Eyewitness To Battle

Eyewitness To Battle. The Diary of Private McCarter, Part 4 , "A fatal road to many a Union soldier". , "My regiment followed close upon the heels of the other regiments of the Irish Brigade ... advancing on the double-quick towards the Rebel works on Marye's Heights." , , Union Pvt. William McCarter, As the Irish Brigade hurried through Fredericksburg on George Street, moving into position for their assault, there was a brief respite from artillery fire. The first Union attack on Marye's Heights had failed, and the curve at the western end of the street-where you now stand-hid the column from the view of Confederate gunners. The streets seemed deserted as they passed. One officer spotted a lone cat, sitting on a gate post, "mewing dolefully.", But reaching this point, the men turned towards a storm of fire. Moving out of the relative safety provided by the buildings, they crossed into open ground, in clear view of the Confederates. The southern gunners unleashed a furious barrage, and "their deadly messengers," as Pvt. McCarter remembered, "were hurled against our ranks jn a manner never before experienced.", The brigade raced forward, aided by covering blasts from Union cannons, until they reached the base of a hill that sheltered them from cannon fire. As they paused, gasping for breath, they were given the sobering news that their next advance would be across a narrow route on higher, exposed ground, in full view of the Confederates gunners.

"There was a very narrow path and it was a most dangerous place, open and exposed to all the Rebel batteries. But there could be no back-out. For what reason this route was selected for the passage of the Irish Brigade to the assault I never knew. Certainly it was a fatal road to many a Union soldier." , Union Pvt. William McCarter, My Life in the Irish Brigade

(captions) , This image was taken from Hanover Street, looking at its intersection with George Street. The Irish Brigade entered from the right of the frame and hurried through the intersection under fire. - Courtesy Library of Congress, This is Stop 4 of a 6-stop trail following the story of William McCarter and the Irish Brigade.