Isaac O. Best, History of the 121st New York State Infantry

[59] south and rear of Fredericksburg. The three corps were under the command of General Sedgwick. Before daylight on the 29th of April the First division of the Sixth Corps under command of General Brooks crossed the river in pontoon boats and drove the enemy from the rifle pits near the river. A bridge was quickly thrown across and the First Corps was soon over and took position to the left of Brooks' division. The other two divisions of the Sixth Corps did not cross that day, but when the First and Third Corps were ordered to join the army on the right, they were ordered to cross and the corps was united, and left alone to hold the crossing and threaten the enemy holding the heights behind the city. The sound of the fighting in the vicinity of Chancellorsville was heard by us.

Up to this point in the campaign, everything had gone prosperously. The enemy had evidently been taken by surprise, and deceived as to the intention of the movement. In supreme confidence of ultimate success Hooker ordered a message to be sent to the Sixth Corps expressing the surety of victory. The officer who prepared this message referred in it to the Divine favor in the success of the movement, but when it was read to General Hooker he turned to those present and said, “God Almighty can not keep the victory from me now.” This was told to the writer only a few days after, by one who evidently knew what he was talking about. But before treating further of the general affairs of the movement let us turn to the more intimate story of the part so far taken by the brigade and the regiments in it.

The duty assigned to General Brooks, to cross the river in pontoons, was one that required courage and secrecy, or great loss would be suffered. Fortunately the night was foggy, and nothing could