Signed CDV & Graphic Fredericksburg Battle Letter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017

Lengthy Union eleven page letter written by “Frank M. Kelly” who on 9/25/1861 at Albany, NY as a sergeant in "H" Co. NY 44th Infantry. He was later aide de camp to Generals Hooker and Meade through the Gettysburg campaign. Kelly writes in part, “ow we have lost 13,000 men in killed and wounded & not gamed a pig. I tell you if we ain’t just about disgusted there is no such thing as disgust. ... We left camp on the 11th inst. and commenced the attack in Fredericksburg bright and early that morning with our Artillery on the batteries of the Rebels, which were very powerful and more formable than any we ever came in contact with. All day Thursday our artillery played on the rebels who only resisted with a regiment of Sharp Shooters one tremendous fire of Artillery. By night our forces had gained a foothold on the other side of the river and our pontoon bridges ready to cross our troops. ... The next morning was the scene of some more brilliant dashes to cross the river and a few troops succeeded in getting into the city and when they did get there, turned out to be just where the rebels wanted them, for their Batteries were in a splendid position to shell out troops as soon as they got over the bridges. ... Saturday was the eventful day, and was a terrible day for our troops. Thousands of men who had crossed the river that previous night never came back from early in the morning until late at night. Our noble troops were pushed into the slaughter pen for it was advancing continually on nothing but earthworks and marked batteries which slayed our men terribly. After witnessing this horrid and drawn battle all day Saturday towards night came the long expected order for our Division to cross the much dreaded river into the field of battle which had been looked at and fought all that day. ... Griffins Division here advanced by Regiment in column and when close to the Pontoon bridge came the order “Double quick” and off they went and gained the opposite bank, without any causalities and without rest or anything cautionary were double quicked on to the long contested battlefield of Saturday and were drawn up in line of battle and the bugle sounded “forward” (here is where Harrison got wounded) this was a tough order for our men as the enemy opened terrible volley and artillery fire on our men. But they all advance under the death like missiles and one another dropped some killed but mostly wounded. Our men did bravely, but after advancing a mile (very near) under such a terrible fire it could not be done any further. Here they laid under the enemy’s fire all the time and being about sun down, both sides fought desperately for the field and it terminated in both sides occupying it. The next day there was some more hard work but mostly with our wounded and killed who were many in number. ... Monday there was more fighting. The enemy would shell the city when full of our wounded and finally gave us time to take them out and we did and not only our wounded but all our force evacuated one long fought Battlefield. This was done Monday night and Tuesday our troops came back 13,000 less to this old camp ground and now they are cheering for the hope of putting up the winter quarters here & I think they will too. ... I feel disgusted with this kind of war now and now is the moment we look to ‘Little Mac’ and only for the River I think we would have been brought up somewhere near Washington. \I tell you ‘Little Mac’ is the best man for us’. ... I don’t see what is to be done with our army. \This last unsuccessful attempt at the enemy will cause a deep sensation all over and if the “Expedition” don’t do something I put this war down as done fighting, and will be settled by words and not the sword on the next April 1863. ... This losing so many valuable lives and at such expense and not gaining anything is played out ... this fighting for politics and money and positions is played out.....” Included is a CDV signed on the front mount by his brother “Harrison Kelly, 1st lieut.” who was captured at Savage’s Station and wounded at Fredericksburg.

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