Camp near White Oak Church. Va. 
77 th Regt. N.Y.S.V. May 16th 1863 
Dear Sir 
According to your 
request I improve the 
present opportunity to in-
form you of our late 
moves as I thought it 
might interest you. 
April the 28th orders 
came to march & in a drench-
ing rain we struck tents 
& started once more for 
the Rappahannack. We 
bivowaced for the night

on the bank of the river 
two miles below Fredricks-
burg & next morning the 1st 
division of our troops crossed 
with but little opposition. 
The first Army Corps crossed 
one mile further down & 
thus we remained until 
Saturday night when the 
remaining two divisions 
of our corps crossed also.
Friday, the day before this 
however the 1st Army corps 
were recalled from across 
the river & sent to join Hook-
er thus leaving the 6th corps 
all alone. Sunday morn-
ing we were drawn up in lines 
of battle with our right 
between the city of Fred-
ricksburg & the heights. 
Daylight revealed us 
to the enemy upon our


right advancing we were 
opened upon with musket-
ing from the enemy under 
cover of their rifle pits & 
their artillery from the 
heights. Our right not 
being able to drive them 
from their works, fell 
back a short distance &
nothing further occured un-
til noon but a little ar-
tillery firing. At noon 
our right again advanced 
& stormed the heights in 
their front capturing their 
guns & taking many pris-
oners. The 77th which
was to the left & deploy-
ed as skirmishers were 
now ordered to advance 
from the rifle pits from
which they had driven the 
enemy about an hour be

fore & storm the heights in 
our front also. The plain 
at this place was 1½ mile 
wide & about one mile from 
the rifle pit in which we 
lay to the heights. As we 
advanced they shelled us most 
terrificly & as we neared the 
heights they used grape & can-
ister which fell around us 
like hail. We had reach-
ed a point to within 100 
rods of the heights when
their fire was so heavy that 
we could endure it no longer. 
Just to our front was a deep 
ditch filled with water & 
into this we plunged glad 
to escape for a moment 
their murderous fire. We 
lay here for about ten 
minutes when we again 
advanced & stormed the 
heights capturing four 
brass 12 pounders & many 
prisoners.

We could proceed no 
further for we had lost
heavily & were completely 
exhausted. Up to this 
time we had been un-
supported but reinforce-
ments now coming up with 
artillery they persued the 
enemy for more than a 
mile when they again 
made a stand & repulsed 
our forces with heavy loss. 
Darkness now coming on 
the bloody scene closed for 
the day. Next morning 
the booming of cannon 
to our rear & the bursting 
of shells over our heads 
announced to us that the 
enemy had regained pos-
session of the heights &


were between us & the river. 
We immediately formed 
a new line with both flanks 
resting on the river the 77th 
being on the left. All was 
comparatively quiet during 
the day until near night 
when the enemy being heav-
ily re-enforced so as to out 
number one to five & 
against this overwhelming 
force we could not long 
stand. They drove us for 
more than a mile through 
woods thick with under-
brush & filled with deep 
revines, The 77th being 
in the front when attack-
ed now brought us to the 
rear & exposed to the fire
of the enemy who persued 
us closely. It was now 
after dark but still firing

was keep us more or  less 
until we were all across 
the river which was about
two oclock in the morning. 
We were once more on 
our own ground. The fight 
had been a hard one & we 
had lost heavily espec-
ialy in prisoners during the 
second days fight. The loss 
of our regiment was 119 
in killed, wounded & pris-
oners which was remark-
ably small considering 
what we had been through 
for we had been to the front 
during most of the time. 
We lay at Bank's ford 
where we had recrossed the 
river for three days when 
we again returned to White 
Oak Church & within one 
mile of our old encamp-

ment where we are now 
comfortable situated. Al-
though we have been oblig-
ed to fall back again this side 
of the river we feel con-
fident that we have dealt 
the enemy a severe blow. 
The army have full confi-
dence in Gen. Hooker & will 
be as willing to cross when 
he may again order as ever 
they were. 
We think that this can-
not last much longer & for 
my part I care not how 
soon it can be brought to 
an honorable close. Some-
thing must & shall be done 
this summer & may 
another winter behold us 
all with loved ones at 
home.		Please write 
when you have the opportune-
ity & inform me how the 
suit is progressing. I re-
main your obediant ser-
vant. 
Lyman Vandenburgh 
Sergeant Co, G 77th Regt.N.Y.S.V. 
Washington D.C.