The New York herald., 1862-12-17
Operations OF the Ninth Army Corrs.

oce VI tnose VINO went INTO the nght escaped unnurt
Operations OF the Ninth Army Corps.
HEADQUARTERS, NINTH ARMY CoRPst
FREprR cKsBuRG Va, Dec. 14-6 A. M.
While General Couch was advancing to carry out the
work assigned his corps the Ninth corps disposed in
the city in position 10 support his attack and though
troops did not become engaged In the Gght until the
afternoon, movement 10 open communication with the
left wing was commenced at early hour in the day
GENERAL wncox's HEADQUARTERS
established in building on the main street Of tho
town, In the centre Of his command Here, with his
staff, ne awaited during the morning orders
Captain Shillinglaw, Of his aids, who IL viii be re-
membered, wounded in the first fight at Manassas,
incapacitaed by the of his injured limb
from taking active part transmitting orders and dur
ing tho greater part the day confined much aganss
his viii, the camp tho other side of the river
The operations of corps comprised three distinct
movements by division, as foows:-
l. General Burns sent to the left TO open commu
ncaton with Gen raj Franklin.
2. General Sturgis sent TO support General Couch
3. General Getty sent TO support General sturgis
Ofthe operations of each Of these divisions II will be
uecessary now to speak in detail
GENERAL BURNS DIVISION.
The First division, under General Burns, ordered
move at nine O'Clock IN the morning, and accordingly
he brgades composing it, embracing the Seventy ninth
Iighlanders) and Forty-sixth New York, Forty tn,
Ftietb and One Hundredth Penns Second Eighth
Seventeenth and Twentieth Michigan, Twenty seventh
New Jersey and the Twenty yninth and Thirty sixth Mas
sachusets dced to the left Of the town, and reaching
the river edge, proceeded along under cover or thu
ivcr bank to take up tho position assigned
hem. 10 accomplish this long march was
necessary through a locality which offered many
Obstacles their progress not the least Of which the
marshy nature Of the ground. But they triumphsd
all obstacles, and having crossed Hazel run, small
stream emp tying into the Rappahannock resoutey al.
yanced banks Of Deep run parallel stream whore
the column halted
COMMUNICATION OPENED WITH
General Franklin had before this advanced his right 10
the opposite bank Of the run and in this way communica
ii n was opened between him and General Sumner From
the natuye of ts elton the division not exposed TO
nre and though the programme Of the day did Call
TO take part in tho fighting, rendered valuable assist
ance carrying out movement, the successful
plishmcn Of which necessary 70 the direction f
the battle.
Battery E. Of the Second regular artillery, under Lien
tenant Benjamin. attached this division. did cross
the river but had taken up position behind the earth
works the opposite side, where participated in the
artillery Are opened the enemy cover the general
advance Of the right wing.
GENERAL ruR0is' DIVISION.
Ihave TO speak Of the gallant portion OF tba
operations Of corps this eyenul dayof the heroo
deeds OF the Second division, under General Stursis
which at time threatened to pierce the centre Of ,h
enemys immediate 'front.' and had almost carried tho
middle of their nrst line OF Gibral.ar.ke works
At Lieutenant Dearborn, Of General wilcox,
STAFF communicated tho orders for the second divisteu
advance in support Of Couch whose re was now becom
Ing feeble. The men, who were waiting under arms
the Of the city, sprang into line with tho grease,
9,,. han
mental commanders, and in q shorter time thar
10 taxes to narrate the column was formoi
and moved echelon on the lsfI Of oepern
Couch's flank. cncountering, 40 u procseded the sp
nlsdng nre which being directed from the eusnyf
right batteries against the last attacking divien q lnN
second corps. Gaining an intermediate ground, NJ
column opened 1rc Of musketry at long range, eAiADe
ground slowly 10 the front Hancock's division co4
menced to fall back. Gen. surgs supported his lev with
D,ckersons battery, which took up position IN brick
kiln, ON IN elevation noar the railroad
picxrRsoSs BArnrY sIxxcED.
sce,ng this reinforcement the enemy concentrated o
heavy are u,on Its position which resulted aftor
TIC killing Of Lieut. Dckerson His nrst sergeant worked
The yns until, wh number his men no was wounded
when tho battery withdrawn, It's place being sup.
pea by the Fifth Massachusetts battery, Of Grns divt
sion Buttcreds corps which had been moved forward
q, surort Of Con. sturgs and the contemplated
man, Of Gen. Getty Captain Weed of the FMsh regular
artillery about tho tc ~ the request Of Gen.
Wilcox placed Phps' battery In position TO cover the
front Of Gen. sturgs, who now formed his division 10
Inc of battle.
Az ASSAULT ON THE KsSxY's czsTHs woaHs
General Fcrreros brigade had right and General Na
rlocs brigade tho left Of the line, which, advanced
receyoa CALLING nrc from large oodcs VI the enemyB
Infantry Who we're posted behind formidable stone wall
and IN ride pits before the rst chain II cthworks Tho
evcl ground outside the city Is first broken BY slope
soro reaching the oncmys earhworks. To the foot Oh
his sope General sturgs had advanced In admirable
dsr hut on gaining he found IL necessary 70 carry the
nm bv a rapid movement preliminary 10 the exccu
a., Of his insnded obcct-thc sorming Of the centre
works BY this time Iancocks division had faen back
entirely expos ng right nank. Against him the Are
Of all the bstierios-right scnirc and lefs--was
co,eenlrated and the storm OF missiles ragged
with terrible fury. Shell and Grapeshos tore
through tho ranks, leaving swathcs Of dead, dying
aud wounded their path, while tho ground alnose
,v,,h blood Sustaining his position by two additional
he dcputed work Of carrying these heights
=, General Ysrrero who formed his brigade with tho lie
vos,h Scw Hampshire tho right The Fifty FIRST New
York Colonel Potter, on the left, and tho Twen,ynrss
ua..achusetis Colonel Clark, IN The CENTRE with the
r,y ars, Pennsylvania Cosnol artranft aud the InirS
anh Massachusetts, MAJOR Willard, on either sd
CnAsqx oy sgnpxro's meAps.
In ,,ss O, dor then the men the command 70 charge
ahsa nm ,ho s,ope through tho shower muskes balls
49,. snouv,s infantry poured down from the crest.
,nsr, sac in confusion from the rife pits v We
~ Al. csrthworks aud beeame masters q shs 20
-,,a~ while general rcrrcro was executing this move-
s'o" .ai yaslec was ordered by General stursis 20
mem ,orsIou on tho left Of The enemy, and, poe
norton Of their right batteries, which ha<
annoy ing our flank. Forming the brigade In lire Of
lille with the sixth New Hampshire, Colonel Griun'
on ,be right; the Forty-eigh,h Pennsylvania Leu'a-
aan, Colonel segfried, on the lett ine Nh.s
'"a ss'.. uampshiro, Colonel Fellows in tho rish.
-. vnh the seventh Rhode Island Colone,
~. on their right and the Second Maryland, colon'
80 N tho left centre, with the Twelfth Rhode islas
CONTINUED on EIGHTH RAaE.l