party, arrived with it at the hospital at 9 o'clock at night, to bury him. His grave had been dug and all preparations made for a funeral — except the corpse. To the astonishment of the burial party they found the man still alive. At the end of two hours his spirit had taken its flight and the old man was buried at midnight with the usual honors of war. Soon after midnight on Tuesday morning, December 9, the regiment marched away from Brooks' Station to within five miles of the Rappahannock and on the 10th moved two miles nearer and awaited orders to move forward into the impending battle. THE PERSIMMON TREE. U PON assuming command of the Army of the Potomac, General Burnside re-organized it into three grand divisions. General Sumner commanded the right (Second and Ninth Corps); General Franklin commanded the left (Twelfth and Sixth Corps); and General Hooker the center (Third and Fifth Corps). The Eleventh Corps under General Sigel was on the reserve. At this time, one part of the Confederate army was at Culpepper, and the other part in the Shenandoah Valley. Instead of interposing between these divided forces, Burnside started his army for Falmouth, nearly opposite Fredericksburg. When Lee discovered this movement, he united his forces at Fredericksburg. Before the pontoons arrived for Burnside to cross the river, Lee arranged his army along the hills in the rear of the city and strongly fortified the heights with earthworks. On both sides of the Rappahannock at this place, run well defined crests of hills. The northern are known as Stafford Heights, and are close to the river's margin. The southern are about a mile, more or less, back from the stream. The strongest position of this range is Marye's* Height, directly back of the city. Near its base is a sunken road, also a stone wall. Both the Height and the adjacent hills were defended with ranges of artillery. The pontoons arrived after much delay. On the night of December 10 they were conveyed to the river bank and 149 pieces of Union artillery placed along Stafford Heights. The laying of the pontoons was begun early on the morning of the 11th. When discovered by the enemy, a deadly fire of musketry from rifle pits and houses opposite compelled the workmen to stop. The Federal batteries bombarded the city and fired it in several places. The bridge *Pronounced Maree's building was renewed several times, but each time without success, the enemy's bullets being too deadly for the pontooneers. The Union artillerists could not depress their guns so as to reach the rifle pits. Burnside resolved to send over a storming party, in boats, to disperse the enemy's riflemen. Colonel N. J. Hall volunteered to attempt the heroic deed, saying that he had a Michigan regiment that would perform the task. Five minutes later away dashed the gallant Seventh Michigan Infantry down the river bank. Jumping into the boats, they pulled for the opposite shore-a heroic act that brought cheers from the other soldiers, and waving of handkerchiefs from some lady spectators on the bluff. Volleys from the enemy's rifle pits produced their deadly work. The Union guns on the Heights played upon the houses in front, and the occasion became intensely grand. A landing was effected and up the bank swept that heroic band, capturing as many prisoners as the storming party numbered. And thus in twenty minutes a handful of Michigan men, by a dash of bravery, accomplished what ten hours and tons of artillery metal had failed to do. This gallant deed added new honor to the already lustrous record of Michigan troops. "Dark rolled the Rappahannock's flood, The tide was crimsoned with thy blood, Although for us the day was lost, After the Seventh Michigan had crossed, the boats were rowed back across the river to bring over the Ninteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts. The bridges were soon completed and a division passed over and occupied the town that night. ON THE LEFT MARCHING TO THE FIELD- - TAKING POSITIONS. The two bridges for Franklin's grand division to cross, about a mile and a half below the city, were not completed till one o'clock on Thursday the 11th. Some resistance was offered, but a few charges of canister caused the enemy to flee. Franklin sent a few troops over in the afternoon, but recalled them until the bridge opposite the City was laid. The Twenty-fourth Michigan arrived at the river with the Iron Brigade (General Meredith in command), on Thursday, December 11th. While listening to the roar of the Union guns farther up the river, the paymaster arrived and paid the regiment the ever welcome two months' pay. Many entrusted their pay and allotment checks to Chaplain Way, to be forwarded to their friends at home. Some sent their last pay and wrote their last letters on that day. The regiment bivouacked for the night near the bridges. Early on Friday morning, the 12th, the bugles sounded and drums beat, hardtack and pork being eaten, and hot coffee drank so hastily as to burn the throats of many. Ranks were formed and all made ready to move at command. The regiment moved to the right of the Iron Brigade, and closed column by division (two companies in a regimental division) on first division, where Colonel Morrow gave the men some good advice as to their behavior in the impending battle. He said Wayne County expected every man to do his dutybut his speech was cut short by one of General Meredith's Aides ordering him to move his regiment out at once. It was about noon when the Iron Brigade crossed the lower of the two bridges known as Franklin's Crossing, and marched down the river about a mile, halting to allow some troops in front to maneuver into position. The long range of hills on which were planted the enemy's guns appeared in view. The Sixth Corps had preceded the First Corps across the pontoons and formed a line of battle parallel with the river and within half a mile of the enemy's position. General Gibbon's division of the Frst Corps joined on the left of the Sixth Corps, with Meade's division on his left, and forming at right angles with Gibbon; Meade's left resting on the river at Smithfield. Doubleday's division (in which was the Iron Brigade) formed in reserve in rear of Gibbon and Meade. The Iron Brigade was formed in column by companies closed en masse on top of a slight elevation where their guns were stacked and ranks broken. The enemy soon discovered their position and trained their guns upon them, and dropped a few solid shot and shell squarely among them. The first one that struck in the Twenty-fourth caused some commotion, but did no damage. The Colonel told the men not to get excited, as lightning never struck twice in the same place. Immediately another shell exploded in closer proximity to him. "The hit don't" exclaimed a man in Company C, and all were moved forward a short distance, off the crest, so as not to draw |