[Saturday December 13 1862] 1 P.M.

( 1 P.M.) it got too hot for them at
our quarters where we first left them. Cheers now in front --
Soft hazy day -- wind So. W. but little of it. Rebels are pouring heavy
musketry fire into us in front. Shots strike around us. While I go
to walk along lines encouraging men to pray that God would give us
the victory a shell struck Keef Co. A. in face he was sitting just back
of place I had left. Hurried to see him & thence for surgeon, he was
carried on stretcher to hospital, but soon died -- Quite a number
have been wounded near me. Large bodies of infantry have crossed
& recrossed river near us & are now coming back again. Sigel
has come up & is in other side it is said. and Hooker is now crossing
the long column pours down the gorge & over the bridge. We are
steadily gaining I am told. The hulks of old ruined burnt ves-
sels are close by us in river.

Private Andrew Keef [?]
General Franz Sigel was not at Fredericksburg; Butler appears to have heard a rumor.
General Joseph Hooker was in charge of the "Center Grand Division"