Battery D First Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War

by George C. Sumner

Before dark Sumner's and a few of Hooker's Division had crossed to the south side of the river. Considerable skirmishing occurred as the troops forced their way through the city and out upon the plains beyond.

Early on the morning of the 12th, the rest of the army crossed, and Battery D went with it. Our progress up the streets from the river was extremely dangerous, from the fact that the enemy had a perfect range, and succeeded in ricocheting shot after shot down the very centre of the street, obliging us to use the sidewalks. Occasionally they would explode a shell uncomfortably close; but we succeeded in reaching the upper part of the town without any serious casualty. Here we sought protection behind a large stone warehouse, where we remained all day, and until before light next morning, when we were moved up nearer the enemy.

All day of the 13th we lay under fire, protected by buildings. The enemy shelled Fredericksburg all the morning, and about noon the order was given for our infantry to advance upon Marye's Heights. The mist had cleared, and every movement of our troops could be distinctly seen by the rebels upon the heights. Then commenced a most furious cannonading, followed in a few moments, as our troops reached the stone wall at the foot of Marye's Hill, by volley after volley of musketry. So terrific was the fire from Marye's Hill that our artillery could not be advanced, and the infantry had to fall back.

The men of Battery D were soon convinced of the terrible work that was going on in front, from the great numbers of wounded which passed them, going to the rear. In fifteen minutes, of the 5600 led into battle by Gen. Hancock, 2000 were disabled. All day and until nearly dark on the 14th our battery remained in the place we had moved into in the morning.

Just before dark we were ordered to move forward across the plain to the left of the city and shell the works on Marye's Heights. We came into position on the edge of an embankment which was at least five or six feet high. We placed our pieces in position and then took our limbers and caissons back under the embankment, and when all was ready, we opened with a will. We thought we had quite a snap on our enemy, but in about three minutes they convinced us that we had "barked up the wrong tree," for they just sent in a shower of shells and minies that made us seek cover. We laid close to the embankment until they let up, and then loaded all our pieces and gave them a broadside. We fired two or three rounds, and then they had their turn again; this was repeated three or four times; but at last we were denied the privilege of even getting in a round or two, as their fire was kept up for a long time, and they were putting their shells just in the right place. We afterwards found out that they had platted the ground in their front, and knew to a nicety every position, and could drop a shell into any of them; and then it became apparent to all of us that we were not wanted there anyway, so we limbered up and retired to the lower part of the city.

Here we remained until two o'clock in the morning of the 15th, when we recrossed the river, and returned to our old camp. By daylight all our army had recrossed the river to the Falmouth side, and the battle of Fredericksburg was over.

Battery D, although under fire all the time, did not become engaged, save in this single instance, and was but little injured—First Sergeant R. Henry Lee's wounded hand, and a broken stock of a caisson being our only casualties.

Capt. W.W. Buckley, who had been promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain on Oct. 30th, and assigned to Battery D, reached our camp on Dec. 10th, just in time to participate in this fight.

Dec. 17th the battery was moved about a mile and a half back from the river into a grove, and began to build winter quarters. A cellar about a foot deep, six feet long and four feet wide, was first dug; this was fixed around with pine slabs, dirt was then tamped around the outside of the slabs, a ridge-pole was raised in the crotch of two upright poles and covered with our shelter tents, and a mud chimney was built on the outside, the tent being tacked tightly around the fire-place. We had a bunk on either side, raised from the ground and filled with boughs. When these houses were completed and we had built good rousing fires in the fire-places, we were just as comfortable and happy as it was possible for soldiers to be.

From this time to Feb. 6th, 1863, our time was occupied in performing the ordinary duties of the soldier, such as drills, having inspections, etc., varying the operations between Jan. 10th and 21st, by being under marching orders for the purpose of crossing the Rappahannock River on an expedition against the rebels.