Oxford Times, January 14, 1863
Headquarters, Co. E, 89th regt. N.Y. Vols, Dec. 17, 1862
Mr. Editor: Dear Sir. Being one of the little band that left your thriving town for the seat of war, some over one year ago, I know well that many of those who peruse the well filled sheets of your paper, have much interest for the welfare of our Regiment or more especially for the members of Co. E, for most of it is composed of young men that were raised in your own town. On Wednesday evening last, just after the sun had disappeared behind the western hills, Gen. Burnside sent an order to our Colonel to march his Regiment down to the bank of the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg, and act as sharp shooters to protect the workmen while building a pontoon bridge. Scarcely an hour had elapsed before our Regiment were in line upon the banks of the river in readiness to send forth a death messenger to any gray back who might venture to show himself in range of our rifles. The night was very cold and our men suffered very much, having nothing but a single blanket each, to lay between them and the snowy earth, yet they stood it without a murmur, not a lisp could be heard from one of them, as we lay listening during the darkness of the midnight hours. But not long did our men lay there undisturbed for soon the movements of those engaged upon the bridge attracted the attention of the enemy, and just after 4 o 'clock, they opened a tremendous fire of musketry upon those engaged upon the bridge, and also upon our Regiment. but it was the work of an instant, before our men gave them to understand that two could work at that game, for as quick as thought we sent such a volley of bullets into their ranks that they were compelled to seek a hiding place in the cellars of the city. But not long were they safe in their hiding places for scarcely had the sun commenced to lighten the horizon before such a thundering from no less than sixty pieces of cannon were opened upon the city that it shook the earth for miles around. This fire was continually kept up with scarcely a moment's pause until after the sun had ceased to shed its light upon the shattered walls of that ruined city, and it was just before dusk that our men won new laurels such as the people of Chenango may proudly boast. Half of the Regiment crossed the river in boats before the bridge could be completed, while the remainder kept their position on the opposite side so as to cover our men with their fire while crossing. Our brave Gen. Burnside stood witnessing the daring undertaking and was about to order them back for it was more than he could ask of them. But he saw at once that we were determined to cross or die in the attempt. Not but a moment had elapsed after our men had reached the opposite shore before they had taken seventy prisoners. We held our position until the bridge was completed, and then the remainder of our Regiment crossed to our support. We being the first Regiment out of the many thousand troops to occupy the streets of the city. We took up our quarters that night in the most elegant mansions on one of the main streets of the city. The pantries and cellars afforded us all the luxuries we could wish, and we felt as if we were well paid for the suffering of the night before.
Friday - Dec. 12--The sun rose clear and it was quite warm throughout the day, nothing of note occurred, and all was quiet with the exceptions of the exploding of a shell now and then, which the enemy fired into the city to remind us that they were near. At 10 o'clock A.M., our Brigade formed in line of battle in the street and remained there until dark when we again took up our quarters in the buildings.
Saturday, Dec. 13--Scarcely had the sun unmasked the veil of darkness which had so well covered the movements of our troops, who now thronged the streets of the ruined city, before the enemy opened their artillery thunder from their hundred breastworks which they had erected some two miles back of the city. Our picket lines then extended just to the suburbs of the city, and to advance any farther was to bring on one of the most bloody conflicts that has been witnessed since the commencement of this rebellion. Our Brigade were held as a reserve until just before the close of day when we were ordered to charge on their strongest battery one which eight different Brigades had already charged in succession, and each been repulsed with great loss. Onward we went charging over the dead and dying, until we reached their fortifications, yet we the same as those that went before us, found it impossible to rout them from their strong position. We then fell back a short distance, and that closed the bloody conflict of the third day's battle.
Sunday and Monday all was quiet, except the pickets who kept peppering away at each other and occasional boom of heavy cannon was heard followed by the bursting of a shell. Our falling back on Monday night to our old position on the opposite side of the river is of course somewhat humiliating. Yet we had the satisfaction of getting possession of the city and driving the enemy to their works. The number lost of our Regiment in the last engagement is two killed, twenty-seven wounded, and one missing, those of our company I will mention.
Sergeant F.C. Barnes, severely wounded in both legs one of which has been amputated. He has since died. His loss is greatly felt in our midst. He was one of the finest young men and one of the best soldiers of our company. He was the only son of Lucius Barnes, of Plymouth [Chenango co., NY].
Thomas Barber, slightly wounded in the hip.
Leonard E. Lindsey, bullet wound through the hand.
Wm. Van Vleet of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], wounded in the arm and hand.
I would mention that not only in this lat great battle has our Regiment shown their bravery in defending the old Flag. They gallantly fought at the battles of Camden, South Mountain and Antietam, in the latter of which we lost in killed and wounded one-half that entered the engagement. Our Regiment when we left Elmira one year ago were about nine hundred strong, we now cannot muster over two hundred effective men for the field. Much more I would like to write, but fearing that I have not done justice to what I have already written will close and give those a chance who are accustomed to holding newspaper correspondence.
Respectfully Yours, Serg't A. Parsons
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