A Clerk’s Eye View of Fredericksburg
December 8, 2007
M. A. Schaffner

Many stories have been written about the heroism of the Irish Brigade at Fredericksburg and some of these will, I hope, be echoed in the after action reports of participants in the 145th anniversary reenactment of the battle.  But not here.  I’m a clerk.  When the shooting started I was at headquarters, and there I remained, faithful to my duties until the firing stopped, well away from me.

That said, I have a few observations from the administrative view.  This reenactment traditionally has perhaps 60 to 100 military participants on each side with, in recent years, a small number of civilians participating in living histories.  This year the leader of the Federals, Mark Herzog of the 28th Massachusetts, originally planned for about 150 military participants in five companies, each of which would represent one of the regiments of the brigade.  Somehow, once word got out, volunteers flocked to the standard, despite (or maybe because of?) the lack of heavy advertising in on-line fora.  When the final numbers came in the Union registrants totaled 361, including 27 civilians.

Working at headquarters I had the opportunity of compiling the morning reports as they came in from the companies.  We had a number of late arrivals due to the weather; it rained in the morning, forming ice to the north and delaying a number of people.  Despite this the returns showed 255 military, a total of 76% of those registered.  This exceeds the percentage of registrants on site for any event for which I have similar numbers, and I personally observed a couple of dozen more troops showing up before the first battle, so the actual attendance must have reached 80%.  In my own experience, “pre-event attrition” averages about 34%, so this was significant.

Another fact that struck me as impressive was the size of the Federal units. Though bearing the names of the regiments, they were organized and staffed as companies, so that these reached or exceeded average company strengths in 1862.  In order to maneuver at all in the morning street fight they had to break into platoons, which for once ensured full employment for lieutenants and second sergeants.  It would not have been out of the ordinary run of reenactments to deploy 50 to 70 men formations as battalions, with the full range of field and staff, but Mark kept their historical integrity and I think everyone benefited.  Spectators got to see what a real battalion looked like and the reenactors got the experience of serving in companies that really operated as companies, without the usual superfluity of supervisors.

After the morning reports, I had little in the way of official duties.  The troops had a busy schedule as the companies had to get individually organized, then form for a morning parade, then drill in the little-used “Street Firing” maneuver, which was altered to deploy the battalion as a column of ten platoons.  I dealt with the occasional spectator at headquarters, watched over our desks and nearby piles of excess clothing during the battles, and, perhaps most importantly, made coffee for Adjutant Josh Mordin during one of his rare breaks from work.  

The morning fight went as planned, taking place on Hanover Street next to Federal Hill, where we had our headquarters and parade ground.  Our troops moved out first and soon disappeared over a rise to the right.  The Confederate column then  advanced, preceded by skirmishers, a few of whom took position in the house across the street.  The “King of Hearts” scenario, with both sides blasting away at point blank range, happens every year at Fredericksburg.  It was improved on this occasion by the fighting around the house, which provided an interesting side drama.  On the other hand, there appeared to be three or four under-aged boys among the Confederate ranks and this, along with the continued performance of a nearby children’s choir, lent a weird Christmassy tone to the fight.

I had my most fun after the battle when three Confederate prisoners came to Headquarters for their paroles.  I had prepared a number of forms in advance (with date, location, and the signature of J. E. Mallon, Provost Marshal of the Right Grand Division), so I was able to complete them quickly in duplicate – one for our records and one for the parolees.  After signing, one of the prisoners introduced himself as a repeat customer from last year.  I gladly shook his hand – it’s always a delight to meet a man who appreciates the right forms.

I then led the parolees to our picket line where a number of our boys were doing a fine job of exchanging shots and insults with their Rebel counterparts.  Taking out my trusty white handkerchief, I was able to effect a temporary cessation of hostilities, during which a Confederate officer came out to meet me, accompanied by an enlisted man escorting two of our prisoners.  The commander of our pickets came out, too, so we had an interesting little first person moment during the exchange.  I confess to finding it just a little nerve wracking to stand unarmed between the lines; just as I returned I took off my hat and ran, at which firing immediately broke out again.  Whew.

In fact, I’d done most of my clerking before the event.  For every soldier registered in the companies, I prepared a pass dated December 15 allowing them back across the Rappahannock.  This involved a bit of historical license, but Colonel Herzog thought it might be nice to give everyone something of a souvenir and this was the best I could think of.  Between creating the forms and filling them out, I probably spent a day or two on the project, but I like that sort of work.  Unfortunately there was no ideal time to distribute them – I gave them to the company commanders (suitably bound in red tape) in the morning, but I don’t know whether they had time to hand them out and I suspect that there were a number of folks whose names didn’t make the last roster.  But we tried.

I did not see the charge of the Irish Brigade, but could hear the firing and get a sense of what other rear echelon types must have felt as they heard the sound die out with no shout of victory nor site of flags above the enemy works.  I hear that it went well, though the photos of the event with Sergeant Kirkland show that the depiction of the greater historical tragedy was not without a certain mythical note.   But there’s a bit of play in the authenticity of every reenactment.

Overall, it was a very impressive event and truly represented an unusual degree of commitment by nearly everyone on the Federal side, from top to bottom.  At the top, Colonel Herzog put in a tremendous effort before the event, ably assisted by Sergeant Major Lynes and Adjutant Mordin.  Mark’s speech to the Brigade before they marched off to the afternoon assault will be remembered by participants for years to come and would have made Meagher himself proud.  The captains and noncommissioned officers acquitted themselves with distinction as well.  Guys like my own Captain, Kevin Kelley, who commanded the 88th New York, found themselves placed over units several times the size they were used to, and furthermore formed of men from many home units who’d never served together until that morning.  Mark Maranto, also of Brady’s, found out only a day before that his services were needed as top sergeant.  Brady’s Andy Scanlan faced a similar situation in being tapped for Corporal.

The privates deserve special mention, on the whole because so many came.  I noted above the very low pre-event attrition:  generally it’s the infantry privates who have the highest no-show rate.  Not only did they show, but taking their place with musket in hand were many who generally serve at higher levels.  Among them I noticed Jim Tate of the 3rd US Regulars, normally the officer in command; Bob Crickenberger, usually at least a company commander; and such progressive hobby leaders as Jim Owens and Steve Pannier.  The list could go on.  

With my friend -- and ride home -- Bill Wilson being one of the first casualties to return from the field of battle, I left well too early to say good-bye to most.  If any of my other friends should read this I just want to repeat that it really was an extraordinary gathering, and add, “Faugh a Ballagh!”  See you in the field!

Mike,

I understand this was a one day event. Can you elaborate on the logistics of the event? Such things as eating, getting warm, movement from the street fight to the fight on the heights, and the HQ setup.

Thanks

Initial registration was at Hurkamp Park in beautiful downtown Fredericksburg.  There were two porta-johns there and a number of vendor tents associated with the regular Saturday farmer's market (no sutlers that I know of).  Some folks had camped there as well.

The Federal staging area was two blocks away on a field associated with a large house dating to the time (I should know the name but I don't).  We had one fire there in a metal container and two flies (check out Julio's photos).  Some more porta-johns were rumored to be a couple of blocks away, on the other side of a cluster of townhouses (contemporary), but there was a Johnny picket post intervening.

It was a little strange -- normally when someone says "original ground" you think of a somewhat untouched place out in the country.  Here we were in the city of Fredericksburg, on the border of the old town and the newer developments that, in the ensuing 145 years, have covered the fields leading to Marye's Heights.

The Federal start position for the street fight was maybe three blocks back from the staging area.  The start position for the charge may have been a half down or so blocks in the other direction.  You very much have to use your imagination to conjure up a sense of what it was like then.  But there's a lot to help you -- many older homes and a cityscape largely made up of single family homes and old one or two story buildings.  A lot's changed, but enough has stayed the same -- or close -- to give you an idea of what things were like.

As for getting warm, eating, etc. -- it was cold in the morning, but many had great coats or at least scarves and gloves.  After the sun came up it got pretty nice.  I would have been overheated in my great coat if I'd actually done anything.

For food, some of us brought lunches in haversacks.  Others took advantage of the time between the end of the street fight and the afternoon formation (about two hours) to get something to eat in town.  Brady's traditionally has lunch in a Irish pub, but this time most of us hung around the camp.

The event actually had a Sunday component, though most folks went home.  For those who came Sunday, many locals had gone home Saturday night.  Others got hotel rooms.  The march on Sunday follows the original route of the Irish Brigade from the city docks on the Rappahannock through the streets of old town, up to the Heights.  I've gone the last four or five times but had to miss this one.

You should come down some time; it's generally a very please way to end the year.