The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-29 00:00:00

ARTILLERY FIGHTING.

At the same time that this movement was com-
menced the batteries of the division stationed on
the bluffs across the river opened with shell to aid
the exit of the rebels and cover our advance. The
rebel infantry having fallen back to their first line
of entrenchments and rifle pits, their batteries
opened with a vigorous and rapid fire upon our
columns, which now had come to a temporary halt,
awaiting the result of the artillery fighting. For
some time our artillery on the bluffs kept up a heavy
fire upon the rebel batteries, with such success that
the batteries on Taylor's-hill, nearly opposite Fal-
mouth, and commanding our right flank, were
finally silenced. During the time the artillery of
the rebels was almost entirely devoted to tho shel-
ling of our advanced troops. Occasionally they
would send a shot towards our batteries, but they
fell short or lodged in the town beyond.
HANCOCK IN THE ADVANCE.

Hancock's division had the advance, supported by
the other divisions of the corps ; while the 9th corps,
General Wilcox, remained under arms in town, in
readiness to obey the signal to advance to the as-
sistance and support of their comrades, wherever
they could effectually do so. Soon after the
whole corps deployed into line of battle, with
Hancock's division on the right, and in this order
moved forward to attack and storm the rebel right
batteries, while from all the enemy's works a ter-
rible shower of shell, grape, and shrapnell tore
through their bleeding ranks; notwithstanding
which they steadily pushed on to the rifle pits, with-
in a short distance of the first line of intrench-
ments. From the former they drove the rebels,
making prisoners of some, while the remainder took
refuge behind the earthworks. This was accom-
plished after the most heroic and long-continued
efforts, under a galling and murderous fire. Human
nature was unable to hold out against the terrible
fire which they now encountered, and they finally
retired, but in good order, carrying away with them
their wounded comrades. They fell back to their
original line of pickets, thus holding the ground
which they first occupied, and which they held
until this morning, when they were relieved by
General Stoneman's command.
FRANKLIN ON THE LEFT—SUMNER JOINS HIM.
Just previous to the advance of Couch's corps
heavy firing and a dense smoke on the left indicated
the fact that Franklin, with his grand divisions,
was advancing upon and had already engaged the
enemy's right flank. To open communication with
him, therefore, Gen. Wilcox detached his division
under Gen. Burns, and sent it to the left, by the
edge of the river, with instructions to advance
under cover of the river bank until he could place
himself in close proximity to Gen. Franklin's right.
Gen. Burns accordingbb moved his division for-
ward, crossed Hazel Run, and took position, with
his left resting on Deep Ran, to the opposite bank
of which Gen. Franklin's right extended. From
this location he was also enabled to support, if ne-
cessary, any demonstration having for its field of
operations the space of ground between Deep Run
and Couch's corps, and though the division did not
take part in the day's engagement it rendered
valuable assistance otherwise.
GENERAL STURGIS'S DIVISION JOINS COUCH.
GENERAL FERRERO.

About noon Gen. Sturgis was ordered to the sup-
port of Gen. Couch. So, forming his division with
Gen. Ferrero's brigade in the advance, he moved
obliquely with the intention of attacking the bat-
teries which had been enfilading Couch's from the
right centre of the rebel position. He opened the
attack with Gen. Ferrero's brigade, which deployed
into line of battle parallel to the enemy's works,
with Gen, Nagle's brigade, formed in the rear, and
within easy supporting distance. Gem Ferrero then
advanced, pouring in terrific volleys of musketry
and driving the rebels back. To retard this move-
ment the rebels opened a raking fire upon his left
flank, upon discovering which Gen. Sturgis ordered
Nagle's brigade to advance by the left flank, and,
forming into line of battle, attack the enemy's bat-
tery on the left. The movement was accordingly
attempted, but in consequence of ravines which it
was injudicious to leave in their rear General Nagle
was unable to carry out the order, and he then fell
back to the direct support of Gene; al Ferrero.
Couch's corps was falling back while this was trans-
spiring, and by the time General Nagle had resumed
his original position was nearly off the field, leaving
Sturgis alone in the advance, and upon his command
the enemy now concentrated almost their entire
force, and the fight became one of the most despe-
rate character.

THE CHARGE.-TIIE HILL CARRIED.
Despite the storm of missiles from the numerous
rebel works General Ferrero continued to advance,
supported now also by Dickerson's battery, which
was disabled in 15 minutes after coming into action,
when its place was relieved by another battery. At
last, by a dashing charge, the brigade carried the
crest of the hill, and approached within 80 paces of
the enemy's in trenchraen ts. Their success, however,
was not of long continuance, as the tremendous fire
from the rebel batteries soon rendered it necessary
for them to retire, which they did when the order
to do so bad been given for the third time. It was
now dark, and the division fell back to its original
position, after being six hours under fire. General
Sturgis's division may be said to have borne the
brunt of the fighting on the part of the 9th corps,
and behaved most splendidly throughout the whole
affair. When Sturgis was most warmly engaged
the third division, under General Getty, advanced
to his support, executing a movement to his left
similar to that which he was making in relation to
General Couch. After occupying for some time the
position first indicated by the order from General
Wilcox, the division was formed for an attack on
the right rebel batteries, which had been enfilading
the ranks of General Sturgis, and to the accomplish-
ment of this particular object Colonel Hawkins's
brigade, with Ed wards's, and the sth Massachusetts
battery, was particularly assigned, while the 2d
brigade, under Col. Harlan, formed in the rear as a

reserve support.
THE CHARGE OF HAWKINS'S BRIGADE.
The order having been given to charge those bat-
teries, Colonel Hawkins's brigade dashed forward,
and, in ascending the slope, were compelled to cross
an old canal and a deep slough. Passing tbese, they
found themselves on a level piece of ground, on
reaching which darkness had overtaken them. Not-
withstanding the obscurity of the night they main-
tained themselves against the rebel battery until
they were ordered to fall back. A straggling, scat-
tering fire on both sides was maintained until about
8 o'clock, when both parties ceased for the night.

WHAT FRANKLIN DID.
On the left, which extended for some three miles
below the city, General Franklin's grand division
were actively engaged in sustaining, the fortunes of