The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-12-25
GEN. LEES OFFICIAL REP IRT,

General Comman ing.
GEN LEES OFFICIAL REP lRT. d
The following official report Of Grn
Lee was received in this order,on yester-
day: -. S,#
HEADQUARTERS, NrITHEN Va, ! II
Dee. l7th, 1862
To the Hon. Sec Of War, Richmond, w.;
SIR: On the nigh Of the lO'h. the en-
emy commeuced to throw TWO brd 1es w
er the R ppahanuock. above Fredrricks>
burg and the third about mile and
quar- ter below, mar th' mouth of Deep
Run The plain on which FrederIcks
burg stands il 80 completely commanded
by the hills of Stafford, in possession oi
II e enemy. that no elfo,tual opposition
could bo offered to the construction of
tie bri ges, or the passage oflhe riv
cr, without exposing our, troops 10
the destructive fire Of his numerous bat
ter4s.
Positions were, therefore. sci cled 10
oppose his advance aft~r crossing; the
narrow ness Of the Rappahannock, its
winding course ard steep bed, atFordins
opportuni y for the construction of tridg |
es Al points beyond the r, ach of our ar
tillrry. and the banks bad to he watched
by skiimishers. Tho latter. shetering
themselves behind the houses. drove hack
tie working parties of the enemy at tie
bridges opposite TO the city. Bat, al
the lowest point Of crossing, W. ere no
shelter could be had, our eharpshooters
were h-mselves driven off, and the com
plction OF he ridges was eff ctcd about
noon on the lth.
On II afternoon of that day the cue
= my's batteries opened upon the city, and
/ by dark has so demolished lh- houses on
The river bank as to deprive our skirm
she,s Of shelter, and. un er cover of his
runs, he effected Judgement in the town.
. The troops who had 80 galanly held the
position in the city during the severe
d caunonade during the day, resisLin! the
= advance of the en1my Al every step, were
e withdrawn during the night. as were also
l. those who, with signal tenAcity, had main.
a raiued their post at the lowest bridg,s.
l Under cover of the darkness, and of a
.e dense Toy on the l2lh,a large force pass
ed the river aud took position on the
lie ii sht bank, protected by their heavy guns
N on tho 10 t.
| On the morning of the 18Th, his ar
n raugempnls tor an alta being completed.
a about nine o'Clock-the movement veiled
l. py fog-he advanced Dol 3ly in large
is force against our right wing. Genera
to Jackson's corps occupied the right ot
g our loe which rested on the railroad
General LongsrceIs left extending along
e, he nights TO the Rappahannock, above
I'd fredericksburg, and General Stuart wit
T. two brigades of cavalry was posted in the
ly Extension plant on our extreme right
w AS soon Ms the advance o. tho ensmy wa'
10 discovered throug Ii the fog. General Stual
! with lis customod promptn-ss. move
N up his section OF horse artillery, whicl
N opened with effect upon his flank ant
re drew upon the gaIan. Fellam heavy
of fire, which he sus aimed unA nchlngly 10
d ABOUT two no ITS.
q In the meantime thu enemy was Il rec
&c y on ount-rrd by General A p. Hill't
I'd division, forming General JooksOn's right
n and aft an obstinate combat, repulssd
be During this attack which was prolraelet
Ne aud hoty contested two Of General Hill
/ brigsdes were drawn pack upon our sec
ond line. General EARLY. with Part o
no his division, being ordered to his support
is rove the enemy back from the point o
8 h Ia, ko1 pa;, 4 onI pnranad In
he in,o the plain, until arrested by his ar,lI
'n cry.
ell The right of the enemy's column, ex
al, tending beyond Hills front. encountered
10 the right Of General Hood Of Longstr e.
10. corps The enemy took possession of
as small copse. in front Of Hood, but wer
lis quickly disposssssed and reoulsed wit
lis loss. During the attack on our right tn
MI enemy was crossing troops ov'r hi
Sc. bridges at fredericksburg and massini
them in front of Longstreet's line. So
Soon after his repulse on our right, h
commenced series ot alta ks on our i
with a view Of OBJ aiming possession of th
ter lights imm -dia'ely overlooking the town
ay These repeated attacks were pulsed il
ne. gallant style by the Washington Art'ler
! under Colonel Wal on, and u portion @
w McLaw's division. which occupied Ties
vas nights, The last assault was made ate
n a dark, when Colonel Aexanders battalIio
tor Lad relieved the Washington Artillr,
10 whose ammunition had been exhausted
:: and ended The contest for the day. Tn
(" en- my was supported IN his attacks by th
3D. fre Of strong batterles Of artillery on III
RS right bank Of the river, as we'll as by h
.de numerous heavy batteries on the Staffor
,ri. nights.
Of Our loss, during the operations sine
The the enemy's movements began. amour
IRE. to about 800 killed and wounded {
va the former. Iregret to report the loss {
,ia- the patriot soldier and statesman. Brig
led dier. General Thomas r. R. Cobb, WI
AL IakN eks