Event Reports
A Corporal's Observation
After Action Report for the actions of 9-11Dec2005, at Fredericksburg, VA
December 2005
We arrived in the town of Fredericksburg on the evening of the 9th of December. It was cold and snow and ice covered the area. Our fine warriors consisted of Pvt. Clay and myself. Our wives and one child were in accompany. We managed to find the lodging place that had been previously acquired through means of the speaking telegraph.
We awoke the next morning and left our accompanies behind and headed into the town to find a fight. Upon seeing no one in uniform, we headed our horseless carriage across the river. Upon the heights of Stratford did we find soldiers drilling. We quickly came across familiar faces and asked where we should go. We were told to fall in with the host unit, only find out they were not really fighting that day, but pulling sentry duty and other task about the town. We found out that a large horseless wagon that was yellow and had a sign painted red with STOP on it, was to pick us up and carry us from wince we had come, the city docks. Not wanting to give up or own means of conveyance, we found our own way to the docks.
Upon our arrival, we witnessed confederates attempting to fire a telegraph line from the north side of the river using a bow and arrow. Obviously none of them had Indian blood in them, for the arrow never made it to the half way point. Giving up, they retired up the opposite bank. After some time the yellow wagon loads of reinforcements arrived. They drilled fairly heavily on the south bank, with no enemy in sight. The 18th watched. After they were about to give up and were headed back to the yellow wagons, the 18th VA with its keen hunting eyes spotted enemy forces moving on the far bluff. After pointing them out to the commanding officers, our forces where put into motion, with out any directions from the commanding officers. We fell in with the 5th and 6th VA Inf. The 18th split the two. Fresh Fish were everywhere. I had one on each side at some points. Before the officers could even check well, firing commenced. There was a brief exchange of musketry with opposing forces on the far bank. Suddenly, a yellow wagon appeared and disgorged men in blue. For some reason, they where allowed to run to the far end of the ice covered field. Our side suffered heavy casualties after we finally got a chance to fire. We where pushed back to the wagons. At that time a bugle sounded, and the 18th left the accompany of the army to retire out of the town.
We found our wives and child and proceeded to enjoy a nice meal at a local place called Fridays. They served use, even though it was a Saturday. After the meal, we proceeded back into town, as we had heard there would be another push from the enemy. After forming up in front of the library, we made three heavy units in the street running parallel to the river. The enemy emerged and ours was the first line hit. We made a good show of it before retiring to the rear of the army. Soon, however, we were back in the front, blazing away, only to retire again. We proceeded through this several times. It was as we did this that yours truly suffered a head wound, rendering me immovable until a bugle woke me. At this time, the horseless carriage was again used to fall back out of town.
We ate at a lovely place called Joe's, who served seafood fresh from some place called Alaska. We consumed crabs of enormous size, eating only the legs. After which we retired to our rooms for a night cap. The 18th found out our hard earned money for the month, er year, had been spent that day by our accompanies. It was alright, however, for the child had thrown snowballs at them at the lodging and dining areas, with the help of the 18th. Sunday morning a quick trip to the Sutler was needed, to ensure an adequate supply of caps and rounds for the coming season.
Respectfully Yours,
- Cpl./Reporter Kyle Duffer
