAR --

as most would have it -- there appear to be almost no historical treatments of General Joe Hooker’s creation of the Union

Army’s 6th

Corps Light Division – or sometimes, the Light Brigade – in the spring of 1863; But your own memorialist,

Pvt. CALIF NEWTON DREW, YANKEE SCOUT in the CIVIL WAR!! described the newly created Light Division in

some detail, at p. 82 of his Memoir, where he wrote:

“On parade one evening by Gen’l Orders we was informed that the Reg’t was a unit in the Light Division of the 6th

Corps which was composed of the 61st

Pa Inft; 31st

N.Y. Inf’t ; 43rd

N.Y. Inf’t; 6th

Me Inf’ty; 5th

Wisc. Inf’ty. The

3rd

N.Y. L:ight Battery of Artillery was attached to the Division and Gen’l John Newton was put in command of the

Division.

“By Order of the 3rd

of Feb. of Gen’l Joe Hooker, Commanding Army of the Potomac (Feb 3rd

, 1863) the Light

Division was supposed to be selection of the best troops in the [6th

] Corps. They were to move at a moment’s

notice in light marching order with 100 extra rounds of ammunition. Pack mules was to convay our knapsacks,

tents, blankets and all over one days rations. We was to move with the cavalry when and where they needed

infantry support, so we started to get acquainted. [P. 83 ] The 5th

Wisc. was our sister regiment. The 31st

Pa. we

had seen under fire and they had stood up to the work in fine shape. We had a number of our men in the battery

and we took the judgment of those who made the selection as to the efficiency of the New York men.” [All

emphases added, here and throughout.]

The newly formed Light Division saw its first major action on April 30, 1863 in the Battle of Marye’s Heights – an

engagement almost as lost to history, as the Light Division itself. The battle is sometimes otherwise known as the

Second Battle of Fredericksburg.

AND NOW, IN PVT. DREW’S OWN WORDS (and spelling):

Corps Bages

“The Army is being reorganized better than ever it was.

“We of the Light Division adopted a new skirmish drill doing it on the rush –

no double-quick: for us it must be faster.

“The Greek cross is the bage given to the 6th

Corps. Red for the 1st

Division,

white for the 2nd

, Blue for the 3rd

Div. [P. 88].

The Light Division [or Brigade ] was given a dark green cross.

“Gen’l Kearney was originator of the bage system. We were well acquainted

with the Kearneys’ patch – a peace of red cloth cut dimond shape and sewed

on. The cap was known throughout the Army before we left the peninsula.

Gen’l Hooker made the different designs for the corps and it was a violation

of Army rules and regulations to be caught without your corps bage, on cap,

hat, or coat. It seems as if the battle of Dec. was forgotten.

“The first part of April there was a report that the rebels was building earthworks on the south side of the

Potomac within shelling distant of the river. Colonel [Hiram] Burnham was requested to assitain if the report was

true. He told me to find out if there was anything in the report. I went alone on this cruise down to the Mouth

of the Rappahannock River. The new earth-works was some new plowed land on rising grown six or seven miles

from the river.

“While I was gone the Army was reviewed by the President, his son, the Secretary of War; also Congressman Pike

from Maine came out to see the men of his own town Calais [ Maine ] –Co. D was from there. The evening I got

back to the Reg’t there was quite a little noise in the officers mess tent.

“After making my report I asked the Colonel what was going on , “Oh” said he, “They are initiating the new

doctor. Come in and see him.” Lieut. Hill of Co. C. was standing by the door as I went in, taking me by the arm,

he said, “Here is the other boy from Whitneyville. Step up Doctor and see if you know him.”

“We stood face to face. I could not help it I just yelped I was so surprised. [P. 89 ] “Rawhide Buck, By George!”1

our hands meet -- a clasp that shore had some gripp. “Know him?” said the doctor, “I shall never forget him. He

is the only pupil I ever undertook to punish and was glad to drop the job.” Then he told the crowd the story that

is on page 9, after which we all had several drinks of champagne.

“The Dr. was a fighter. Many times he was on the firing line until his services were needed elsewhere

professionally. I often told him that I would have to help plant him if he did not stay away from such bad places.

We were true friends. He died at home after the war.

“Spring was coming on. The 6th

was in fine shape. The return of the sick and wounded and the new recruits put us

well up in numbers. The officers with one or two exceptions mingled with the men in fun and friendship. We

played Base Ball, Foot Ball and Snow Ball when there was snow togeather. The four English recruits said there was

no discipline in the American Army. We smoked the officers out of their quarters; they smoked out of their tents

and ducknet. The High Dutch and the low dutch had fights.

Pack Teams

“Then orders came to prepair for the spring campaign. On the 28th

day of April we broak camp in heavy

marching order with 100 extra rounds of ammunition and four days rations. But the mule train was minus. We

moved to the bluff overlooking the Rappahannock River at the same place we crossed in Dec. -- it was called

Franklin’s Landing. After dark the Reg’t was put to packing the pontoons from the cartes to the River about a half

of a mile. Co. K had two to pack. The Co. was numbered of in squads of 16. While one squad was packing the

other [ P. 90 ] was resting we packed them on poles under the bottoms. Each squad packed until tired. The

grown was very uneven and several times the whole load came [down] upon a few [men] and it was some load.

“It began to rain and the grown was some slippery. Orders to be quiet did not prevent us from making remarks as

to our ability to go fast loaded with a boat 22 feet long, 8-foot wide and 3-foot deep.

The Union Army’s pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock river, into Fredericksburg, were engineered to be

constructed of planks lain over 22-ft long skiffs …. And constructed by the soldiers of the Light Brigade.

[ Image: Alfred R. Waud “Pontoon Bridge erected for Sedgwick’s Corps to cross upon” (Library of Congress) ]

1 Dr. William Buck, an 1859 graduate of the Bowdoin Medical College, was Assistant Surgeon to the 6

th

Corps

Volunteers, but had first encountered Drew as a truculent student, one of the “big boys” in the Machias, Maine,

High School, where Buck first taught after his graduation. -- Ed.]

“This shure was a good beginning for the “Light Division.”2

Image – Don Gallon “Essayons: Engineers at Fredericksburg" contact@gallon.com

DREW CONTINUES:

“We left our guns stacked in the timber, but had everything with us. It was daylight before we got the last pontoon

in the water. Detachments – we understood from Gen’l Brooks brigade – was put in several of them and started

across, when about half way over they were fired upon by the rebel pickets on the bank; a few was killed and

wounded in the leading boats. Again when they were about to land the rebs gave them another volley. Our men

jumping ashore, took after them and drove them away.”

“The engeneers began to lay the bridges. The first one was laid in 30 minutes as the last plank was laid the troops

began stepping ashore.

2 EDITORS NOTE: George T. Stevens, Surgeon to the 77

th

Reg’t of New York Volunteers, in his Three Years with the 6

th Corps, (1870), records:

“The men of the Light brigade had toiled from dark until nearly dawn, carrying pontoon boats on their shoulders

to the river side, and launching them into the stream [of the Rappahannock ]. So noiselessly had they conducted

their operations, that the pickets of the enemy took no alarm until they suddenly saw the braves of Russell’s

brigade approaching in the boats, just as dawn was breaking. The astonished confederates fired a few volleys of

musketry, and our guns threw among them a few charges of canister, and the rebels fled precipitately. A number

of prisoners were captured, among the offices of the picket-guard.”

“We had a few hours rest and got a meal, which we stood much in need of. Then we moved back up the river

behind the hills until nearly in front of Fredericksburg, out of sight of the rebels. Then we mounted up on top of

the ridge so the foe could see us turn [?? ] down the river, march back making a complete circle. We went over

the route several times. If the maneuver was to deceive the rebs and make them think there was a large force at

the point yet to cross, they must [have] wondered where the Yanks got so many white and yellow hounds – for

“Spot” was always in evidence: we put in the day, doing this trick. [ P. 91]

Back South of Rappahannock

“We crossed the river after dark the night of May 2nd

, filing right, advanced to a place called Deep Run where we

met the rebel skirmishers and after the night’s marching and skirmishing we arrived at daylight in front of Marye’s

Hill [ Marye’s Heights as it is usually called – Ed.] and the Slaughter Pen of Dec. 13th

where Burnside with half the

Army failed, where Hancock’s men had unsuccessfully charged several times without getting to the stone wall.

[ Image -- Detail from Plan of Attack on Marie’s Heights by Maj. Gen’l John Sedgewick with 6th Army Corps -

Sunday May 3, 1863. (Library of Congress) ]

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Sedgewick’s engineers lay the pontoon bridge [ indicated by red arrow preceding page ] by night, running south

across the Rappahannock river, directly into the town of Fredericksburg.

However, other Union forces, including the 6th

Maine infantry, crossed the Rappahannock river on a pontoon bridge

laid at a point another half-mile downstream, and reached the southern side, at about Deep Run; and, against sniper

fire, took up positions around Marye’s Heights, still held by Confederate forces following the first Battle of

Fredericksburg, Dec.13, 1862. A detail of the map below, includes a hand-written note: “Troops crossed here.”

[ Image -- Detail from Plan of Attack on Marie’s Heights by Maj. Gen’l John Sedgewick with 6

th Army Corps - Sunday May 3,

1863. (Library of Congress) -- Washed out reddish coloration

behind the railroad line [see preceding page] shows low-lying

territory originally held by confederate skirmishers.]

These maneuvers below Marye’s Heights appear to have been

intended as a “psy-ops” against the rebel forces, Stevens

reports, in “Three Years with the 6th Corps, ” pp. 190-91 that

General Hooker was taking measures to counter the

psychological advantage which the of the Confederate forces

held, in returning to the Marye’s Heights battlefield, where they

had, on December 13th

of the previous year, so efficiently

defeated Burnside’s army:

“The morning of the 30th

was lowery, but the clouds dispersed

as the day advances. About noon the troops were massed by

brigades, and a congratulatory order from General Hooker was

read to them, amid great cheering. “the enemy,” said the order,

“must now come out and fight us on our own ground, or retreat

ingloriously.” Nothing more of interest occurred that day; but

in the afternoon of the following day … At sunset an order came

from General Hooker, at Chancellorsville, for General Sedgwick to assume a threatening attitude – to make a severe demonstration – but to make no attack. There was much

marching and getting into position, and regiments and division

were marched and countermarched in such a manner as to

convey to the rebels the impression that a grand attack was to

be made at this point. The enemy was evidently deceived by

these maneuvers, and heavy columns of rebel infantry

commenced to form, upon the old battlefield. While we stood

in line of battle, one of our bands near the skirmish line struck

up the air “Dixie.” The rebels, hearing the strains, set up defiant

cheers, which were answer3ed by our army in the most tremendous shouts imaginable. The contest seemed for the

time to depend on strength of lung, and our boys certainly beat them at shouting….

“As the sun disappeared behind the hills, when Hooker’s guns were thundering, we retired to our tents. All day

long the earth had been shaken by tremendous firing of artillery on the right; and now, as darkness gathered over

the scenes of conflict, the thundering of the guns and the trembling of the earth seemed like a succession of

earthquakes. The spirit of our boys rose, as the battle on the right progressed, and there seemed to be indications

of work for them. Groups might be seen at any time, when we were not standing in the line of battle, telling yarns,

singing songs, playing ball and pitching quoits, while they momentarily looked for the order to advance upon the

heights, into the very jaws of death.”

PVT. DREW CONTINUES:

Marye’s Hill [ Marye’s Heights – Fredericksburg II ]

[ Image “Capture of Marye’s Heights” or Plan of Attack [2] on Marie’s Heights by Maj Gen’l John Sedgewick, USA with 6

th Army Corps, Sunday May 3

rd, 1863, or 2

nd Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. (Library of Congress) ]

“We laid down behind a little crest of land which gave us some protection. The

stonewall had been improved by digging a trench behind and throwing the dirt in

front and sowing it to grass which was high enough to hide the raw land. Up the

hill about halfway was the 2nd

line of rifle pitts, at the top was the enemy’s strong

works with artillery and infantry. They opened on us as soon as the fog lifted

from the second line of rifle pitts. The right wing of the 5th

Wisconsin was

deployed as skirmishers along our front, exposed to the rebel sharpshooters, but

was doing some good work. The left wing [of the 13th

Wisconsin ? – Ed.] was in

turn on our left.

“The 61st

Pa was to charge in column on our right. The rest of the Light

Division extended to the left. Conolen Burnham of our Regt. was put in

command of the Light Division.

“This was Sunday May the 3rd

. The sun was hot - I listened to hear the church calling the sinners to repentant in

the city a short distant in our right and rear.

[ The 6th

Maine position shown on the outskirts of Fredericksburg, on the morning of the attack.

Image: detail from “Capture of Marye’s Heights” or Plan of Attack [2] on Marie’s Heights by Maj Gen’l John Sedgewick, USA with 6

th Army Corps, Sunday May 3

rd, 1863, or 2

nd Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. (Library of

Congress) ]

Lost my Pup

“One rebel gun on top of the hill was sending round shot at us quite regular. [Dan] Brown was on my right,

Bagby on my left, Denbo and Brooks were our file closers. Back a short [distance] in line with Bagby and I was

Spot, the company dog. We were wondering if this would be another filling of the Slaughter Pen; then we spoke

of Hancock’s remark to Hooker in Dec., then we passed the word among the men of Co. K. that the top of the

hill was our object point. Nothing but death was to stop us until we got there. Dan said “Good-bye, boys ...” he

saw a shot coming straight for his head. It struck the grown [ P. 92 ] in front of us throwing dirt over some of us,

coming out of the grown directly behind Dan & I. The hound saw it and springing up caught it in his mouth.

There was not so much as a yelp as he departed this world.

“One of our best men got nervous. The strain was sever on us all. Laying there waiting he could lay still no

longer. He began to kiss the men for their mothers, wives and sweethearts, rolling over them until he had kissed

every man in the Co. Then rising to his feet he shook his fist at the frowning battlements in front and swore he

would have satisfaction for the death of our hound pup.

“Word came along the line to remove the caps from our guns. Lieut Colon Harris was in command of the Reg’t.

“Co. K had 41 men live. Our battery was in action close up doing good work by knocking a rebel battery out of

commission on the hill to the right of the plank road. 7th

Mass Inf’t would charge in column on the telegraph

road, and the 61st

Pa would charge in column on the plank road to the right of the 7th

Mass’t and [as] the heads of

those two columns got on line with our line of battle, we were to make our charge on the run.

“As we laid there we asked each other such questions, “Why is the 7th Mass. put in between us and the 61

st Pa –

they did not belong to the Light Division. They should have been put on the plank road.” “Where was Gen’l

Newton?” “Why was Burnham put in command of the Light Division ?” -- just as it was going into action against

“the [enemy’s ] strong position and superior force ?” The long-range union guns on the hill on the other side of

the river sent a few shots over that fell short and came near doing us harm – but they soon stoped when they saw

they were not reaching the rebel line.

“We wear looking death in the face from the front and did not relish the idear of it coming from the rear and

from our owne men. [ P. 93 ]

The Charge of the Light Division

The men was growing [weary] with the waiting, the heat was oppressive. One of the

men looked ahead and swore he saw the foot and leg of a man sticking out of the

ground. We was giving our hardtack and hogbelly a big call, our water was nearly

gone, when the head of the two columns was seen emerging from the City of

Fredericksburg at common time. We had laid our knapsacks on the top of the crest.

Word came along the line to leave them there when we moved forward. A shell crashed

into the head of the 7th

Mass – exploded causing some confusion. A number of men was

down; the whole column halted for a minute or less then they streighten out and moved forward at the regulation

doublequick while a number of shells were explosing above the line.

The 61st

[New York] a little ahead was having a few casualties. They were moving so slow -- would they never get

online? It was 11 o’cl A.M.

.

[ Image: A. C. Redwood sketch, Confederate troops defending the stonewall at Marye’s Heights, shortly before

being overrun by the Light Division, including the 6th

Maine ]

“Yes – they was online and the command,

“Skirmishers away doublequick!” rang out from

Burnham’s lips loud enough to be heard a

mile. 3

[ Image, “The Storming of Marye’s Heights by Newton’s Division and the Light Division,” from Stevens, Three Years with the 6

th Corps. ]

3 EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Goerge T. Stevens’ account of the assault of the Light Division, from Three Years with the 6th Corps, pp. 199-200 :

“The line of battle under Colonel Burnham advanced on the left of the road; the Fifth Wisconsin on the skirmish

line, the Sixth Maine, the Thirty-first New York and the Twenty-third Pennsylvania in line. Four more gallant

regiments could not be found in service. Leaving everything but guns and ammunition, they started forward,

encountering a shower of bullets, grape and canister, as soon as they rose above the slight knoll which had

concealed them. We of the Second division looked with admiration upon the advancing line; our flag – it was

the flag of the Sixth Maine – in advance of the others, it’s brave color-guard [ John Gray: see notes following –

Ed.] bounding forward, then halting a moment while the men came up, then dashing forward again, and finally

gaining the heights before us all!

“It was a noble spectacle, and filled our hearts with pride for the bravery of our comrades of the Light Division.

The Light Division secured as trophies about seven hundred prisoners and five cannon.

“Thus the heights were won. It was a glorious day for the Sixth Corps. Never was a charge more gallantly made.

But it was a sad day, for many scores of our comrades lay stretched in death, along the glacis, and on the steep

ascent, in the ravines and along the roads.”

“Our line swept forward on the run taking in the skirmishers of the 5th

Wisc. Men were falling fast but the living

amidst a rain of shot, shells and musketry gained the stonewall when the guns of the foe was empty. When it

came to using the bayonets and butts of muskets, the Rebels was not in it with the log drivers of Maine – they

started [ in retreat ] up the hill to the next rifle pitts. With a yell that echoed among the surrounding hills we

tackled the secon line. It was full of rebels but the artillery on top of the hill could not be used against us.

“The three left compaynes got into a

general mixup. Talk about demons of

War : we were Crazey Devils dealing

death to every foe at the same [time]

defending our own lives. The resistance

in our vicinity was terrific.

“Brown on my right drove his bayonet

into two and crushed the head of the

third with the butt of his musket. We all

done our part. [ P. 94 ] As we could not

shoot we had to relie on the bayonet and

clubbed muskets.

“Brown was the only man that ever

bragged about his achievements, but our

whole Co. must have done nearly as well.

With a shout, the forging ahead of Old

Glory, we climbed over the Fort at the

summet.

“John Gray regimental Color Bearer

belonging to Co. K. was the first man

inside the fort on the top of the hill.

“Foure of our crowd jumped over the

wall between two of the guns. This

battery was the famous Washington

Artillery of Louisiana and the rebs was

very proud of it.

EDITOR’S NOTE :

This lithograph from Harper’s Weekly magazine has been captioned simply

“The Stars and Stripes” and is from a field

sketch credited to the famed political

cartoonist Thomas Nast, [See below –

Ed.] and depicts the scene at the Battle of

Marye’s Heights, with forces of the 6th

Maine having stormed the stone wall and taken the “works”. Color bearer

John Gray is now slumped over among the fallen, as discussed below. The unit’s drummer survived.

On the white stripes of Old Glory can be seen lettered out, the names of signal battles: “Fair Oaks”, “Malvern Hill”

&c., are visible. Cf. http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/may/stars-stripes.htm

As noted above, p. 46, the 6th

Maine did not participate in the Battle of Fair Oaks. So the flag is not a mere tally of

engagements for the unit, but a true battle standard reflecting both Union Army victories to be repeated, and losses

to be vindicated.

The Pretty Boy

“Straddling the gun on my left sat a rebel officer sword in one hand, revolver in the other – the pistol as empty he

was using the sword and shouting “No Surrender” – but he did.

“Standing by the guntrail was a small boy in full confed’ artillery uniform, light curly hair, blue eyes, rosey cheeks,

so fair and slight I thought it must be a girl in male attire standing rooted to the spot – struck dumb, a man in blue

in the act of lunging a bayonet in him. I sprung forward turned the bayonet

aside, told the man was wasn’t fighting babyes. Turning to the child and

pointing to the timber not far off, told him to run as he had never run in his life

and if he got there safe to keep on running until he [got] home to his mama.

“The Hill was ours, the men wild with delight, John Gray standing on the fort

waveing the flag. I caught Hanneman and said, “There’s a picture for the

papers.” [ And the magnificent scene of triumph did make the papers -- but cf.

Drew’s account with the engraving that actually ran in Harper’s magazine, detail

below. 4

– Ed.]

4

Online sources qualify the accuracy of Pvt. Drew’s recollection at this point, to wit:

“A lithograph published in Harper’s Weekly in May 1863 depicts the 6th Maine Infantry Regiment

capturing Confederate defenses atop Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, Va. on Sunday, May 3, 1863.

The regiment’s commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin Harris, holds the 6th Maine’s flag aloft by its broken

pole. At his feet lies Color Sgt. John Gray, who carried the flag during the 300-yard charge made by the

regiment. Just as he reached the Confederate positions, Gray was struck in the head and left

unconscious. Holding a sword aloft behind Harris is Col. Hiram Burnham of Cherryfield; he

commanded the [Light ] division to which the 6th Maine was assigned. Burnham wears a bandage that

indicates the head wound he suffered during the charge.”

See also, the account of this battle, and extensive diary entries of Lt. Charles Clark, 6th Maine Infantry, @

http://maineatwar.bangordailynews.com/2013/05/30/the-6th-maines-screaming-demons-led-the-way/

“I picked up a gun and began shooting at the caissons and gun carriages coming out of the plank road. I told the

1st

sergeant I was going down for my knapsack. He [said], “Bring mine up too.” Denbo went along. We stoped

at the stonewall. Denbo said, “There’s 41 stuck rebels laying there..” The line to our left had gone over the top

almost as soon as we had.

[Image: Union dead removed for burial, this photo shows remaining

Confederate dead behind the stonewall, following the 2nd

battle of

Marye’s Heights, May 3, 1863. (Library of Congress)]

Pvt. Drew notes in his memoire, “I had picked up a good rifle in front of the stone wall…”

Lt. Roach Wounded

“The whole corps was getting [ through ] by the way of the two roads –

on getting back we [ P. 95 ] were just in time to join the advance. I

had picked up a good rifle in front of the stonewall. Capt. Roach

of our Co. was mortally wounded, he died May 18th

. Young of Co. C

killed; Ballinger of C. killed; Gray of Co. A., killed. [ For more on

Capt. Thomas P. Roach, see, “The Confiscated Goose” issue – Ed.]

“The boy who kissed us for our mothers laid dead inside the

stonewall, his bayonet still through a rebel he shot in the head.

“We moved out over the open plain some 4 or more miles when we encountered a force of the enemy that we

could not move and we thought we had the whole of Lee’s army to contend with. After the first attack we fell

back and let some of the rest of the Corps have a chance. The fight was kept up until sunset and darkness put a

stop to it. We loss the Major and 4 captains and a 1/3 of the men. 5

[ Image: 6th

Maine Infantry, ca. May 4, 1863; U.S. War Department – Matthew Brady ]

5 EDITOR’S NOTE: Above, the 6

th

Maine Infantry, a reduced but effective force, shown with their drummer –- a

Native American – in the foreground; but without Color Sergeant John Gray. Drew had stated that there were

41 men left in Co. K before the battle of Marye’s Heights -- so this image, ascribed to Matthew Brady, and taken

the day following the battle, confirms the attrition: showing the remaining twenty-eight men. Stevens, “Three Years with the 6

th Corps,” in his tally of the dead at Marye’s Heights, almost reconciles with Drew’s numbers,

stating, at p. 200,

The Seventh Massachusetts, the Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, the Second Vermont, and the

Seventy-seventh Thirty-third and Forty-third New York were among the greatest losers. The Sixth Maine

reached the rebel works with the loss of six captains and the Major, and a proportional number of

enlisted men.”

“After dark and during the night Gen’l Sedgwick formed his line in horseshoe shape, boath flanks resting on the

bluff overlooking the river. The Army engeneers laid a pontoon bridge at a place called Banks Ford and

communicated with the 6th

Corps.

“The rebels had not been idle during the night. They had sent a force around our left-flank and had recaptured

the works [at Marye’s Heights] that had cost us so dearly, without firing a shot. The next morning the 6th

Corps

found the foe in the works behind us and on boath flanks. Hooker was beat to a standstill and we hall [sic – this

sentence incomplete – Ed.] all the rebel forces not required to keep him still in front of us.

May the 4th, 1863

“The rebs opened the ball early in the morning. Gen’l [Lee] commanding in person – so history says. With vigor

and determination they pressed all day. We had an open field fight every time they attacked – the left wing of the

6th Maine a flying force if ti was thought we were wanted, we went to that place on the run. The fighting sever but

the foe could not break through our lines. We had to control the lines [P. 96 ] and each time the rebels came at

us with a yell- but we sent them back with a howl. At no place did they want to cross bayonets with us that day.

“Our history says Hooker had 130,000 men in the ‘Chancellorsville campaign ; Lee had 60,000 -- on the way, he

left 20,000 to take care of Hooker’s force and attacked Sedgwick Corps of 20,000 with 25,000 where were the

other 15,000? That night with a bright moonlight that reveiled our movement to the foe, Gen’l Sedgewick

executed the difficult task of withdrawing his corps from in front of the foe.

“At sunset the 6th

Maine was on the extreme right of the line it was a very important place if the foe could drive us

away and put a battery there they could command our pontoon bridge.

“We was started and marched some distance but counter-marched and returned to the timber where we had

[been] laying with orders [to hold ] it until the last shot was gone, and if we was cut off from the Corps, to do the

best we could to get out of there or go to Richmond.

“We took that to mean that the safety of the Corps was depending upon the fighting abilities of the 6th

Maine.

None of us was willing or wanted to change boarding houses although our grub was pretty slim just then. The

timber screened us [from] the foe but they knew some of the Yanks was there. The corps withdrawing from the

center moved swiftly and silently as possible and off, getting away fine.

“Colonel Burnham and the rest of the Light Division was gone. Nothing but the pickets and the 6th

Maine left.

The pickets down toward the center surrendered on demand of the foe……”