Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-12-26
The Close of Saturdays Battle.


Times, who was with Gen. Sumner du-
ring the afternoon and up to the close of
the terrible engagement at Fredericks-
burg, and who bad ample opportunity of
hearing and seeing what was going on,
thus describes what he saw and what he
heard from the constantly arriving aids
and couriers to the odd war dog who
looked as if he was in the leash striving
to get loose at the throat of the enemy:
"The old man looked anxious and
fearful. Things were not going well
with the command. For three hours his
men had been fighting at fearful odds
They were much exhausted, their loss
was excessive, and nothing had been &C.
complished. Indeed, TO the test of the
ear, at the point where we were located,
it seemed as though they were being
badly pressed. The batteries had been
brought down and planted at the heads
of The streets. The troops were hugging
the city closely TO escape The fearful fire.
Where is Franklin p was the eager in.
quiry. Everything depends on Frank
Inns coming up on the flank.
Frankln's position was plainly obser-
vable by the line of smoke and FIRE a
couple OF miles to our left below. He
was making no nearer.
AT 3 o'clock an aid arrives from Gen.
Couch TO say that his troops were advan-
cling finely, but that Wilcox was not
keeping up. Tell Gen. Wilcox, replied
Gen. Sumner, tell him he must make
9th Army Corps keep pace with the I'd,
if he can
AT half past 8 o'clock, Sturgis, who
has been clingng TO the valley amidst
showers of fire, is SO holly pressed tina.
he hardly thinks he can hold bis own till
Griffin comes up
AT o'clock French reports that bis
right is held by brigade (Masons,)
which is without ammunition 7
Sumner sends message begging Gen.
Burnside that Franklin be directed to
advance. But Franklin cannot advance
he has enough to do at this moment to
hold his own, for Jackson has just now
thrown in reinforcements, and is pushing
hard to turn his left.
Meantime the reserves have not been
touched. Hooker's central grand diyis-
iou-50,000 fresh men-have not vet
been engaged indeed, are yet mainly
on this side the river.
Tell Gen. Burnside that be had better
by all means, throw some of Hookers
men 10.
Burnside replies that he has directly
ordered Hooker 10 go in, and that every
man on this side Of the river shall cross.
Promptly the column is pushed down,
to the pontoons, Humphreys division of
Butterfeld's corps leading The wary
rebels, sharply on the alert for the move
ment OF troops, and having a battery or
two admirably trained on the bridge,
pour in the shells, and somewhat delay
operations. Happily, though they fall all
around the bridge, and kill some men on
the banks, they do the structure no iniu-
ry. In case they do, however, a corps
OF pontooners, stand ready to repair any
damage.
AT 4 o'clock, Gen. Hooker, who bad
not yet been across the river, proceeded
over, remarking to friend that he was
going TO put this thing through
In half an hour prodgious volleys Of
musketry announce that Hooker, with
the reserve, is engaged. This last az.
saulting column consisted of the divisions
of Humphrey, Monk, Howard, Getty
and Sykes. They had, however, hardly
got fairly engaged, before the sun went
down, and night closed around the clam.
orous wrath of the combatants.
AT this time, Gen. Burnside, who had
remained all day at the Phillips House,
came down to the Lacy House and,
in the garden facing the city, followed
the progress of the fight. Externally
calm, the leading player in the tremen.
dous game was agitated by such intensi.
tyv of feeling as one can conceive, and he
paced the garden gloomy as night.
That crest, he exclaimed passionate
ly, must be carried tonight
The brevity of time into which the
tremendous issue of the day had IN n.