New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-15
why Lee did not make more Resistance to
the Crossing Of the Rappahnnnock-The
Strength of the Rebel Forcc-The APP
pearance Of Fredericksburg.


| From Our Special Correspondent
FREDERICKSBURG, Dec H. 1852.
The great battle has not yet been fought, but be-
fore the setting Of To- morrows sun it will, beyond
much doubt, be known whether we are TO occupy
Richmond this Winter or not
The slight resistance that Gen Lee offered TO the
crossing Of the Rappahannock seems to have been
designed and not matter altogether Of necessity
as many were led to suppose yesterday. 1t seems to
have been asc.rtained to-day beyond much doubt
that Jackson did no. effect junction with Lee until
last night, and that the quiet reception Of our ter
rife canborading was simpyt to save ammunition and
draw I'd nearer to their formidable lire OF torthca-
tons.
Gen. Lees army ia now nearly if not quite 10000
strong, with 900 pieces Of artillery. If he stands
al ALL lie will fgh, the most bloody battle OF
tie war. This position Is stronger one than
at Antetam, and if panic is created in orr
ranks, the Rappahsnnock will be difficult stream
10 recross Balls Bluff, repeated upon most gi-
eantic scale, will lie our fate. But it is useless to
speculate when the telegraph will have announced
before this reaches you tue result OF the struggle.
have spent the day in this city / have several
times described what Fredericksburg trdsj what
Fredericksburg is you have also learned by teIe'
graph in advance of the mail. The city has not
only been in part burned but ruined beyond almost
all hope Of recovery. All who passed through the
village Of Sharpsburg two days after the battle OF
Antieiam, thought it would be almost impossible to
make "A town look more desolate aud forSaken, but
the appearance of Sharpsburg as compared with
tina, of Fredericksburg, is comely and pleasant.
After the severe cannonading Of yesterday, 1t
seems to have been generally understood that the
city would lave been given up to pillage upon the
occupation Of our troops. The leading citizens have
long been known as the most bitter and malignant
Rebels in the State, and 10 have had much to 90 IN
carving Virginia cut Of the Union in spite OF al
honest and overwhelming vote to the contrary.
The ladies of Fredericksburg, especially, were
spiteful and venomous to such degree that one ai
most forgot TO recognize them women.
Our sold.ers last Spring were subjected TO consld-
cradle insult In several instances they were POI
soued, or at least made dangerously sick by The
winter they drank and tie food they obtained OF The
citizens. They were called hrengs, thieves, State
p, isou birds and low-bred Yankees TO their faces
In no city in Virginia orr soldiers treated VIII
such udigntics. II is not strange, therefore, that
there was disposition the paTt Of our soldiers to
ueat tho city somewhat more harshy than had been
their wont in occupying tie towns OF virginia IL
WAS well known, too, that upon the approach OF
Buluside at tho head Of the Army oil tue Potomac
the loading ladies besougAt Gen. Lee on their knees
not to surrender the city to the low-lved Yankees,
and preferred that it should be shelled sacked and
burned rather than fall int our hands
But notw outstanding all their insults our Generals
| a., = .t..o,,.I ;.,., n,pap La,
troops, would Lot lave counenanced pillage had no.
the leading mausions been occupied by Rebel sharp
shooters WHO shot down our soldiers without giving
them an opportunity to fairly return the fire.
Strange indeed would it have been If we had al
lowed these brick and stone fortresses TO remain
standing as monuments over the graves Of orr brave
soliiers. But to-day these flee mansions are moi
standing. heap of smoldeling ombers is all that
remains of them. Others, less ostentatous in theil
style Of architecture, Are rildled anl torn with sho
aud she'll the furaiute broken and deiaced the
bedding ripped aud stripped, taken into the streets
and troddcn under foot; elegant chiraware and cut
lery, choice Libraries Of books, rare works Of art
are all Leaped together in the streets, and are scram
bled for as trophies. The old mansion of Douglas
Gordon-perhaps the weathest citizen in the valley
lis now used as the Headquarters OF Gen. Howard,
but before he occupied it, every room had been tori
with shot, ard then all tho elegant furniture an'
works of art broken and smashed by the soldiers
who burst into the house after having driven TIL
Rebel sharp-shooters from behind it. When l en-
tered it, early this morning, before its occupation o.
Gen. Howard, l found the soldiers OF bis nae d'
vision diyerting themselves with tho rich d1ssss