New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-16


al cen spent, it did not give way. bat firmly held
it's ground until properly relieved shortly before snn
set.
When Howard'- Division moved 10 tie font tie
las; OF the available force Of Colchs corps, forming
our extreme right, was employed. OF Wilcoxf
corps, Getty's Division, which had been held in
reserve during tie day, was ell that were ct com.
mani, after S,urgiss had become exhausted by the
severity Of its proracted struggle, Burns having been
sent early in the morning to establish connection
betwecn tee left ind right, aud not being within
re dy march.
Y rtunately, however, Butterfeld's corps a
Rockers Grand Division, which wes acting - re-
serve TO tire right, o. S,onemans was TO the To-,
cane TO the rescle, when the energies CT Wlcoxs
and Couch's corps had been nearly spent. 1t bad
commenced moving across tie river, over tie upper
and middle bridges, rs soon as the advance OF
Couch and Tilcoxs troops furnished room for 1t ia
the lower part of the town.
Il had all moved across between four and FIVE
O'Clock. Shortly before dark Humphreys and Grf-
fms Divisions were ordered TO advance TO the front
and relieve the troops Of Gen. Couch on the right
ard Gen. Wilcox en- the left. Tley reached tie
front aud formed in lie just before sunset, and at
once CHARGED upou the onemys works.
/ Humphreys division came within .hort distance
# them, snd Crifn's reached the point bold by
Surgia, which respective positions they have since
occupied.
During their advance the firing from the Rebel ar
tillery reached the highest intensity Of the whole
Gav. but ceased shortly after n;ghtfall.
Simultaneous with the advance Of Griffin and
Humphrey, Ge.'y's Division moved from its posi-
ticn u the valley Of lt,le steam skirrg the town
and advanced to the tsse Of the hill occupied by tho
Reie batteries on the extreme right, driving tue
Rebel infantry from behind a stone wall from which
they had greatly troubed our troops during The day.
Eere il lay during toe night. Sykes's Dvision Of
Butterfeld's Corps followed between GrGln and
Humphrey to tie front, but arrived too late for nc
ton Thus ended the conflict bet Yeen our right and
tie Rebel left.
TIE BATTLE on TIE LEFT.
The lines of Gen. Franklin &C formed for the at
tack rerresentsd On obuse angle, line of which
Gen. Reynolds CoTs-ex:ended diaSonally from
tue river bank.
Smiths corps in line parallel with TIE river
formed on the right of Wilcox's corps. The eH-
IRENE leit was three miles below FredeFieEtburg,
ana the right Of tho Left Grand Diyis on was less
thsn ~ o miles from the town. Tie o.ien; Of Gen.
Fg,nklin's lines then was more than mile rom
rish, to lef,.
The position Of tie different divisions was as fo'.
lows, commencing on the right: Fir.t, BrooSss
Division which 10y upon the gro-..d along toe road
to Fredericksburg. running parallel With tie ryer,
sra hall way between Il and tie Rcbcl b4iteries.
Uowc's Division next formed or the l,ni On lis
ri2ht joined Reynolds's corrs, the Let Div'sou Of
which. Gen. Gibbons commanding, took POSITION in
advances beyond the road. Meade's Division formed
an auyle with Gibbons snd extended toward tho
river. Doubleday wss next TO Meade, ind rested
on tie river. Tits in general WAS tie position q
the Left Grand Division when the action CON-
reucsj.
The frs; Ere was made By the tkirmishers Of the
18th Massachuseit. in cur front. T5ey had moved
cautiously IN advance Of our lines for iaf a
mile, wien discovering the enemy's piclets they
fred mon ihen. Cannonadiny soon commenced IN
eSnstt. The hay a;rnospaere Of the early par; Of
the day having cleared away so Us 10 give 70 each Of
S:-., ,,a.,s~- &C., q 81 f"''''r- 49,
by tie oiher, Ball's Battery the 2nd Maine, dis
covered battery Of the enemy in close proximity
and opcued a rapid and vigorous fire 1poni..
In a few moments the artillery Ere extended along
tic entire line Tho "a u. s. Artillery, Capt. Ran
con; Coopers battery Of Pennsylvania Reserves, ana
Others. made and received Il severe stack. The
diminishing was kept up as lines advanced, aud
tie position Of the enemy in tle woods was almogl
reached tcaiiering muskeiry Gre continued f.om
tie frst advance, about o'clock, till noon, and with
occasional lulla. The esnnouadns vas heavy snd
severe.
During tie advance Of the Left Grand Division up
on the enemys poation, Maj Gen. SIoneman's oorps
OK the Second Grand Division, Hooker's, which hid
moved 10 the vicinity Of the river the evening PIE
vious, moved over the bridges. Gen. BiIneys d.
vision On tie advance moved toward the left b the
support Of that portion Of the lire. Grea. enthuf-
asm was excited among the troops as tie battle flag
of Gen. Birney, Of Stonemens Corps, was seen nov
ing acroea the plain, in advance Ct the Gag, 10 deep
column, winding onward from tho river.
Gen. Birney bad received orders TO place himself
ia position to support the right Of Gen. Reyroldss
corps 10 TN attacA Which was moDen,auy expected
TO DC made. Orders 10 advance having been re.
ceiyed, Gen. Cibbonss and Gen. Neaees divisions
were directed TO advance upon tie enemy IN the
woods ard upon the bill. holding the position sup
port should como 10 them, abandoning it il tey
should b. too severely pressed.
How cane the most tucecaful ard d. TRIMMED
effort on this part Of our line The attack Was made
from the point Of Intersection Of the angle formed by
our lines already referred TO. This pon. was near.
Get 10 tue woods, and lhe enemy0 slels were falling
tLickjy sboatit.
Gibborb's Diyision aud the Pennsylvania Re
serves advanced boldly toward the works Of the
enemy. Tlcy pushed dsteuincily through the
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