History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1862 BATTLE OF FPEDERICKSBURG. 95
on the 30th of October, it crossed the Shenandoah River, and proceeded down
the London Valley, participating in a skirmish with the enemy on the 4th, at
Snicker's Gap, driving him out and occupying it until the column had passed.
It arrived at Warrenton on the 9th, when General Burnside assumed command
of the Army of the Potomac and projected the movement upon Fredericksburg.
The regiment proceeded to Falmouth, where it arrived on the 19th, and performed provost guard duty until the 11th of December, when it left quarters,
and took position nearly opposite Fredericksburg in support of the batteries
that were engaged in bombarding the town. Early on the 12th it crossed the
river, and forming a skirmish line, drove the enemy's sharpshooters out of the
city, with the loss of one mortally wounded, when it was relieved, and rested
for the night on the river bank. Early on the morning of Saturday, the 13th,
under a dense fog, the regiment marched into the city, and halted for an hour
under fire of rebel artillery. The fight was opened at the front, near Marye's
Heights, by French's Division, which was repulsed. Soon after, the Third
Brigade, led by the Fifty-second, moved, amidst a shower of deadly missiles,
by the right flank, up St. Charles street, and formed in line of battle along the
edge of the town. The rebel infantry, but a few hundred yards in front, was
protected by a stonewall along a sunken road, while immediately above, the
hilltops were bristling with cannon. At the word of command, Colonel Brooke,
at the head of his regiment, led the charge, under a storm of shot and shell
that swept the ranks with terrible effect. But, undismayed, they closed up and
pressed steadily on, till they reached a position within one hundred and fifty
yards of the enemy's lines, which was held, despite every effort to dislodge them,
even after their ammunition was spent. At evening, when the battle was over
and the day was lost, what remained of the regiment retired silently from its
position, and returned to the city. It went into battle with two hundred and
eighty-three effective men. Of these, one hundred and fifty-eight were either
killed or wounded. Among the former, were Lieutenants Cross, M'Kiernan
and Kerr, and the latter, Captains Coulter and Eichholtz, and Lieutenants
Potts, Root, Hopkins and Smith.
The regiment now returned to its old position as provost guard to Falmouth.
On the following week, it formed part of a detachment, under command of
Colonel Brooke, that crossed the river, under a flag of truce, for the purpose
of burying the dead. During the two days occupied in this work, nine hun-'dred and thirteen were interred, and six were dispatched to their friends. The
rebel soldiers had stripped the bodies of the dead in the most heartless manner.
In many cases fingers were cut off to get possession of rings. The Fifty-third
remained at Falmouth until February 1st, 1863. While here, three companies
under command of Major Bull, were detailed as provost guard at division headquarters. The Major was assigned to the staff of General Couch, and remained
successively with Generals Couch, Hancock, Hays, Warren, and again with
Hancock in the Wilderness campaign, until the 18th of May, 1864.
On the 28th of April, the regiment moved on the Chancellorsville campaign,
and crossing the Rappahannock at United States Ford, for three days was
actively engaged, suffering considerable loss. Upon the withdrawal of the
army, it returned to its old camping-ground near Falmouth. On the 14th of
June, the Fifty-third, which was now attached to the Fourth Brigade of the
First Division of the Second Corps, left camp, and marched to Banks' Ford to
watch the movements of the enemy, who was about entering on his Penusyl