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Great Battle of Fredericksburg Letter by Lt George P Davis of the
90th Pa Volunteer Infantry. Davis served from 1/62-11/64 and was
Wounded at Gettysburg during his service in the War. He wrote this
letter several days after the Battle of Fredericsburg from
"Camp in the Woods on the North Bank of the Rappahannock River Va Dec
16th 1862. We have had Stirring times since I last wrote to you, we crossed the
river Friday morning and on Saturday we went into Battle, the Regt is badly
Cutup not being able to muster about 100 men. Tom, Darryl, Boyd and
Sheridan are Wounded in our Co. as I know at present. The rebels were too
strongly fortified to dislodge them at last night, so we skedaddled and are now
again on this side where we started from minus some 18,000 killed wounded
and missing. Capt Barnes joined us this morning here. The Rebs are shelling
the woods in which we are camped. But being treated to that kind of music so
much of late the boys clearly mind it at all. This kind of fighting is awful to a new
man and rather it was so to me. The Bullets were rattling around as thick as
hail every moment some poor went down. We was twice in action and had we
of reinforcments to pursue the advantage gained by our Brigade the result
might have been different. But after firing nearly 60 rounds of cartridges there
was no relief but a single Penna regt who came up on splendid style, we fell
back, were rallied and went into it again advancing up the edge of the woods
where they were in entrenchments . But for want of ammunition were forced to
retreat. There is no backdown in these boys they fight like Tigers and I could
hardly get the men left to me to fall back. I took in 20 men when we came out I
had Byer, Benner Scott, Livers and Land, the others had given out or were
helping the wounded off the field. Luke was shot in the Breast and died in the
field. We all are sick of this thing and none of us wish any more fighting. We
cannot do anything with the Rebs where they are, they have lines upon lines. If
you arrive there from one of the other commands and you will be driven from it
again. They have natural country for defense and they fight like the devil. Where
we will go now or what will be done with the skeleton of the 90th is with us an
anxious question. We are temporarily divided into 3 companies, Capt Sears
commanding the 1st, Warner the 3rd and myself the 2nd till we get to some
place where we can find the regiment in some shape again. I will
communicate more fully with you as now I only take advantage of a halt to write.
This sheet of paper I picked up on the field of Battle when coming off.
Remember me to all the boys at home, particularly Jacobus. The boys send
their regards to you.....(faded) I will write to him as soon as we get settled
somewhere the men are beginning to come back to the company. I will not say
anything about the missing till we are better informed. With my best wish's for
future welfare... Wm P Davis.
Spectacular and rare to find a letter this close to the battle and
written on the battlefield while shelling is still going on. Also fantastic
that it was written on a piece of paper picked up on the field where it
was dropped by another soldier or officer. This kind of commentary
is rare and important and rarely found in these kinds of letters
anymore. Most of the better ones being in archives or museums.
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