Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Eyewitness To Battle
The Diary of Private McCarter, Part 6
"The Rebels poured volley after volley into our faces."
| | Battle Of Fredericksburg | |
Photographed by Jorge A. Torres, July 24, 2026
1. Eyewitness To Battle- The Diary of Private McCarter, Part 6 Marker
"A blinding fire of musketry met [the Irish Brigade]." Union Pvt. William McCarter
The journey of the Irish Brigade on December 13, 1862, which began at City Dock and continued with its march through the streets and its perilous crossing of the millrace, came to a furious climax here in front of Marye's Heights.
In front of you is the Stratton House, just 120 yards from where Confederate defenders waited behind a stone wall. Sweeping around both sides of the house, the Irish Brigade advanced into a horrific "blizzard of shot, shell, and fire." Sheets of fire stopped them 50 paces from the wall, and McCarter fell with a bullet wound in his shoulder. As he lay there, suffering additional wounds, "Brigade after brigade and division after division were hurled against [the Confederates but] were blown back as if by the breath of hell's door suddenly opened."
The Irish Brigade made it closer to the wall than any other unit, but at a horrible cost. Of 1,200 men in the brigade, 545 were killed, wounded or missing during the battle.
After the battle, green boxwood, which symbolized the Irish Brigade's heritage, was
this page online
"The storm of battle increased its fury and the crash of musketry, mingled with the roar of cannon from the peaks, was terrific. To reach the stone wall was the first object in view ... [When] we were within 50 paces of this wall ... Rebel infantry suddenly sprang up from behind it. The Rebels poured volley after volley into our faces, at once stopping our further progress."(captions)
Union Pvt. William McCarter, My Life in the Irish Brigade
The Stratton House is the darker building on the left of this photograph. After being wounded, McCarter lay only 20 yards away from the house. Union soldiers sought shelter in and behind the building, the dead and the living "as thick as they could be crowded together." From the collection of Lou and Jerry Brent.
This is Stop 6 of a 6-stop trail following the story of William McCarter and the Irish Brigade.
Erected 2026 by Virginia Civil War Trails. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition,
Photographed by Jorge A. Torres, July 24, 2026
2. Eyewitness To Battle- The Diary of Private McCarter, Part 6 Marker
Location. 38° 17.748′ N, 77° 27.998′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Charlotte Street and Shepherd Street, on the right when traveling west on Charlotte Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Killing Fields (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Seeking Cover (about 400 feet away); The "Angel of Marye's Heights" (about 500 feet away); Stephens Family Cemetery (about 500 feet away); The Stephens House (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Innis House (about 500 feet away); Mrs. Martha Stevens (about 500 feet away); Cobb (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. Angel of Marye's Heights (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Innis House (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2026, by Jorge A. Torres of Springfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2026, by Jorge A. Torres of Springfield, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
