From Fredericksburg.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
The morning of the day that Lieut. James Ellett, of the Crenshaw battery, was killed, he was ordered off with the first section to take position, leaving the second section to follow a few hours later. Before leaving he shook hands with and bade those he left behind good bye, as if he felt that he would never see them again, though he expressed no such fears. He was as brave an officer as ever lived, warm hearted, and kind to those under his charge. He had been with the company in battle and under fire nearly twenty times — in fact, in nearly every battle from the Chickahominy to Sharpsburg, and ended his career in the early part of the battle of Fredericksburg. John Payne, of the same battery, who was killed later in the day, had been with the battery in every fight in which it was ever engaged; was a brave boy, and beloved by his comrades. On one occasion, when under fire and not engaged, he was reprimanded for not laying down and keeping out of danger as much as possible.--‘"If I was born to die in battle,"’ said he, ‘"I'll be killed just as quick laying down as standing up,"’ and he kept his position and watched coolly the progress of the fight.
Peter Foster, of the Purcell Battery, lived to fight the hottest part of the day at Fredericksburg. He had been on more than one occasion complimented for coolness and bravery by his officers. He was never known to show the least fear in battle, and when he knew that he had received his death wound he said, ‘"Poor Foster's killed"’ and died as calmly as a child going to sleep.
There has been much praise given to the Washington Artillery and other companies, which they no doubt richly deserve; but, while they are being complimented through the newspapers, would it not be fair to notice some of our Richmond boys, and see what they have been doing? Walker's Artillery Regiment, of A. P. Hill Division, composed of the Purcell, Crenshaw, Davidson, and Johnson Batteries,
of Richmond; Braxton's, of Fredericksburg; Latham's, of North Carolina, and McIntosh's, of South Carolina blood as severe a shock of battle as we have had during the war. They were charged upon, and repulsed the charge almost alone, several times during the day at Fredericksburg.--At one time the enemy were within a hundred yards or less of our batteries — so close under the hills on which our guns were that several of them had to be depressed to fire on them; but when we began to send their favorite missiles (canister) at them, they could not stand any longer, and fled — They were so close at one time that hardly a man on our side escaped being struck that was standing up.
There were many good and brave men killed and wounded during the day. I was at the hospital most of the day, and never caw men so cheerful as our wounded appeared to be. I never heard a doubt expressed by a Confederate soldier of our whipping the Yankees in the late fight, and when talking on the subject most of them would tell you of the fine boots, clothing, &c., the Yankees had for them. I asked one of the Norfolk boys, after the battle was over, if he had gotten his boots? ‘"No,"’ said he, ‘"I've withdrawn my requisition."’
The committee sent from Richmond to look after our wounded were everywhere to be seen during the day of the fight, and rendered efficient service.
