The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-01 00:00:00

A ?CB IL I 0 A.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.
The North German Lloyd screw steamship Hansa,
Captain H. J. Von Santen, with mails from New
York of the 20th inst., arrived off Cowes at 10 a.m.,
and went on to Bremen, after transhipping mails,
&c., for this port. She brings 63,000 dole. for Eng-
land, and 1,000 dole for Bremen.
The Scotia steamer, from Liverpool, arrived at
New York on the 19th.
In the Senate, on the 17th, the majority and
minority reports, relative to the acceptance of
League Island as a place on which to establish a
naval depot, were received from the. Secretary of
the Navy. The Bill to facilitate the discharge of
disabled soldiers was reported back from the Mili-
tary Committee; also the Bill to improve the or-
ganisation of the cavalry force; also the Bill to
forfeit the pay of absent army officers. Mr. Sauls-
bury, of Delaware, introduced two resolutions of
inquiry, one relative to sending soldiers into that
State to be present at the polls during the Novem-
ber election, and the other relative to the organisa-
tion of a home guard in the State. Both inquiries
were directed to the Secretary of War. They
were laid over. Another resolution, introduced
by Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, inquires of the
Secretary relative to the discharge of State pri-
soners, and whether they are required to take
an oath not to prosecute those who arrested them,
or caused their arrest. The bill to amend the re-
venue Act, so as to allow assessors and their
assistants to administer passed. The bill
to provide for the ihVgheso, was
Sastate prisoners, &e.,
was taken up, but was postponed until the following
Monday. On the 18th, after the presentation of
petitions for a Bankrupt Law and for other objects,
and the introduction of a number of bills which
were referred to the appropriate committees, a reso-
lution was adopted directing the Committee on the
Conduct of the War to inquire into the facts rela-
ting to the late disaster at Fredericksburg, and
make report to the Senate. The Bill to facilitate
the Discharge of Disabled Soldiers from the Army
was taken up, and, after some debate, was passed. A
resolution was adopted calling upon the President
for informati, n regarding the recall of General
Saxton from Port Royal. The Bill to improve the
organisation of the Cavalry Force was passed. The
Bankrupt Bill was taken up, and Mr. Foster, of
Connecticut, argued in favour of its passage. Sub-
sequently a resolution was adopted calling upon
the Secretary of War for information relative
to the disabled transports of the Banks Expedi-
tion, and the Senate adjourned. On the 19th
the Secretary of the Navy was called upon for in-
formation regarding the appointment of rear-ad-
mirals. Mr. M'Dougal, of California, introduced a
resolution, which was laid over, calling for infor-
mation regarding the Buell Court of Inquiry. A
resolution granting pecuniary aid to Missouri to
emancipate the slaves in the State was referred to
the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Powell, of Ken-
tucky, called up his resolution inquiring whether
any oath had been proposed to citizens released
from arbitrary arrest, but it was not acted upon.
The Bankrupt Act was considered, arid several ver-
bal amendments were made. The Senate then ad-
journed until the 22d.
In the house, on the 17th, a bill was introduced
by Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, and referred to the Judi-
ciary Commitee, which provides that before the
confiscation of any rebel property the claims of any
loyal citizen, or friendly foreigner against it, shall
be allowed. The Senate joint resolution, calling for
a prompt report from the Committee on the Conduct
of the War, was passed. The Pension Bill was re-
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means,
and its consideration postponed. A Deficiency
Appropriation Bill, reported from the same com.
mittee, was made the special order for the follow-
ing Tuesday; The house went into committee of
the whole on the President's Message, and on ris-
ing referred its various divisions to the appropriate
committees. On the 18th, Mr. Train, of Massachu-
setts, offered a resolution calling for a select com-
mittee to inquire whether any officer of the Go-
vernment is interested in any banking-house or
moneyed corporation, or business firm, having con-
tracts with the Government and dealing in stocks
or other property. Its consideration was objected
to, and it went over. The Judiciary Committee
reported back the bill extending relief to loyal men
for slaves wrongfully taken or abstracted, with the
recommendation that it do not pass. After a long
debate it was laid on the table. A resolution was
adopted instructing the Committee on Naval
Affairs to report at an early day whether letters
of marque ought not to be issued for the capture
of the Alabama and other piratical vessels now
being fitted out in English ports. The Army
Appropriation Bill was considered in Committee
of the Whole. It provides for an aggegrate ap-
propriation of 731,000,000 dole. Mr. Mallory, of
Kentucky, sought to amend it by the addition of
a resolution, specifying certain objects for which
no part of the money appropriated should
be used, but it was tabled. The Bill was then re-
ported to the House, and passed with only three
dissenting votes—Messrs. May, of Maryland, Nor-
ton, of Ohio, and Wickliffe, of Kentucky. The
rest of the Session was occupied in general debate
in Committee of the Whole. On the 19th a reso-
lution was adopted, calling upon the Secretary
of the Interior for information regarding the recap-
tured Africans returned to Liberia in 1860 and
1861. A resolution was adopted directing the
Military Committee to make inquiries relative to
the discharge of disabled soldiers, the condition of
the convalescent camp, &c. The Senate Bill to
facilitate discharges was
passed without amend-
ment.of
The credentials Mr. Benjamin F. Flan-
ders, as representative from the a
nd district of
Louisiana, were presented and referred t
o Com-
mittee on Elections, Mr. Vallandigham the
objecting to
.
Mr. Flanders being sworn in at once. A resolution
to adjourn over for the holidays was postponed.
The Committee of Ways and Means was instructed
to inquire into the expediency of providing for
an Assistant-Commissioner of Internal Revenue
for the Pacific States and Territories. Mr. Dela-
piaine, of New York, asked leave to introduce a
resolution providing for a committee to investigate
the causes of the disaster at Fredericksburg, but it
was objected to. A resolution was adopted direct-
ing an inquiry into the expediency of revising the
duties of the office of Quartermaster-General. Re-
solutions of thanks to Lieutenant Morris and Lieu-
tenant Worden were passed. A resolution was
adopted calling upon the Secretary of the Navy for
information regarding ceses before the Prize Courts.
The Pension Bill
was passed without debate. Mr.
Stevens of Pennsylvania,
made an explanation of his
financial proposition, lately The house
submitted.
subsequently adjourned until Monday.
The Washington Star of the 19th
states' that Se-
cretary Stanton had resigned.
Richmond papers state the Confederate loss in the
great battle at Fredericksburg to have been 3 000
and acknowledge the arrival at Richmond of 2,500
wounded. They describe the situation of their
wounded as deplorable, they having received little
or no attention, and being conveyed on common
platform cars. The .Richmond Despatch of the 17th
contains the following report from General Lee :--
"Headquarters, Northern Virginia, Dee. 17.
"To the Hon. Secretary of War, Richmond,
Virginia.
Sir,—On the night of the 10th inst. the enemy
commenced to throw three bridges over the Rappa..
hannock—two above Fredericksburg, and the third
about a mile and a quarter below, near the mouth
of Deep Run. The plain on which Fredericksburg
stands le so completely commanded by the hills of
Stafford, in possession of the enemy, that no effec-
tual opposition could be offered to the construction
of the bridges or the passage of the river without
exposing our troops
to the destructive fire of his
numerous batteries.
Positions were therefore se-
lected to oppose his advance .after crossing. The
narrowness of the Rappahannock, its
winding
course and deep bed, afforded 0 •
PPortunity for the
construction of bridges at points beyond the reach
of our artillery, and the banks had to be watched
by skirmishers. The latter, sheltering themselves
behind the houses, drove back the working parties
of the enemy at the bridges opposite the city, but
at the lowest point of crossing, where no shelter

co uld be had, our sharpshooters were themselves
driven off, and the completion of the br.dge was
effected about noon on the 11th.
"On the afternoon of that day the en( my's bat-
teries opened upon the city, and by d rk had so
demolished the houses on the river b . k as to de-
prive our skirmishers of shelter, and under cover of
his guns he effected a lodgment in the town. The
troops which had so gallantly held the position in
the city under the severe caunonade during the
day resisting the advance of the enemy at every
step, were withdrawn during the night, as
were
also those who, with equal tenacity, had main-
tained their post at the lowest bridge-
" Under cover of darkness and a dense fog, on
the 12th a large force passed the river and took
position on the right bank, protected by their heavy,
guns on the left. The
being completed, about 9
arrangements for attack morning of the 13th, his
o'clock, the movement
ourby arigfohgt,
whien
g. advancedGn.e
boldly in large forceagainst
iolcrcouapdi.e dGtehne. rightogosft or ue
sr nteh,
ew hl
feth,
Jackson's corps
rested ou the ra
extending along the heights to the Rappahannock,
above Fredericksburg; Gen. Stuart, with two bri-
gades of cavalry, was posted on the extensive plain
on our extreme right. As soon as the advance of
the enemy was discovered through the fog, General
Stuart, with his accustomed promptness, moved up
a section of his horse artillery, which opened with
effect upon his flank, and drew upon the gallant
Pelham a heavy fire, which he sustained unflinch-
ingly for about two hours.
In the meantime the enemy was fiercely encoun-
tered by Gen. A. P. Hill's Division, forming Gen.
Jackson's right, and after an obstinate combat re-
pulsed. During this attack, which was pro-
tracted and hotly contested, two of Gen. Hill's
brigadiers were driven back upon our second
line. General Early, with part of his division,
being ordered to his support, drove the enemy back
from the point of woods he had seized, and pursued
him into the plain until arrested by his artillery.
The right of the enemy's column, extending beyond
Hill's front, encountered the right of Gen. Hood, of
Longstreet's corps. The enemy took possession of
a small copse in front of Hood, but were quickly
dispossessed, and repulsed with loss.
" During the attack on our right the enemy was
crossing troops over his bridges at Fredericksburg,
and massing them in front of Longstreet's line.
Soon after his repulse on our right he commenced a
series of attacks on oar left, with a view of obtain-
ing possession of the heights immediately, over-
looking the town. These repeated attacks were re-
pulsed in gallant style by the Washington Artillery,
under Colonel Walton, and a portion of M'Law's
division, which occupied these heights. The last
assault was made after dark, when Colonel Alex-
ander's battalion had relieved the Washington
Artillery, whose ammunition had been exhausted,
and ended the contest for the day. The enemy was
supported in his attacks by the fire of strong batte-
ries of artillery on the right bank of the river, as
well as by his numerous heavy batteries on the
Stafford heights.
" Our loss during the operations since the move-
ments of the enemy began amounts to about 1,800
killed and wounded. Among the former I regret
to report the death of the patriotic soldier and
statesman, Brigadier-General Thomas R. R. Cobb,
who fell upon our left ; among the latter, that
brave soldier and accomplished gentleman,
Brigadier-General Maxcy Gregg, who was very
seriously, and, it is feared, mortally wounded during
the attack on our right. The enemy today has been
apparently engaged;in caring for his wounded and
burying his dead.
" His troops are visible in their first position, in
line of battle, but with the exception of some desul-
tory cannonading and firing between skirmishers,
he bas not attempted to renew the attack. About
550 prisoners were taken during the engagement,
but the full extent of his loss is unknown.—l have
the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, " R. E. LEE, General.
" Official—CHAßLES MARSHALL, Major and
Aide-de-Camp."
The following are the latest despatches from the
Federal army of the Pcltomac :--
"Headquarter, Army of the Potomac,
Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
" The Army of the Potomac was withdrawn to
this side of the Rappahannock River because I felt
fully convinced that the position in front could not
be carried, and it was a military necessity either to
attack the enemy or retire. A repulse would have
been disastrous to us under existing circumstances.
" The army was withdrawn at night without the
knowledge of the enemy, and without loss, either o
property or men.

" AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General Commanding.
"Major-Gen. Halleck, Commander-in-Chief."
"Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac,
Falmouth, Dec. 17.
" Yesterday morning when daylight appeared
the enemy seemed to be, as no doubt they were,
perfectly astonished that our army had succeeded.
in returning to this side of the Rappahannock River,
We returned without losing a single man or a gun
in the retrograde movement. A few soldiers who
had straggled off made their appearance on the
river bank after the pontoon bridge had been re-
moved, but they were subsequently brought over
safely in small boats. A few privates who were
guarding a house inhabited by a private family
were not aware during the night of our recrossing
the. river, but in the morning, becoming aware of
this fact, they safely swam over. The pickets of
the contending armies being separated by only a
few yards rendered it necessary that everything on
our front shoald be conducted with the utmost cau-
tion. The pickets on our outposts were unaware of
the movement we were making until just before
daylight, when an officer went to each individual

man and in a low tone of voice ordered him to fall

back. After they got sufficiently far away to be
out of danger they were ordered-to quicken their
pace and to reach the bridges as quickly as possi-
ble. About 9 o'clock yesterday morning the enemy
advanced their skirmishers along the entire line, and
by noon had established their pickets near the bank
of the river. We had a large number of dead on
what was regarded as ' neutral ground,' and as
soon as it was known our forces had evacuated the
city, the soldiers of the enemy commenced robbing
the lifeless bodies. This was plainly seen through
a field glass, as well as indistinctly with the naked
eye. About 10 or 11 o'clock ladies, very neatly
dressed, were seen walking about the streets of
Fredericksburg. They had doubtless been concealed
1
in their houses during the time the city was occu-
-1 pied by our troops, and doubtless availed them-
I selves of the first opportunity to make their re-
appearance after our retreat. On Monday the
pickets of the contending armies fronting the left
wing mutually agreed upon an ' armiscice among
themselves, and freely intermingled with each other
exchanging their dead friends and comrades who
lay on neutral ground! Daring this time a Gene-
ral of our army rode by and put an end to these
proceadings. The result was that both parties
immediately commenced firing, when nine of our
men were killed. After the General had left, the
friendly demonstrations of our pickets were renewed,
and butternut and blue uniforms freely mixed.
About this time General Franklin despatched a flag
of truce, which the enemy immediately recognised,
and the exchange of dead bodies was renewed and
continued until completed. Yesterday
General Lee
sent a flag of truce to general Burnside, asking him
to detail men to bury his dead in front of General
Sumner's Grand Division. This was done. The
wounded, with the exception of those whom the
enemy obtained, have all been brought to this side
of the Rappahannock, and, as rapidly as possible,
are being sent to Washington. During the flag of
truce, General Stuart, of the rebel cavalry, in
answer to a question, stated that General Banks'
expedition had gone South, but that he did not know
exactly where. Our entire army is now en-
camped on the same ground which they pre-
viously occupied. The soldiers are as corn-
fortboble for the present as they can be in
shelter tents. Our army has been considerably re-
inforced since the battle, and no danger whatever
attaches to our present position. It is the opinion
of military men that, if we had succeeded in tak-
ing the first ridge of the rebel Works, the opportu-