The New York Herald Newspaper, December 15, 1862, Page 1

~8e wt ~- teen fe Vy HOLE NO. 9589. FREDERICKSBURG. ‘The Very Latest News from the Battle Field. Special Reports to the Herald of the Threo Days’ Fighting. ane THE BATTLE ON SATURDAY SERIOUS L083 OF UNION OFFICERS. Immense Strength the Rebel Works. “ Terrific Fighting on Both Sides. The Preparations for a Re- newal of the Tremen- dous Struggle. Importance of the New Line of Operations. THE CASUALTIES. Names of the Killed and Wounded as Far as Known. SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE HEROES. * C5 Bia es eae aaa INTERESTING INCIDENTS. Reenes a the Rappahannock, in Fredericks- burg and on the Battle Field, &e., &., &. —— pres Heavquatreeks, ARMY OF TRE Poromac, “ Dec. 14—11:30 A. M. There is no fog to-day, the sun shining ‘brightly, with o strong breeze. At daylight Mhis morning there was a heavy fire of artillery and infantry in front of the first line of worke, {where Generale Sumner and Hooker were ep- gaged yesterday. The fire slacked about an hour afterwards, pnd was heard only at intervals unti) now. ypame opowrred in front of General Frank. | division down the river. The object of oth parties was evidently to feel the other. ave considerably extended their works . 44 strengthened thelr position. Large * ates of troops are now to be eeen where b to be found yesterday. og” Our dead, which were sited in fron of the at few were ‘When attemptingthyir removal last night, the rebels would pe: fire with infantry; but the wounded hare 11 been removed from the ficid, and all the @ end obtained are now being buried. ‘The ind’ cations are that no decisive battle wlll be f pught to-day, unless the rebels should Dring f the engagement, which they wil! not pred gbly do. Wasatoroy, Dec. 14—P. M. ‘It is thought here that about forty thousand of our troops were engaged in yesterday's battle. . A Genpatch received here at half-past twelve O'clock this afternoon, from the Hxratp cores- pondent at Aquia creek, states that np news bas been received there from the front to-day. ‘The firing has not been so heavy nor 60 continu- ous cs yesterday. s' Wasuryeron, Dec. 14, i862. It Is proper to caution the public against hastily crediting the many unsupported ramors concerning yesterday’s battle. Some of them here prevalent have no other basis than sur- mise, and are mere inventions in the absence of facts, Rebel sympathizers are responsible for not @ few of these fictions. Gentlemen in high public positions repeat the assertion, as coming from General Burnside, fhat he has me enough, and therefore desires no further reinforcements. Bverything--inviuding more surgeons—that sould be wanted bes been sent down from here. The Sanitary Commission have obtained + permission to vend a boat to Fredericksburg with bospital stores and comforts for the wounded. Surgeon Génorsl Hammond des patohed sa abundance of medical stores and pronerved ments, te, to the field carly thie morning. THE THREE DAYS’ WORK. Our readerr—the public—will find the de- tails of the important operations of the army on the Rappahannock since Thursday last fully Sescribed, ant in chronological order, in the fol- Jowlag graplio despaipbes from the special uring las: night and this forenoon the rebel | snemy’s works, “cll "remain where they fell. | SF BLOCK HOUS =< SPOTTSYLVANIA CH! ° (o ME, PLEASANT N vf AT. RIVER s NEW YORK, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1862, THE NEW BATTL eee FALLS OF RAPPAHANNOCE, \\, AS a5 09 X | | i BICAMOND - n o zp oS a - correspondents of the New Yors Henatp now in the field. THE OPERATIONS ON THURSDAY. THE FIGHT VIEWED BY AN EYE WITNESS: Ss Puruirs Hovse, OprosTs Frepemicxsnone, Va., Dec. 11—P. vf My lotter despatched you this afternoon, at three o'clock, traced the order of events connected with the Fifth army corps (Gonora! Butterfield’s) and the present advance movement up to that hour. I now take up my nar rative whore 1 left it off, writing what occurred as it paesod under my eyos—a lightsome prelude to the solemnantbem 40 follow. SURVEISE AT THE ORDER TO CROSS TOR RIVER AT TH ‘There is no disguising the fact that overybody is sur- made at some point above or below Frederickeburg, fol- lowed by a flank movement upon the enemy. The rebels havo bad nearly threo weeks to orect fortifications in front of us, and they have vigilantly improved the time. 1, is well known that they have formidable earthworks on ‘he plain beyond, put up when General McDowell was bore. That they must have planted at intervals masked Datterics is unquestionable. The order, however, has been given. The Rappabannock must be spanned with pontoon bridges, Fredericksburg must be taken, theso hostile cannon must be feced, that hill summit must be reached. It is @ work of boldness, of terrible danger. Our men complain not. It is not theirs to ques. tion the wisdom of the order; it is theirs to obey, they will obey it, and that cheerfully, valiantly. ‘THE PHILLIPS HOU®E THE GREAT CENTRE OF ATTRACTION. I stated in my last letter that the Phillips House was the eentral place of attraction, So it is still, From here is obtained the finest view of Fredericksburg, the rebe) fortifications and progress of the cannonading. But this ig not all, Nearly all our commanding generals are here, Goveral Burnside, of tall, commanding military Agure, most prominent in the group. CONFIDENCE OF IURNSIDR AND HIS GENERALS. He looks, talks and smiles as though he knew what he was about aud thet things were going on to his liking. Gen: Hooker, whose fondness for fighting induced him to ack to be assigned the post of greatest danger ia the coming conflict, stands by.his side. There is no look of anxiety in that speaking countenance of his. Every Iineament of that earnest and yet winning face betrays fullest confidence in the fature. He and General Burnside, in the interim of conversation, look through a large mounted field glass, pointed across tho river. General Sumner—he of more years than either, and gray whiskers, but vigorous in health and eyes keen and penetrative—joins in the con versation and telescopic observations. It is not difficult to pick out the strong, manly figare and benignant, sraliing face of General Franklin. Near by is General Butterfield, ‘a prototype of the great Napeleon in attitude and ex. pression, with the addition, hewever, of mustaches that would be the pride of a Russien grenadier: He is talking with Generals Griffin and Averili— the former in bis slouched hat, wnshorn face and Spanish cloak, and never @ smile or word uttered unless in solemn earnestness, looking like a secend Don Cesar de Baran; the latter neat and trimly dreesed, all emilee and afebitity. But {will not pursue this fur. ther, The officers here can be numbered by the legion, and the sketch would be unending. THERE 19 MUSIC PRIIND US, DRATH 18 FRONT, A band near the house i playing joyous airs. In the intervals of the cannenading, as one hears (he gushing melody of tho brass pieces and sees the gaily caparisoned horses on the lawn, and the flitting forms of oMeers in glittering costumes and swords, the scabbards and bilte vieing in brightness with the shining buttons, we seem to ‘to hear the sound of rustling silke in the mazes of the Dewitching dance. OUR GUNS PLAYING ON THR CITY. ‘We see the puffs of smoke of our cannon, hear the rever- Derating roar from the long hill range beyond, ana watch the shelis explode over the fated city. This is no fee; this is war. It is but the beginning of a fearful and bloody campaign. These offi- cers we see about us, instead of leading ladies in the dance, are to lead their men to face the fee beyond those hills. And there are thousands of gallant sons of the North on this side waiting to be led through the town before us, up that ragged hillside, in face of those frowa- ing cannon, beyond that summit, to the rebel metropolis. LAYING PONTOONS ACROSS THE RIVER. Nearing the Lacy House, close by the river bank, the progress of laying the pontoon bridges can be watched. Our men work bravely, minding not the danger from the Fedel sharpsbooters or cannon. It is am exciting specta cle; fastening each bort, with the attendant danger, has caused terrible excitement, like throwing « iife boat 10 the angry waves in a perilous shipwreck. Now « man falls—an unerring bullet bas pierced mis brain; the body is removed, and the work goes on. Our meu long since became familiar with bullets and death, and neither un- nerves them. Two bridges are being Parallel, an nterval of about six feet between them. The river at this point is fully two hundred yards wide. It isa few minutes of fowr o'clock ; the bridges are nearly completed; two more pontoons will finish them, and t place thee pontoons fifty men are needed. These men leap into the itwo boats and commence rowing over. Our cannons open to defend them in their perilous undertaking—the most terrible cannonading of the day. ‘The pontoons are placod in position, the blocks and ropes to fasten them are ad- justed, the final anchors are let down. Th» work ts done, the river is spauned. Our cannon had been @ wall of fire about the river. A loud and ‘prolonged cheer rose from thousands of spectators lining the river bank on this side- ‘The fact of the completion of the bridges spread tike wildfire, swifter and far faster than the fire in the city Dofore us. It wont from division to division, from bri gade to brigade, from regiment to regiment, from soldier to soldier. ‘The passage of our firet troops over the bridges by the gallant Seventh Michigan and Nineteenth and Twentieth Maseachusetts regiments, and how nobly they marched on in front, the iron bail pouring upon them, I leave | to the description of your cerrespondent with the division to which these regiments belong. 1 leave also to him the description of the town and the ordeal of fierce dangers passed Whrough by the brave men of Gen. Samuer's com- mand after their arrival within the city precincts. Oa this side the river we could hear the rattle of she mus. kevtry and defiant eheers of our men. Night came on, and the divisions of the Fifth corps were ordored to bivouac where they Id remained during the day. Many officers, as wellas men, lay on the wot, cold ground; but they did so unmurmuringly. General Butterficld’s corps have been standing on their frmmg all day. They will not be i tho river in Mairngcias Ay y Yrrctime citer troops are passing over, and there has been mutual oon- nonading all day. A short time since a shell struck twenty rods in front of the Phillips House. Covoonading ig going on briskly as I close my letter. Near Farwocvra, Dec, 12—A. M. THROWING BRIDGES ACROSS IHR RIVER—TIM BOMBARDMENT ‘OPENED. At precisely five o’clock on Thursday morming an at- tempt was made by our forces to throw @ pontoon bridge over the river at @ point opposite the lower part of the city, and where last summer & bridge of carml boats was constructed. The bridge building corps consisted of the Fiftieth New York regiment (engineers), Major Ira Spauiding, and the Fifteenth New York regiment. They had succeoded in constructing ® bridge about half way de im the midst of @ joyous fete, and jgyoluptarily listen | seross when the fire Of the rebel sharpehooters compeliea 9, 5 It gave an electric hock of delight and hope. | Se IS ‘MILFORDS BRIDQE SS [) ts 2 Es SCALE OF MILES SPARTAR - FIELD. The Points of Attack and Defence on the Rappahannock. BOYDS HOF ~~ gy DEVILS HOLERy them to re! ed, vi wURD. bo Perkins, 50th New York. Philo M. Comfort, Co. F, 60th New York. CG. R. A. Basswick, Co. F, 60th New York. ‘WOUNDED. D. Pierce, Co. F, 50th New York: Corporal Robert Petter, Co. F, Wm. Fox, Co. F, 60th New York; thigh. James D. Smith, Co. F, 50th New York; foot. David Cassidy, Co. F, 50th New York: arm. 7. L. Carpenter, Co. I, 50th New York; knee 4.8, Tattle, Co.'F, 50th New York: leg. Wm. Rigney, Co. F, 50th New York; thigh. ‘Win. Rooby, Co. F,'50th New York; thigh. Capt. McDouald, Co. K, 60th New York: arm. Sergeant Wm. Philo, Co. K, 50th New York; slightly. As 690 as the rebel sharpshooters fired upon our men the signal was given to cemmence shelling the city, and a terrific cannonade soon followed, Continuing with litle cessation during the day. ‘The fire of our artillerists was directed mainly at the bousee ou the river bank, from which the rebels fred upon our bridge builders. By noon several houses were in flames, and by vight the following, among other buildings, had been con” sumed:— ‘The dweiliog of William Siaughter, father of Mayor Slaughter. ‘The late dwelling of Dr. Heston, a Upion man, now re- siding at the North, The house was owned by a Mr. Tompkins. ‘Three brick buildings on Main street, occupied respec | arm. h New York; knee. the Bank of Virginia. ‘A number of small frame heuses were destroyed. THR (HOOPS COMMENCE CROSCING THE RIVER, The fire of our batterics was not replied to by the rebels until nearly dark, when our,troops commenced erussing, and then was of short duration and of a harmless char- actor. The interesting feature of the day was a scene at the upper bridge, oppoite the Lacy House, at about four | o'clock P. M. ‘The bridge had partially been bailt as that point in ti early part of the day; but the fire of the rebels obliged the men to defer the work, At the hour armed some of Our venturesome men renewed the work, and, fiud. ing that little hindrance was offered, they became still bolder and crossed to the other side in a boat. They had no sooner reached the bank than a volley of rebel mueketry was poured at them from the wiadows of the houses, which was replicd to by the batteries near the Lacy House, Three of our adventurers were killed at this time; but reinforeements reaching them in boats, while the pontoon bridge was rapidiy being completed, a shout and the cheérs of the multitude of eye witnesses ‘on the apposite bank encouraged thein to rally, and seve- ral companies of the Seventh Michigan aud Nineteeuth and ing, charged into the heart of the town. Here some bloody work was | gone, as the cowardly rebels opened on the troops from the houses ai every point. Our men, however, only the more enthusiastically cheered each other on, and every house from which the rebel shots came was immediately stormed and @ number of prisoners: captured. A large rebel flag was captured and borne across the Dridge in triumph, amid the cheers of thousands, by Charles Oatley, of the Seventh Michigan regiment ‘At this time General Burnside, who was at the Lacy House, rode to the front, and, witnessing the successfil crossing of the troops as above stated, immediately ordered Couch’s corps to cross. Meantime Gen, Ferrero, already over to direct mavters, WRAVY FIRING FROM THR RABELS. toon bridge, and it was at this juncture that the rebels | opened fire, and there was davger that their shooting cat, with a lose of several killed and wound- | cively by abr. McDaniel as a residence and bookstore’ | the Post Office building, owned by Mr. Reuben Thorn, aud | ‘Twentieth Massachuseots regiments, with their colors fly. | of Burneide’s stall, was placed in command of the troops | About five o'clock Couch’s corps moved over the pon- | it prove of covsiderable damage, Their ehelle ex. pioded wide of the column, however, and their fring was PRICE THREE CENTS. thoircamp, aud they were permitted to remain there until bout four o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the bridges were just ready and the troops were expecting Orders to march. They were then all drawn up ip line, aud evoryboly was in his place, During the day tbe Dands of the «trent regiments enlivened us all by per- forming nations! and operatic airs, which afforded a mont striking contrast to the booming of the artillery and the sharp hissing of the shells as they rushed through the air on their mission of death. The dense fog which lay over everything all the morn- ing prevented any of us from observing the effects of the shells thrown, or in fact the batteries on our own tide; Wut in the afternoon the mist lifted a ttle and we were able to better discern obdjecta at a distance. Several burning houses were visible, and for some time it was thought that the upfor- tunate city would be completely wrapped in flames, aud ‘bat fire would end the destruction that had been begun ‘by our shells, These things, which of coarse rivetied the attention of all, made the time pass go quickly that it was dark before anybody had the least ideaef the hour. We suill expected to cross tho river that night; but am order came 10 RETORN TO CAMP, and it was received with mucb pleasure by the men, a@ they had left everything comfortable behind them, and they rred enjoying a good night’s rest at camp, and then ross to Fredericksburg in the morning, when they would have daylight to assist thelr operations. They were acrordingly marched back to their camps, and ;D a very few minutes they were in their oid places, and no one would suppose that they had been awaiting all day for a battle, Cefica was mude, #belter tonts up, and bright fires vurved to make them comfortable, A portion of them were, how” ever, doomed to a bitter disappointment; and T must say, to their credit, that not a murmur wag heard, al- though they had very good reason to feel ill-tempered. Discipline, however, gained the day, and the man re. membered only that he was a soldier. Tt was quite dark when the regiments returned to thefr places, and the roads were sufficiently mnddy to render walking extreme- 1Y unpleasant, and tho men were congratulating them™ eelvor when on order came for the brigade of General Hawking to protect the newly constructed bridges down the river, aud to act a8 pickets om the other side of the river, They were instantly equipped, and in ten minutes wore ou their way to Fredericksburg. Why not have kept tie men while they were on the spot aud ready, and not send them back to ¢amp and drag them through ah, the mud? At about oight o’eioek last evening they croseed the river without any opposition having been made, nud the pickets extended to the limits of the city. Nothing ocs curred of {portance during the night, In the afternoon some half dezven of the rebel Datteries opeued on the bridges; and, as it was really the first time that they had exposed their position, it caused considerable surprise, and they were very goon replied to by the brazen mouths of our pieces, and for a short time the artillery duel wae sharp and well kept up; but darkness came cn and boati- lities ceased for tho time being. i. \ THE START THIS MORYING. ! At an early hour this morning tho troops comprising the Ninth corps were under arms and again awaiting orders to cross the river. Our artillery play- ed away for a time, and, the road being clear, the whole corps received orders to advance; and at ten o'clock the bridges had been crossed, and the Ninth had quiet possession of the city. It is somewhat elngular that the rebela did not shell us while we were crossing or descending the banks. They could easily have done #0, fud have caused us great trouble, as the protection we had really amounted to nothing. The division of General Sturgis crossed at the upper or double bridge, while ihe divisions of Generals Getty and Burns went over on tho tingle bridge below. ‘The troops poured over in one long, coutinuous stream, ‘and upon reaching the ether side they deployed to the right and left, and took up their positions as they were assigned to them, The streets running parailel to tha Tiver were tho ones selected, ag they afforded a protection, from the enomy’s shells and helped to keep our men ous of sight. As I write the streeta are fast filling up; and I an perceive large additions te our forces coming from the other side, We have now a number of batteries, jn the city, omd more are coming, #0 that wo may ad; vance beyond this in a few hours, or, what is more pros bable, wait until morning. THE CITY OF FREDERICKERURG. No one could better understand what war is than by, taking @ stroll through the streets of the almost destaoyed city of Fredericksburg. Turn where you will and your eyé meets some eviaence of the terrific fire that was burle@ from our guns into the streets and dwoliings. Nothing appeare to have escapfid, Roofs, walis, fences, trees and chimneys are perforated, and in some instances to such au extent that the side of a house presente the Appearance of a huge pepperbox, the holes aro 60 pumerous too random to do harm. | and regular, while immediately beside it are the sinoking The corps was, however, successfully crossed, as were those of Franklin and Reynolds, at pointe pelow. The firing ceased about dark, and the city was ip our por- session. THE OPERATIONS ON FRIDAY. BRILLIANT ACTION OF OUR TROOPS IN THE CITY. m AumY Frepanoxsncrc, Va., Dec. a You have ere this received the full particulars of the operations of the batteries and troops before the city of Fredericksburg up to yesterday aiternoon, just previous .to the final luying of the pontoon bridges across the Rap- pabanuiock, immediately in front of the city. 1 will now resume my narrative of affairs, sending you the details of what hus transpired since tat time. ‘The work of compicting the bridges both above and below the city was strenueusly pushed forward in the { afternoon, the pontooniers working like beavers, they be- ing\ably eupported by the regiments behind them, al- though all the advantage was on the site of the rebel sharp- shooters, who, concealed behind their breastworks ofstone | and earth, and hidden in the cellarsof the houses that Iined the banks of the river, could with @ certain degree of safety to themselves pick of our men, who were on- ‘ tirely exposed to their fire, having little or ao protection; | but the fearful and contiaued pouring into the city of shot and shell was more than human nature could stand, and quite a number of the rebels bad to fall back, and, as Aconsequence, our brave fellows became more daring and worked “harder and harder, until they bad the bridges nearly completed the whole way over. It was at this time that a most daring auc successful expedition was made by the Seventh Michigan regiment, belonging | to the Second army corps, tmpationt at the delay in | finishing the bridges, caused by the sharpsheoters on the | other side, they to a man declared that they should | no longer impede its prog.oss, and, rusbing into the boats, they pushed themselves across the river, and, jumping ashore on the other side, rushed with | cheers up the street aud into the houses in the vicinity, | driving Uhe rebels before them Hike $0 ta In one House they captured some tw and amaller numbers in others, making in Out oue brine dred. It was a bravo and eplendid act, and they have justly received the highest praise from the generais and ofticers of all the eoMfs. The bridges were mow completed with but little trouble, and at about five o'elock two dri- gades of the Second army corps crossed over aud took possession of the city. Just previous to thie, however, General Forrere, of the Ninth corps, was sent over to take command, and be, in company with his staff, crossed in pontoon to the corps. TUR NINTH CORPS WALLING TO CROSS. All the morning xnd afternoon the regimonts comprising the Ninth army corps were in rosdiness to receive orderato cross the river, The mea them in case they had fo remai on the other tide or to posh forward. ‘The sight Presented by (hit vast number of men, al! acmed and in every respect ready for a bat. tle at a moment's notice, was grand. furn where pou would and you encountered troops. In @ hollow would b® hidden « brigade, with their arms stoked, and the mea jying on the ground resting themsoiver, while the oficors would be collected together chatting over the result of the terrilic capnonading and the chances of a great and of stacked arms showed that the word novd but be wiven, and ina twinkling thousands of eager and trusty bands would seize them and bo ready for the Dgit. Quite n | number of the regimente were cncainped 80 ¢lose to she | readside that it was found unnecessary to take shem from | | streets. were prepared for a march, amd hed ¢rorything with | decisive conflict; and on the open piaine lines upow laws | Tremaine of what once was a stately dwelling. Some of | the houses on the river front are completely torn to Pieces, and as one turned from one street to another the, question would naturally rise to his mind—How coul@ anytbing remain here and live? And yet, strange to says people did remain, and I bave yet to learn of any ty to those who did so. Quite a number, after the fash! Of the citizens of Sharpsburg, took their families into the ceilarsof their houses, and there remained in safety> In one house J found about a dozen ladies and a few gentle” men. When wo crossed they emerged from their place of refuge and received us with open arms. The majority of them are good Union people, and are not cu. known to a oumber of our officers, who were here some six months age. I had bunt iittle opportunity of speaking to them. Im all, 1 sup- pose some fifteen or twenty families remained, and | cannot see what saved them all from one conmem destreetion. Instead of looking for @ house that hae been struck, the difficulty ts to find one thet has not suffered more or less. Tho streets are piled with bricks from the chimneys, and in fact the city looks as if it wanted to be made all over again, The churches have wonderfully es- exped, Laving been but partially injared, and the steeples are nearly ae good as ever. The Bank of tho State of Vir- ginia was burned down, and {I am very muck surprised that the greater part of the city was not reduced to ashes, ag the number of frame houses, one would suppoeo, would eerve to spread the flames. ‘The street rouning along the river gavo strong evidence of the intention of the rebels as to stopping our crossing. 1k was completely lined with rif_le pits, and stono fences wore made to answer the sane purpose, From behind Uhese the sharpehooters picked off our men, until eon pelled to retreat themselves, ‘The houses were nearly all empty of furnitcre: with the exception of some old chairs, tables, and the Nike. In one house was a good plano uninjured. What. ‘ever remained in the buildings was soon in the porsession of the soldiers, and, a8 there was nothing of vaino, it way | nome Little time before they were interfered with. Some judierous seenes were the consequences, tho men array* ing themeclves in old hate, bonnets, &e., and parading the ‘This interfered with discipline, however, ant an order was given that any one found with any article that was taken from a house should be at once arrested. Genes ral Patrick, the Provost Marshal, is deserving of great praise (or hia exertions in this reapest. The men for a time took all they could lay their hands on, and tube, rakes, basket? and pots of all descriptions were carried away, to be thrown into the wine ete next crossing, ‘Tobacco appeared to plenty, and all the soldiers had their peckets and Raver: sacks filled with it. It waa quite a woxury to them, ag boate ; but upon the arrival of the brigades he returucd | they pad been paying the robbing sutlers from two to ‘ wretched threo doilars ® pound for To an enclosure on « corner I porcelved the bedier oF about a dozen men, who were lying Ltere previous vo belag t verted. ‘Thoy were sil our owe men, with one exeep- | won, andhewae au aged man, toallapporrances lly sixty yours old, His dress waa thet of a citizen, and be hed \ erehot while iw the act of aiming hie pleco; for even | ja douth his arma retained thote position, and ia. hie face was the taark of hate, Probably the old man, carsied | away by bis passion, voinntesred, bat dearly Re paid for nis tottaxen geal, Cur Own tnen were vroverly ies | qorrad, with thelr wntacs aad regiments pleorl ovor their graves a THs LATEST ON FRAY. 2 axtaas, Nusrit Amy Comes, isdeaeambenee Va. Doc, M5 A. fariog he foreasoa and the oarly part of the afteancon ot costerday our forces remaiocd ht comparatively quiet oereant city, thoagh ext adwanes pickets exp: me INULD ON HOH PAGE) ee