The New York Herald Newspaper, December 18, 1862, Page 1

» \ ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK. nan INTERESTING FROM THE ARMY SPECIAL DESPATCH FROM GEN. BURNSIDE. Astonishment of the Rebels at’ Our Reerossing the Rappahannock. The Evacuation Conducted with the Greatest Caution. YHE MOVEMENT A MILITARY NBCESSITY. Flage of Truce and Burial of tthe Dead. OUR ARMY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. The Rebels Strengthening Their Defences, &., ca ae, Tieavquinters, ARMY OF THE Potomac, Dec. 16—6'P. M. Mason Gensnat Hawiece, Commander-in- Chief:— ‘The Army of the Potomac was withdrawn to this side of the Rappahannoek river be- cause I.felt fully convinced that: the position in front could not be carried, and it was a sallitary necessity either to attack the enemy or ve- tire. A repulse would have been disastrous to us wader existing circumstances. The army was withdrawn at night, without ‘the knowledge of the enemy, and without Ioss, either of property or men. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, Major General Commanding, Whe Details of the Reerossing. ‘Baunquarrens, ARMY Ov THE Potomac, } Fatmouts, Dec. 17—A. M. ‘Yesterday morning, when daylight appeared, the enemy seemed to be, as they nd doubt were, perfectly astenished (@at our army had suceeeded in returning to this side of ‘the Rappahannock river. ‘We returned without losing a single man ors gun in the retrograde movement. A few-so'diers who had straggiea eff made their ap pearance on the river bank aftor the peatoon bridges had _ ‘deen removed; but they were subs:quently brought over eafely in small boats. A few privates who were gea:Ging ® house inhabited Dy 2 private family were not during the night aware of Gur recrossing the river; but in the morning, beceming aware Of this fact, they safely nwa over. ‘The pickets of the contendirg armics being separated by only afew yards rendered it nevessary that every- ‘Wing on our front should be conducted with the utmost @aution. ‘The pickets on oer outposts wore unaware of the move- ment we were making until just before daylight, whon mm officer went to each individual man, and in a low tone @f voice ordeied him to fall back. After they got sufficiently far away to be out of dan- ger they were ordered to quicken their pace and reach the bridges as quickly as possible. Advut pine o'clock yesterday morning the enemy ad- ‘vanced their skirmishers along their entire line, and by ‘goon bad established their pickets near the banks of the iver. We hed a large number of dead on what was regarded a neutral ground, and a8 coon aagit was known our forces Ihad evacuated the city the soldiers of the enemy com- amenced robbing the lifeless bodies, This wae plainly @een through a field glass, as well as indistinctly with the waked eye. About ten or eleven o’slock, ladies very neatly dressed were seen walking about the streets ¢; Pretericasbirg. ‘They bad doubtless been concealed in their houses daring the time the city was ocoupied by ow <oups, end doubt. tens availed themselves of the first opportunity te make (heir reappearance after our retreat, On Monday the pickets of the contending armies, font, fing the loft wing, mutually agreed upon an “armistice” ‘among themselves, and freely intermingled with each ether, exchanging their dead friends and comrades who tay on ‘‘neutral ground.” Dering this time a general of our army rode by and patan end to these proceedings. The result was thet oth parties immediately commenced firing, when nine of our men were killed. After the general had left, the friondly demonstrations of our pickets were renewe:l, and butternut and blue uniforms freely mingled. About this timo General Franklin despatched a flag of truce, which the enemy immediately recognized, aud the exobange of dead bodies was resamed apd continued wati eompleied. Yesterday General Lee sent s flag of trace to General Burnside, asking him to detail mon to bury his desd in front of General Sumner’s grand division. This was doxe ‘The wounded, with the exception of these whom the evemny obtained, have all been brought to this side of the Rappahannock, and as rapidly as possible are being sent to Washington, During the flag cf trace General Stuart, of the rebel eavairy, in answer to @ question, stated that Geners|” Banks’ expedition had gone ‘South,’’ but bad be did not fanow exactly whéro, Onur entire army is now eneampod on the same ground hich they previoutly occupied. ‘The soldiers are as comfortable for the present as ‘hey ean be in shelter tents, Our army bas been considerably reinforced since the wattle, and no dangor whatever attaches to our present position It is the opinion of military men that, even if we had auceeeded in taking the first ridge of the rebel works, the opportunity for 8! ughter by the revele would bave been far greator than previously Our soldiers, it may be repeated, behaved with the Greatest gallantry, courage, bravery and detormination; Put no troops in the work! could withstand such a con. eontratod fire of heavy ordnance and musketry, under over of forVitications, o8 wan sent fprth by ‘hg rebels, The Operations of Wednesday. ‘Hxapquantans, Auay ov Tus Poros Dec. 17—P. M. } ‘The woather is cold, with a northeast wind. Last night the enemy increased their intrenchmeats on ‘the terrace, in the rear of Fredericksburg, and threw up rifle pits near the river, on the loft of the city. To-day their battation-Urills were visible to the naked eye on the plain. ‘No movement of importance has taken place to-day. Our troops are in excellent condition and as enthusiastic “8 previous to the late engagements. The First Despatch from General side. The following is copy of a despatch from Gen. Burn- Side to the President, sent and received on Sunday morn- {ng last, concerning the precise impert and phraseology of which there bas been some disputation in the news- papers:— arn EsgapqvarTens, ARMY Potomac, Dec. 14—4 A. M. ‘Tse Presmwant—I have just returned from the field. Our troops aro-ail over the river, and hold the rst ridge outside the town and three miles below. We hope to carry the-crest to-day. Our loss is heavy—say five thou- sand. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major General Commanding. Our Fredericksburg Correspondence. Leyt Wine ov Tun ARMY oF THR Poromac, Nwgar Frevenicxssurc, Dev. 14, 1862. Affairs Bofore the Evacuation by Our Troops—A Flag of Truce from the sebels—Interesting Incidents of the Fight on the Left Wing, ‘ée. To-day, with the exception of some tittle skirmishing in our front, has been one of peaceful quiet, well befitting the Sabbath it is, The fight of the 13th was not renewed this morning, as was anticipated. The loss on our side cannot be accurately estimated on the left. The Pepnsyl- vania reserve brigade, under General Taylor, lost five hundred men, They fought most gallantly from morning till dark, and were under a heavy fire of artillery and mueketry. To-day a flag of truce was sent over from the enemy to the commandant of the left grand division (Franklin), requesting permission to send out parties to gather up the wounded and bury the dead. This was granted them; Dut their men engaged in this duty appeared with their muskets, and performed their work as if fearful of treach- ery on our part, On this part of the field I am pretty certain that the enemy’s loss exceeds ours, owing to their boldness in showing themselves in front of their works and chargivg us. In commanding officers, our loss on this wing of the army was terribly severe. Here alone we lost Generals Taylor, Jackson and Bayard, killed, and Brigadier Generals Vinton (Howe's division, Sixth corps) and Gibbon (Rey- nolds’ corps), wounded. Five genergls hors de combat before noon, in one day’s conflict, and on one wing of the army alone. The seve rity of the engagement may be judged from this fact. The evgagement began at half-past nine A. M. on the 13th, on eur extreme left, and for some time was confined to Reynolds’ corps; but after an hour or two the divisions of Brooks and Howe (of the Sixth corps) became botly engaged, leaving Newton’s, on the right, the only division of our corps not in action. ‘The second regular artillery, Battery G (Napoleons), of Newton’s division, under command of Lieutenant J. H. Butler, was early called on, and became ep. gaged with the enemy in front of the right of Meade’s division, oppesing »two full and heavy batteries of the enemy, which were advanced to a grove of pines directly in their front. Twice tho rebels we driven by his vigorous fire from their batteries, their horses being killed and two caissons blown up. At one time these batteries could have been captured if proper support hed been at hand, the enemy having retreated and left their gung upon the field, They were afterward, drawn off with ropes, although the enemy lost many in the attempt from our sharpshooters, who picked them off from the ridge in front of the battery. The action of Lieutenant Butler in this terrible engage- ment was gallant in the extrome, as I can myself Wear witness, having been lying. for the greater part of the day behind the ridge in hie rear, noting his gallant strog- gle with the superior enemy. Butler had the fore legs of his horse carried away by a solid shot, and a sergeant of his battery, while sighting a gum, was perfectly decapi- tatéd, the shot glancing from the top of the gun and taking off bis bead clean frem the shoulders. Thq Lieu. tenant reports two of nis mea killed and eight wounded. Most of the latter being new recruits, he is unable to give their names at present. This battery a had eight horses killed and five wheels smashed. The gallantry of Butler deserves especial commenda- tion, and it should, as I am sure it will, bring him prome- tion. Hsanqvanrens, irra Anwy Conve, Faepenicxsuune, Va., Dec. 16—P. M. The Dangerous Position of Griffin's Division—Their Caange of Position—Opencd upon by the Rebels—Gallantry of the Troops—Loss of Officers in the Highteenth Massachu- sattz—The Removal of the Wounded—The Irhabitants of Fredericksburg Leaving the City Where is Sigel?” de- Between one and two o’clogk this morning General Griffin’s division withdrew the perilous position it , occupied yesterday and came into the city, where i still remains. It will be remembored that at the end of Satur- day's Gght this division was pretty close \o the enemy’s guor, i Waid that night on their arms in a small ra- vine, which kept them covered from the rebel batteries, but by 20 moans protected agains: their fire should the guns open on them. Their not being shelled was provably owing to the fact of their presence there not being known to the enemy. The order direct. ing them to remain there was based on the supposition that the attack on the enemy's batteries would be resum- @1 in the amoraing, in which case they would have led the advance. The unpleasant and hazardous mature of their position was explained in my despatch of yester- day. Anattempt at removal would have exposed them while crovsing the brow of the ravine this side to the enemy’s shells and sharpshooters combined. As it was they lay low all day, in fact on their faces. What made their position more disagreeabie was being without knapsacks and biankets; they left these in the town bo- | fore geing into the fight, so as to bein light fighting | order—jeaving them without rations amd blankets for tue ight. The withdrawal into town under cover of dark- nose and the utmost secresy of movement dit not | prevent the fact coming to the knowledge of the | ever vigilaut foe. A terrific volley of mnsketry | was poured into our column as it passed the brow of the hill, coming this way, Sudden and terrible as the fire was, the column did not break, bat continued its retreating march in uubroken line. The enemy tired too low, or our loss would have been fearful. As it was, our loss was aligut. The division has been all day in the strects of the town, where “General Humphreys’ and Sykes’ divisions of this corps have been since Satarday evening. | General Griffin's troops have thas far behaved most | gatlantly, They went in seven thousand strong, aud their killed, missing aud wounded number two thousand. The | per centage of killed, happily, is unusually sma!l, and the per centage of mortally wounded much below the average The instances of personal bravery and narrow escapes are | numerous, Hendreds show marks of ballets about their clothes. The scattering of the wounded hitherto over every section of the town. excitement attending the ro. moval (o-day of al the wounded, prevent my adding many names to the list forwarded yesterday. I am told that the Fighteenth Massachusetts regiment lost twelve olf cers, This is the regithent that mounted the crest of the hill where the first line of robel batteries are planted. | doors quite comfortable. Among the wounded is Lieutenant Colonel Abbom, who was wounded in three plages—all slight, however, Among the officers woundod in the Nineteonth New York regi, ment, alditional to those héfetofure published, are Livu, teaunt Atwater, Co, C; Lieutenant Heffron, of the same eonpany; Lieutenants Cramer aud Rowan, Co. F; Lioute. nhiat Snyder, Co. B, and Lieutenant Taylor, Go. B. Tt will be two or three days bofore anything like a full and aceu. rate report of the casualties in the division can be re. ported, aut thareby proper credit given to the various re, giments onyaged in the recent fight. ‘The mon are stilt as NEW YORK, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, first report that General Humphreys in last Saturday’s fight had two horses shot under him. Captain Thomas, his Assistant Adjutant General, who was wounded, had his leg amputated to-day. Captain Rehver, also of his ‘staf’, had to-day his left arm taken off. I give;as far as Thave been able to obtain it, alist of the killed and ‘wounded. It will be seen that ‘the colonels and field officers were in the post of danger. The troops are al! ew men, and it is universally conceded that none eve" behaved more handsomely, The excitement of the day, except a pretty brisk can- novading frem the enemy about two o’clock, has been the Temoval of the wounded to hospital tents, across the river. It has been a long, difficult and pain- fal task. All who could walk did so, the others being brought over on litters aud in ambulances. It is now nearly dark as I close this letter, and not one half have yet been taken away. It is probable the work of removal will be continued into and through the night. All the inhabitants who had the bardibood to remain through the bombardment of last Friday and the can_ nonading of Saturday are leaving now,I am told, and taking refuge on the other side of the river. They have no desire to go through a third shelling. ‘ «Where is Sigel?” has been the question on everybody’s lips to-day. When his forces arrive it is understood that active hostilities will bo resumed on our side, The work of fighting is not yet done, whatever our generals in coun- cil may determine upon, whether to advance or not upon the campaign as inaugurated, or retrace our steps to the other side of the Rappahannock and hit on a new plan of Procedure. Our Army Correspondence. Fizapquarvkns, ARMY OF THE PoToMac, Dec. 16, 1862. Skirmishing--Pie Rebel Works Strengthened—The Suffer. ‘ings of the Woundea—Ihe Body of General Jackson— Rifle Pits for the Officers’ Use—Incidents of the Battle Sharpshooters—The Pennsylvania Reserves-—Theiv Heavy Losses— Fredericksburg @ Complete Ruin, de. Nothing of importance has transpired along the lines to-day. Skirmisbing has been kept up incessantiy, both by artillery and infantry, and a few have been killed and wounded; but neither army bas advanced or receded from its position. During the night‘the enemy connected their batteries by a formidable ¢hain of rite pits, and apparently strengthened their line of infantry. About midfight a heavy fire of musketry was opeued just beyoud the city, lasting about fifteen minutes. The day has been remark- ably clear, and the trains of the enemy were constantly visible bringing up ammunition and removing the wound- ed. Their drums were distinctly beard this morning at reveille, and have been quite nojsy at intervals throughout the day. The lines of skirufishers are not more than one hundred yards aport, and the lines of battle lees than five hundred, Hundreds of dead and wounded still remain upon the field. Every attempt to remove our wounded draws a murderous fire, and, of course, so long as this privilege ia denied us we cannot allew the enemy to remove theirs, Last night the cries of the wounded ror help were terri- ble. Having laid upon the ground since Saturday with. out food or water, their sgony must be indescribable. Whenever a man ventures out to relieve a wounded com_ rade he Js immediately shot down, and a”sharp skirmish of several minutes duration has been repeatedly brougut on by these burbarities. ‘Yesterday a fiag of truce was sent out from the left for the purpose of getting the body of General Jackson, which still lies upon the field. As it was necessary to submit the communication to. Stonewall Jackson, con- siderable delay was occasioned. During the cessa- tion of hostilities Colonel Ganin and others of our officers @onversed with one of Geucral Hill’s aids. by » whom Genera! Hill sent his compliments io our corh- mander, with the statement that he never saw troops withstand such an epfilading fire as they (the rebels) were enabled by the position of the lines to pour into us. The request for permission to get the remains of our Ge- neral was denied; but afew of our wounded were remoy ed during the interval. ‘Yo.day our troops were lying upon the ficld, with arms stacked, in the roar ranks gand wen carryingTorward ra- tions upon their shoulders. Some of the generals had small rifle pits constructed, behind which they took their meals and transacted their business. The artillery re- mains in the position taken on Saturday night. Most of Gen. Franklin’s guns are protected by an embankment at he side of a road; but some are badly expored, aud have Suffered heavily. During the fight the enemy planted a Whitworth gun on their extreme right, at a dis. tance -of two miles from our lines, and threw a number of shells with, great precision among’ our troops, the first six shofs falling within a cireum- ference of five rods. ‘Their artillery practice has been very geod ; but superiority of calibre enabled us to si_ lence their most destructive pieces in a few moments. General Gibbon’s eld batiery, commanded by Lieuten- ant Stewart, had ten horses killed, cigot of them by a single sholl, a fragment of which clipped the ears of an- ther horse as smoothly as though dene by @ knife. Captain Garrish, of the First New Hampshire battery, was wounded and bad eighteen horses killed. Hal's Secoud Maine battery had a caisson blown up, one piece disabled and a number killed and wounded. Both Stewart and Garrish suffered in loss of men, but not so heavily as Hall, A shot from the enemy struck one of onr shary- shooters’ knapsacks, cutting it from bis back and hurling its contents to a considerable height in the air. The man ‘was uninjured. Asergeant of one of the batteries was decapitated by a solid shot, and another man was cut completely in two, Captain Crawford, aid-de-camp to Colonel Pholps, commanding First brigade, Donbleday’s division, had a horse kilied by @ shell,and some of our ‘men were injured-—far im tho rear—who were considered entirely out of danger. ‘There was Very little csano~ading yesterday en the left. The enémy opened upon us onee or twice with a single gun, and were responded toby three of ours. Two of their batteries in front of Franklin, ove of three guns. the other of ten, were cilenced on Saturday, and have not since opened. Another of their batteries on the hii! back of the city, which our siege guns replicd to in the fight, has also been silent, notwithstanding our artilicry has opened upon it repeatedly since. Our sharpehooters, Second Rerdan, Colonel Post, did good service, and pisked off a nnmber of rebel officers. The Twenty-fourth Michigan, a new regiment, and recent- ly attached to Gibbon’s oid brigade, behaved splendidiy, and has been highly complimeited. In fact ali the troops performed admirably, the Pennsylvania reserves laying been under a terrible fire for severai hours, and cut upin an almostunprecedented manner before they fell back. | A glance at their list of killed and wounded cannot but relieve them from the odium attached to their retreat Many of their dead have been interred in « graveynrd near the battle field, and to-day the soldiers were !i~ ly | cugaged planting myrtle npon the mounds and erecting neat headboards. A number have been embulined and sent home, and fine coffins are frequently seon wut upon the tield, awaiting the removal of the dead Fredericksburg has suffered extensively from the enemy's shells since the fight, several of our hospitals having been opencd vipon spentedly, ‘The soldiers have pillaged qyery hense and carriet off furniture of all de- scriptions, Musical instruments, rich furniture, valuable books, clothing, silver plate, in fact everything that could be removed, has been taken, and the town is as empty of property as though it had never been tnbabited. ‘The ruins of the buildings burned on Thuraday are «till smoking, and afew houses have been consumed since Treops are erossing to and fro contitfually, and the greatest activity prevails. ‘There is no disorder and bat very little straggling. The troops are in remarked; good spirits and ready for another Bight, ‘The hospit are being rapidly supplied with stores, blankets, straw, &e., while the warm weather renders those still out of Severai hundred wounded have veen taken away on the cars and sent to Washingt. The raiiread bridge over the Rappahanneck is progress. ing quite rapidly, and will soon be completed. The water in the river Is quite tow, and cavalry can ford ia inany places near the city. A heavy storm is brewing, how- ever, and ere this reaches you we may be up to our kuees in mod. The character of the soil is sueh that a litle | pain renders locomotion almost impossible, and with a ready to meet the enemy a3 in the days of their proudest | surength Of Goneral Humphreys’ and Sykes’ divisions there i,° othing new W write, I thigk I failed to mention in my large army upon a low flat of ploughed ground and stub- ble we should be in w sorey predicament indeed, Our Stafford Correspondence. Srarrory Court Hovee, Doo. 16, 1862. Why We Were Delayed--Union Revidenia of This Vicini- ty Arrest of the Sheriff of Prince Wiliam ), de. This compinnd’ iis been delayed in ite progress io Fre- | e 1862. & dericksburg by the badness of the roads and the want of supplies, if, indeed, it was designed or desired that wo should move more rapidly. The stock of supplies was entirely exhausted last night, and to-day we are com- pelled to delay our progress until more can be obtained. ‘The men are entirely without rations this morning, ex- cept such as they can obtain from the inhabitants, ‘There is a quantity of stores at Brooks’ Station, three miles from here, but the greater portion of our train has not reached here yet, owing to the badness of the roads ‘We can scarcely reach Falmouth to-night unless the exi- of the case are such that the troops are compelled to make a forced march without supplies. There are a number of Union residents in Stafford and Prince William counties. A few miles from Stafford Court we took dinner with an old gentleman of an A eg who served in the war of 1812, and te ly Union. He has been taken to Richmond and imprisoned twice by the rebels, He informed us that Union meetings have been held iv his neighborhood, and that at one time there was a regular Union organization, but it was broken up by rebels A number ot important arrests were made in Dumfries by Captain Brown. Aeting Provost Marshal, among them that the sherif! of the county, named Hoar, a notorious secessionist, and against whom there are grave charges. seventy thorough! Oar Demtries “Correspond Ces Dorris, Dec. 14, 1862. A Rapid Ride—Relel Forces Here Last Winter-—Morta- lity: Among the Texans—Rebel Cannon Left at Weehai- ken—Spies Among Us--Stonqwall Jackson Disliked by the Seceth—A New Medteal Director, dc., de. Since our march important events have occurred, and we are informed that the presence of this grand divisien is required on the Rappahannock, at least within sup. porting distance of Buruside’s immediate command. Captain Dahlgren, of our General's staff, was sent back with important orders yesterday by Gencral Burnside, who instructed him to ride as fast ag possible, regardless of horsefiesh. Captain Dahigren passed over the dis- tanee from Fredericksburg here—twenty-tive miles—in two hours, the road» being the woret conceivable. Dumfries was held by the rebels in force last winter, General Whiting being oa the hb side of the Quantico, and ocenpying Weehawken Point, Wigfall on the north side of the stream, while Beauregard was on the hilis back of the town. There are six rebel guns now at Wee. hawken Point, dismounted, and half, buried in the sand, the carriages having been Warned. One of them is a twenty-four pounder rifled gun, which will be remem. dered as having made a sensation among our craft on the Potomac. Wigfail’s division consisted largely of Texans, among whom the mortality is said to have been terrible last Winter, the climate not agreeing with them. Just north of the town, among the pines, are thousands of graves “where these followers of she braggart Texan lie buried. ‘The rebels, as usual, have their spies among us. Since we came here a man named McConkey, who has been twiee imprisoned at Washington, left the town with a budget of information for Richmond, eluaing at] our pick- ets, and travelling in the direction of Culpenper Court House. He is vogularly employed ai On the same night that ovr foreos entered the town a soldier of Hamp- ton’s Lagion, who bad remained behind when the raid was made here, wax in a hougo not hundred yards from the headquarters of our General until ten o'clock at night, when he made bis escape. ‘The information con- Geruing the spy and the cavalry man 1 have from un- doubtediy reliable authority. A fine horge of the rebem was captured after we came here by Captain #elemel. ‘When the rebels wera here the dayg before yesterday they informed the citizens that Stuart’s-cavairy wou'! be in Dumiries within a day or two. ‘The residents believe, very revsonubly, that when the revels heard of our ad: varice they thought better of ‘their promise? visit and concluded to stay away for the present: Stonewall Jackson is much more popular at the North and with our army than he is among the gecesh. Indeed he is thoroughly detested by a majority of the infabit- ants, althongh few of them are willing to speak their minds freely tous. One lady whose fnsbond is in Jack- | son's army declared to me, with true Southern spirit | that she wolud sh eneral with her own band if } she shaold ever he ppertunity. Ho is extremely ical to both ciffzens and roldiors. His soldiers he with great severity, shooting them for the most trivial offences, giving them very fatiguing taarches with the seantiest supplies of foed, which they are vory seldom | allowed fires to cook. His men hrve not beon prid since | ISU April. “‘Theya re decorting by soores whenever an opportunity eecurs, and it is only the strict watch kept | ypon thom’ and the summary way inwhich those attempt- ing to desert are treated when canght that prevents a large portion of his force from leaving in detail. The Sixth Army Corps in the Battle of Saturday. OUR FREDERICKSKURG CORRESPONDENCE. ~ _ Hrapgvanters, Newion’s Drvetox, Lavt Guaxp Invitiox, Dee. 13, 1862. ‘The great battie has really begun, and is said to have equalted, if not execeded, in violence that go celebrated in the Maryland campaigo. TH: GALLANTRY OF OUR TRONS _was unequalled, and their energies have been taxed to the utmost to exceed al! thoir past deeds of valor. works with a yell oP ‘honeitiel and poured in a ter rible hail of missiles on our troops, At this favorable arm point in the eontest, the Pennsylvania reserves; UNder | yout, Stenpie, General Taylor, were ORDERED TO CHARGE UE REBELS. Galtmntly tho beye went down the bill, yelling like demona, nud casting off coats and knansacks om the way. Down through the valley, and up the hill w where a con- PRICE THREE CENTS. J, Riloy, E, 00thN.Y., arm, @. Oxemeier, B, 10D W. ¥., P. Corcoran, F, 60th N. ¥., _ hand. 3, Carr, ¥, Slat Pa, face. H, 1st Mich., H, Solomon, K, 26th N. ¥ Ser 0. BL Pheipe, F, Sta igus. C. A Cnrpenter, Cor.F. Sheliee 7th, re 7 8.7. Russel, ATTtbMich.g G. Young, 1,24 Me., E. Dewolf, 1st Mien? Mt be Col. H. B. McKean, 61st foot and side. J. Winslow K, 24 Me. , face. and tinuous sheet of flame was all that could be seen to mark | § Tee, C.25th N. Y., head, one A. Ackuff, E,106th Pe., the rebel position, went the bravo boys, breasting the | J. Linck, F, fiery flimes and deadly missiles that opposed them- Bravely our men dasbed on, losing many @ gallant son! on the way; but, never heeding, on they went, and into the deep shadows of the wood beyond, Here the roar and noite and fire wore redoubled. ug in a trap. the colors of the sixteenth Georgia regiment, the special trophy of the Ninth Pennsylvania reserve regiment, and sadly bore back their Genera! (Taylor), mortally wounded, Three times after thie the enemy charged up the hill, ‘but were gallantly repulsed by Meade’s division on the right of Reynolds’ corps, and a portion of the left of Smith’s corpse, where the two corps joined ia line. Once, indeed, they drove our troops, batteries and all, clear over the ridge, and fairly opcupied it; but it was only,for a moment; for Gibbon, with his brigade in re- serve, speedily came forward, and threw the encroaching rebel tide back upon its works. It was now one P. M., and since half-past nine A. M. our troops had been hotly engaged with the enemy, this corps (Reynolds’) bearing slone the brunt of the contest, Smith’s corps on its right not having been attacked, lying in three strong diyistons, consisting of the “erack’? troops of Newton, Brooks and Rowley, in anxious expec- tation of a visit from the enemy. OM OUR KXTREME LEFT the contest had meantime been waged with proportionate fury. It was our object to turn the rebel right and get possession of a portion of the railroad. In this the Ninth regiment New York State Militia suflered severely in officers and men. The regiment made several charges, in which they were fearfully cut ap, and left the field with a mere corporal’s guard, ON THE 1657, at about thie time—one P. M.—our attack began on the formidable earthworks connnanding Fredericksburg, and, from my position, with the aid of a fleld glaas, I could eee the storming parties clamboring the steep bili and recotl- ing before the dreadful fire. Now the rebel fire broke out anew on our left, and with pedoubled vigor. Thus onr ex- treme right and left flanks became hotly engaged, while eur centre was lyivg quietly on its arms awaiting deve. lopments. Our troops en the eft were now completely exhausted, and, unsupported, wegan to lag a little; while, on the contrary, on the partof the enemy, and fortunately for them, 4. PAIL WAR REINFORCED WY BWELL, The former general this division had been fighting with suecess all the mofning: the proponderauve of fresh troops on the part of the enemy would act greatly to our detriment. Oh, for reiuforcements! ‘The. rebele, with their acguixitions, began to grow bolder, and our exhausted troops with diffienlty held their ground. Back tore the orderlies aud aids, “Up with a divi- sion of the Sixth corps; fetch Newton here,” cried Gen. Franklio. XOW TBE FIGHT GREW MORE DESPERATE. ‘The enemy were driving us fast; but'a welcome sound greets onr ears. It is Sickles’ corps crossing the bridge ‘on the double quick to our aid. Up comes the head of the column over the first hill from the river, on,om; but at this moment Newton's gallant division, by a fine flank movement, cuts in ahead of them}and throws itself be- tween our exhansted troops and the flughed enemy, ‘The effect of the reinforcement is visible. The enemy retires in dismay, withdrawing his fleld batteries, while Newton, at the head of his gallant troops, celebrated on the peninsula as “Couoh’s veteran division,” sweeps down on them with resistless impetus. Incidents of the Battle. Wasuinctox, Dec. 17, 1862. ‘The banqnet provided by thd officers of the Irish Bri- gade, to be eaten at the presentation of a new set ot by their New York friends, was spread in the Frod burg theatre last Sunday, and was devoured with great relish by the company while the enemy’s shot and shell were flying about the building. The festivities wore con- dneted {n the usual manner, with the exception that cheering the speeches was prohibited, General Meredith demands a court of inquiry as to the IMB REBELS, TOO, HAVE POUGME WITH DYSPERATION, exceeding even what is usnai on their part; but] am happy to state that at all points they have met our soldiers well prepared for them, and ready to give even more than they received. You will remember thet in wy last I stated thatorr entire left grand division was being brought across the river, and massed in the near of Smith's corps, who were facing the eneiny’s batteries in line of batile some dis- tance beyond the river bank. Last night Reynolds’ corps was deployed to the left, and took position unepposed in the face of the hidden earthworks which cover the | high range of hills which extend from ihe rear of Frede+ rieksburg in an are of a circle with two miles fora radius, in a straight Inne from the river, all along the front of our lines. Those immediately in the rear of tho city are the most formidable, and, in fact, impregnable, and frown an opon defiauce, while those on our left are almost com- pletely masked by the thick shadows of the woods on the hillsides. After a vigorous shelling during an entire day from our heavy sieze pieces, it was decided that ‘WE BEGIN THE ATTACK. Accordingly at an early hour this morning, camnonading ‘began furiously on the extreme left, from ten batieries of Reynolds’ corps, and our troops were advanced in two lines of battie. ‘HE ENEMY SPRANG TO THEI GUNS, aod shot and shell tore the ground for miles around. Our | troops advanced steadily, with their batteries wet! hax | dled aad ably supported by the iufantry. At rat the enemy's artillery was poorly directed, the shells falling far beyond our lines, among the ambulvnces in the rear: | | but when enr wished-for position bad been gained the enemy's fire grew more accurate, the shelia bursting with nice prec.sion over our hear ‘was advanced to the brow of a ridge distant about three | | qnarters of « mile from the rebel works. Now vegan Instantly the artitiery”| ¥ i A TERRINLR ARTILLERY DUET, | Que batteries commenced biavirg away with precision | | and coolness, while owr two immense lines of Imttle tail anxiously waiting their turn belind whe ridge, bidden | completely trom the enemy's view. For atime the enemy bore the t | sifence surprising to all of ue, who w ible shelling ina relying behind the | ridge anxiously awaiting the reeponsive roar of their | 4 | artillery and the dreadful whistling of their aaswering | | compliments, { ~ Soon, however, it came, and with a fury unparatieled, | and the shells { burst above our devaced herds mm @ manner truly appalling, Gallantly our bate ries held their own, porting into the woods a succession of iron visitors that, ia their fury of sound, made the ate thick with echoes from the rebel fustaesses, and Pande. moniuin seemed broken loose. Medora’s jar of earthly miseries was broken, and screaming fends were howling | their song of death in our cars ‘The fire om both sides was terrible, and under it, for ful! en hour, both parties were obliged to hold themselves close in shelter of sueb derences as circometnces aMford- | ed. Soon, however, ‘THE REBELS SHOWED THEMARI VFS, deploying from the woods m two grand columos, First it | seemed but gle company; then a second and a thied | was thrown’eff from ite rear, and 80 on, until they spread | in two steady parallel lines in our front, Slowly they ad- | fanced at first, coolly and calmly under our terrific tre. | Down the firet hil they came, accelerating their pace by degrees. until they began tho ascent of the ridge whore our batteries were situated, on a full run. The teach | finshed acrosé 08 In & moment that it was (& RABEL, CHARGE. | Our troops rashed tothe top of the ridge, sad with wild impetaosity dashed down upon them, meeting thom boeuf way, and ropulsing thom gallantly. | vhe revels, completely ovorwhelmed and unable to holt jheir sions pengressively, retreated in confusion to their works, loawing \.e greater part of two of their regiment, \ of Tounessce and Georgia troops prisoners. Our troops | greeved this good fortune attending their offorts with cheors that roat the air, Tye eneuy apswered from the | management of his brigade at Fredericksburg. He re. ceived two orders from General Doubleday’s aids at about the same moment, and therefore acted ut sliscretion. Probable Captare of Hon. John Covode by the Rebels. Wasmixcrow, Dec. 17, 1862, Hor. Jno. Covode, Member of the Honse from Pennsyl- vabia, and a promineut meraber of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, went down to Fredericksbarg Inst week to watch the fighting, and has not been heard from, A despatch from Falmouth states that he bad not come over in the Jast boat from Fredericksburg, and tho pre- sumption was strong that be had neen captured. I he should reach Richmond he will obtain new and valuable information respecting the conduct of the war. Many persons here have exproesed # regret thet the War Com mittee could not bave a qnoruin in Richmond. THE CASUALTIES, Names of the Additional Killed and Corp. T. Damoret, 2, N. H., buck, 4 .¥. ascher A.2ths, 2, 1th 0. Layle 241h Muss. kuve. J. Doancauue, K2h ‘vin J. Horan, 28th shoulder W. Crowley, ' N. Kennedy shoulde Cov. JF in JK, wih Mase, 8,2 Cor pa “al K Hoar, Mase. arm H. Motatyre, A. 28th Wass, head Sgt. Ebi. Rob, 1, 24th J.Baygen K arn. J. Donaghue 1M. Greentield, F, 7th Mich. I eK. +B, sib N.S, B., S1st., Pa., ley. Po Wren, G., ath . wren and | serut. C. Taf, 28th Mass, arm. G, Hoag, B15 wie. Serat. i. Mf. Cha NH, knee. Sergt, «i, W. Jetta, K, 4uh N.Y Un ee G. Sherman, F breast ., R Keron, F.5th Nuit wrist, Corp. J. “t Nurae, He. A airbie, B, 104th Ne th NAL, haw LH. Bangs, 1, tly N. HL, B. Lambert, 1, oth N.Y., Kier band, ” tate Leh «~ te hand, Sut T.Mfashin.€,31etPa., (i. neck. M. M. Maore, © Sint | P.MeDermot DSisita. arm, Cpl Ge — IL. 6Tth N. ¥., hand, D Downey i1.281bMe. oor Ltt, sould e ‘The enemy had | has. Wiley, Dy Across fire was playing on our devoted | Ed. H. Prowl band. What could they do but retire? This they did ve Guito orderly, bearing off on the points of their bayonets | 1i* Martin A 118th Pa. hand. ‘and neck. D, Walker, lags. arm. ncatogwend StbMes W. A. Burns,C, 108th N. ¥., — Hin, - hand N. Thomas, B, 11th Pa., log. Jag. Clugy, D, 76th Pa. Jno, Jones, F, 145th Pa. Gallaher, G, 81st Pa. Jas. Remington,G .88sbN.¥, Geontn. Urehy 146th Pa, W. Parnnunst, Bs 46th Sint Pay J.-M. Meteo, HH, 146th Pa. B, lat K.1., Jesse Kishinger,¥ 146th Pa. W. Jefords, 1 Cor. C. Merritt, F 146th Pa. ). Lang, 134th Pa. Peter Hittingor, T; ist Pa A, 145th Pa. NINTH NEW HAMPSHIRE, ‘RILLED. Lt. J, G. Lewin, H. W. 8. Chapman, L G.'W. Wright, ¢. t, L. H. Caldwell, muibit, C. A. Hamden, 6. J.G. Merrill, A. J.T, Wilkins, G. B, D, James, A. A. W. Wheeler. G. W. Garrett, A. Sergeant J. B. Swarnby, A. M. Alexander, A. rporal A Little, A. J. L, Archer, A. » A. |, A. F. Lovejoy, A. J: Hi. Claghton, A. Ist sergt. W. A. Edmunds, J. 2 day & B, J. Carroll, C. ©. HW, Wentworth, A Capt, A. S. Ey nly, Cc MLF. Set ds Capt. Robinson, €. . Dexter, J. A. Chase, ©, J. Soot. A. 0. Hatehinsor 8. Brards, @. . J. Rantowt, © Hi. Main, & J. Hitebett, €. W. C,fuusiman, A. J. W, Willis . a. um, A. G. B. Brown, D. . Howard, A. H. Potter, D. . Whitermby ; A ©. id. Hall, De M. Hester, A. tman, D. A. A. Wyman, €. Runtz, D H. R. Ellis, C, Rowell, Eg. Corporat E. R, Emerson, & Corporal B. R. Miller, K ee ¥ aA E. Corporal A. Brown, K . Bagby, E 6. F. Blood, K. c Grits 6. G. A. Chise, K. D. Hadley & A. L. Cummings, K. Lieut. L. B. Little, B. FE. Loring, K. Sergeant Densmore, E. A. Putnam, K. W. Wier, F. F. Sunborn, K. . A. Clement, F. 8, G. Lane, K. FORTY-SIGUTH PENNSYLVANIA, wu. i t James Williame, A. omas Kinney, D. Corp. RK. Robinson, B. -Micnael Devine, D. Sergt. H. Williamson, D. ‘WOUNDED, K. Murphy, E. R. Hughes. B- Griiths, F. “thas, F. any, I ; agri panl A. Sergt. J. Williams. - Ae A R, Brown. Corn. A. ©. 3. Tacmpéon, B. ©: Henton, B. V. Kinsweil, H. . © Betvelor, Be Sergt. F. Coch, 1. Hi, Corling. B. Corp. H. Wiser, C. M. MeLaughlin, c. i. bak ‘Thos. Griffe. K, 28th fas. H.Lee, H28thi Mass. Opi. Ft. tucker, ooh N. 7 ie a band. ner, TN. ¥ Ia. ALF N.Y, leg. be 8. Weston Lt.Coi, H, Urapel, 7uh’S.Y, Set MeMtaltin, snkle leg. ¥. Pdwig, 001b N.Y, arm. 3gt-G.T,7ane, © iat tit ~_ JA, TM N.Y. Jeg Corp. A.MeCall 1 S1ith Paar, — MeDermott.8. tea". th, ta Conte, ‘Lith M.Teoker, Hz0th Mis: i GHirfekinon A AON held J.Lorver fh Tsta Mase, I. Young, We 4th x. ¥., 11etnN ¥ aot ‘ sB.OtLN. Eh “a matt, AKA NOY, |p. Deker, A, Malt, F, let Mie, hind, 8. Conson, A, 2d Me. sithern, 1, Sd Pa. B. Shire A.66th NY... J 8. Hasiabert,G, Ab N.Y, JW. Shieley, K,tt45tb Pa, | thigh t , J. Rom, G, 7th N. ¥., breast. WF. Conway, C, 24 stick J. Smith, D,7thN. ¥), shout renat. der. Prom, @, Lat Mich, thigh J, Pais, ByftbN. Th, acin aan, ©. i7th N 3) Fsvie, 11, Stst Pa, tog, . kvarard, Cy 25th N.Y, Collins, Py 1th NY, Lieut. Wo Robinson, @, let a t Mie, Fgh ah ‘Lilly, B.w'N.Y. head | 4. Morray, J. Gilbert, T. Corp. J. HL nee! B. K. Faust, i. H. Burkolter, D. ¥, Simons, Ke J. Coan, 1. av Curry, K Corp Landry, E. - SrCurry, K. Corp. 8. Cleinons, EB. N. Delany, K. J. Sunder! nd, Be TWELITH HODE ISLAND. ILLED. at. R. A. Brig, A M. Brown, F. ¢ ‘Prague, Dr » W. Austin, K. WouNvED. Corporal G. Greene, A. C. Leonard, A. ALM! A. B. F. Brown, A W. Movan, A. H, M. Pordy, B. ©. H. Derlin, B. D. all os 9. Ball, B. H. Smith, A. Corporal T. Gal, D. Sanders, A. 8. Millington, D. Whitman. A. 8. Viears, A A. Vreeborn, Be W.C, Doyle. D. '¥ a partial list of the Twelfth Rhode Island, wo Jonn Brady ,D, der. al John Hoan, B,arm, Wost, 24 Tievt., Maes. , side. le, H, Bist Pa, Jus n,G.4th NY. Jobnvrartil,B. F. Ross. F, $30 Robert Heron head ad & E. Morp! thie. ALP. Smith, 1, 198 , shoulder, Frank Limon, K, 48th Pm, hand. right side, Fa. Brown, B, 48th Pa, Samue! Cheney, 28th Mase. , arm. lett si Sgt Fa. Densmon, B, 9th N. Amossones.C.19thMo. hand H., breast Corporal Thomas Wria, @, 4th Ohio, arm and leg. Geo. W.Hury Bteti'a. side ATE Dahon; F, 110 N. H., Knee, Jno. Gordon, ¥, 11th N. H., Cornelius Donovan, A, 200b reat, doh Walsh, D, 28th Mass., ebeck. ergt. Chas. Ti,1,28th Mase. ; left arm. leg. Mass. , bi . ° ©. ‘Taylor, E, 26th Mass. ) Brien, D, 28th leg. Mose, right knoe. Angnst Shen, A, 72d Pa., Thos, Cook, G. 23th, Mase,, | arm hand and lett Luce, 1, 20th Mass., Jehn Horan, H, 23th Mass., hand. Jert cide. Peter Colla, 28th Mass., Win.Crovley, H, 23thMass,, for. left side. P.H.Patton,D,9tb N.Y. face, W. Martin, G, Sist Pa, Jes Finn. G 28th Mags. thigh. breast. Corporal Patrick Kelty, G, 2st Mass., left thigh: Corporal Eph: Supler, Pa,, both hands. AH,, knee. 4B’ Morse, ©, Sth N. I, G. W. Mille, 53d Pa. leg. hand. th Maes. tog. A. — B, 104 N. Y., y 128th Mass, , arm. se Moarae, kK, JamesGraham,F,28th Maas., wens face. baer Ne . Whitmore, 6. Sth M.Sletuiyre,281bsfase, head. N: Me, log Jas, ayant, , 28th Mass. , Corp W. B,Weteh, F, 6 nd, “lightly. Se ee aMess.cieaa Jao. Bs Pata, A, 6. H., foot and shoulder, W. A. Boyes, fi, 23th Mass., iheet, ta a Sherman, 4, 6th \. Jefe shoulder, ka ian, K, tm N. B., E.D. Bride, ¥, 28th Mass, wrist bend. L. Barna, th. So, Wm. Maloney, F, 28th Mags., ey, Goo. |. Jevers, K, back N. Stanning, 28th Mass., 3. a Barber, C, Sist Pa., Sullivan, H, 28th M. McManus, C, Sst Pa., ‘ase. Join, hy tight shoulder. 8ist Pa Patk Brogit, color —~ saga 4a. Mavefield, H H, 57th N. Y., H, 28th Mass, hand, Jerome Loucks, Dani. Downey,’ H, 28th Y., elbow. Mass., wrist. FRANK'S BATTERY @, FIRST NEW YORE. Andrew MeKilop, killed. Jerome Soukes, Jefiorson Taine, mortally | wounded, wounded. Michael Cornahan, severely mM. # Whitney, severely — wounded od Five or six slightly wo'ded. W. Simone, severely wot ADDITIONAL WOUNDED TAKEN TO HOWARD'S DI- VISION HOSPITAL, INCLUDING THOSE BROUGET FROM PRE OR RICKS! “eal it. J.D. Parker, K, 106th Jas. P. Maloney, K ,106thPa. gh we ‘iordon 108th ‘Yuomas Cox, H. Buawell, A, 146th bn gy Conrad Detry, y,, Tye Pa. Geoch Homer (27th Pa Teane Prior, C, 28th Mass, Jus. P. Holy, A, 2808 Mass. Wm. ¢. Rutier(), 2st Mats. HP. Spinar, ©, 1 N.Y. Robi. Lestie, Hi, 2sth dass. J. Manning, ¢, 12th Thos. Christy, 8, Gath B. Orundull, C, 106th Pa. Sergi. Wn. ‘Atkinson, A, at ‘Ted. Warren, F, ¥ Oth Mase S.P. Homie, a7ib Lient, Wm May, K.26th Pa, John DP. Moore, D, 81st Pa. Lieut. Dodge, Ke 18th Mass. John Garrett, T, 24uB N. J. Corp. nrew Bh y, &, eS ae » 68a Tath Mase join . ith toh Kinvan, K, 63d Pa. corte Fh” 4. Simmonds th Cono, ‘on, 1th Nel. Bennett ‘Conn, Cop pene "en insom Duit, ( 183d Pa. i 1. Stat Pa Oritehett, A, 15thMaes, nse | Mi vd Caswell, K, 81st Pa L at ‘Jno, W. Prior, G Bist Elward Powers, tooth John Corty, K, 324.N, ¥. P. MeCasn, N.Y. Cheistopher Martin, I, 4tb > Wootchas G, Sigt Pa. Ma) Kelicr, G, Sist Pa. | arene Broover, @, Sist wn. Fin, Agate fer a job Patten, G, Sist corp. Bn, a Pe Pa. ph ‘on CO & eae Wright , wird | tt Tepes om wn. ‘aa, a st Dat FJamiod, int Too Pa _ Thome Oo at Del, (CONTINUED ON OW RIGHTE Page)