Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22


ground was holly contested. II soon became
evident that the first ridge of hills, on which the
enemy were posted behind earthworks, could not
be carried except at the point of the bayonet, and
accordingly Gen Sumner ordered Freneh's divi-
sion TO charge upon the batteries. Gen Towards
division acted as support, and the men sprsDg
forward to obey the order with much enthusiasm
BY this time the atmosphere clear except
from the smoke of the artillery. and a great view
could be had of the rebel position and the coun-
try adjoining 1t was great sight to see that
devoted column
Seeking the bubble reputation cen at the lannon's
mouth-''
Steadily they marched across the plain, and
never faltered until they were within dozen
yards of the ridge. when suddenly they we're met
by CALLING fire from the rebel infantry. who
were posted behind stone wall For few mo
ments the head of the COLUMN exhibited some
confusion; but, quickly~forming into line, they
retired back to a ravine. within musket shot of
the enemy. Here the Union troops were rein
forced by fresh body of infantry who advanced
to the assistance of their comrades in splendid
style notwithstanding large gaps were made in
their ranks at every step. The reinforcements
having arrived, and the line of assault being
again formed, the order Double quick, with fixed
bayonets," was given, and once more the column
advanced to dislodge the rebel artillery.
From the moment the stOrmlng party left the
ravine up to the time they reached the foot of
the hills they were exposed TO the hottest fire of
the enemy. The concentrated fire of Lees ar
tllery and infantry rained upon their devoted
heads in manner truly terrific. No troops,
however disciplined and brave, could Withstand
the shock, and after suffering terribly our soldiers
were thrown into disorder and brought TO a sud
den halt. At this junciure the center of the col
umn gave way and fed in dismay, but they were
afterward rallied aud brought back. A second
aud third attempt was made to disfodge the rebel
arterists. but in vain, and at each attempt the
ranks OF the stormns party grew thinner and
thinner. Sumner now brought all his available
artillery into use, hoping to she'll the rebels out,
and from that time until dark the roar Of cannon
was incessant. The rebels, who had been driven
back short distance during the day, returned to
their original position when night came, so that
we were unable to remove our dead. Several
attempts were made TO remove the bodies during
the night, but the rebels opened upon us with
their infantry and compelled us to desist All
our wounded were removed, however, and such
of the dead as were not within musket range of
the rebels were buried.
THE CENTER
The Third and Fifth army corps, under Gen.
Hooker, formed the center and .o-operated with
Summers column during the battle. Gen. Burn
side was anxious that movement should be
made early as possible, and accordingly at the
break OF day the troops began to move toward
the enemy's earthworks The men were full of
hope and confident OF success, and they filed out
OF the city in splendid order. Skirmshing com
mencsd shortly after daylight and short time
aiterward the rebel artillery commenced playing
upon US through the fog. The firing was so in
accurate, however. that our troops paid but little
attention TO it, and kept pressing on regardless
OF the deadly miSses which were flying through
the air. BY and by our artillery responded aud
e
sides The enemys position OF exceed
ing strength, and appeared to be lnvuInerable to
our artillery. notwithstanding our guns were ex-
cellently handled About noon, the infantry
who had been waiting for the fog to clear off, add
vanced for the purpose of storming the enemy's
position on the hill Confident of victory, the
troops marches steady up 10 within muSket-shot
OF the batteries; but m1rderous fire from the rebel
rihemen, added TO the fury of the cannonade,
compelled our men to fall back with heavy loss
The attempt to carry the rebel batteries was re-
peated again in the afternoon. and the attacking
party, strongly reinforced. started on the double
quick but the enemy, who also heavily re
nIorced, proved too much for All along the
line the battle ragged with unusual 6erceness, and
when night came it was hard to say who were the
victors. OF the killed and wounded there were
probably as many the side of the rebels as on
ours. No correct estimate can be formed of the
loss in Rockers corps, but it pretty heavy.
Tie firing of musketry ceased about half past five
o'clock, but the rebels continued TO cannoDade
the city until long after dark.
SCENES IN FREDERICKSBURG
a correspondent of the New York Tribune
SAYS:
] have spent the day in this city. l have sew
eral times described what Fredericksburg was;
what Fredericksburg is, you have also learned by
tptQ 90 nh in alV nj fho m all no cit 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 ar
the battle of Antietam, thought it would be al
most impossible to make town look more desc
late and forsaken, but the appearance OF Sharps-
burg as compared with that of Fredericksburg, is
homely and pleasant.
After the severe cannonadng of yesterday, it
seems to have been generally understood that the
city would have been given up to pillage upon the
occupation of troops The leading citizens
have long been known as the most bitter and ma
liguant rebels in the State. and to have had much
TO do in carrying Virginia out of the Union, in
spite of an honest and overwhelming vote to the
contrary The ladies of Frederi cksburg, es
peeally were spteful aud venomous to such
degree that one almost forgot to recognize them
as women. Our soldiers, last spring, were sub
jected to considerable insult. In several instances
they were poisoned, or at least made dangerously
sick by the water they drank and the food they
obtained of the citizens They were called hire.
lings, thieves, State prison birds and low bred
Yankees, to their faces. In no city in Virginia
we're our soldiers treated with such indigniiies 1t
is not strange, therefore, that there was dispo-
stion on the part of our soldiers to treat the city
somewhat more harshly than had been their wont
in occupying the towns OF Virginia. 1t well
known too, that upon the approach of Burnside
az the head OF the Army of the Potomac, the lead
ing ladies besought Gen. Lee on their knees not
to surrender the city to the low lived Yankees,
and preferred that it should be sheed, sacked
and burned rather than fall into our hands.
But notwithstanding all their insults, our Cen
erals, simply for the preservation of discipline
among the troops, would not have countenanced
pillage hid not the leading mansions been Occu
pied by rebel sharpshooters, who shot down
soldiers without giving them an opportunity to
fairly return the fire.
Strange indeed would il have been if we had
allowed these brick and stone iOrtresses to remain
standing as monuments over the graves OF our
brave soldiers But day these fine mansions
standing heap OF smouderng embers
is all that remains of them. Others, less osten
tatious in their style of architecture, are riddlel
and torn with shot and shell; the furniture broken
ard defaced; the bedding ripped and stripped,
taken INTO the streets and trOdden under foot;
elegant chinaware and cutlery. choice libraries of
books, rare works of art, are all heaped together
in the streets, and are scrambled for as trophies
The old mansion of Douglas Gordon, perhaps
the wealthiest citizen IN the valley. is now used
as the headquarters of Gen. Howard; but before
he occupied &c. every room had. been torn with
shot, and then all the elegant furniture and works
- alalk ..t bo Il.