Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-12-26
Che fnar News.
THE BATTLE OF FREDERlCKSB URIC.
A Full and Detailed Description
of the Flight.

The correspondent OF the New ork
Tribune gives the most ineligible ac
count of the great battle at Fredericks-
burg which has yet been published 1t
appeared in that journal Of the 18th inst.
..l,l W. extract thu following:
FREDERICKSBURG, Saturday, Dec. 13-
IL p. M.-The third act of the grand
martial drama opened on Thursday last
is over. Another great battle has been
added to the bloody record of the Army
of the Potomac.
Night now covers once more with her
benign mantle scenes of carnage, strife
and destruction. Under her guiding in
fuence, let me attempt to forget the ex-
element and overcome the fatigues of
the day, aud describe in concise though
comprehensive terms, the fearful events
of which l was an eyewitness during the
last twelve hours.
Last evening, general council of war,
attended by all the grand division corps
and division commanders, was held at a
late hour, at General Summers head
quarters, ut which General Burnside sub
mitted and explained his plan for the gen.
eral attack he proposed to make to-day
upon the position of the enemy.
The plan comprised simultaneous ad-
vance of our whole line upon the enemy
strong positions on the hills in front of
the left and right grand divisions, which
we're to be carried by sudden assaults
upon the stronghold, by select bodies of
troops.
1t was in keeping with the well-known
boldness and dash of its author, but some
doubts were expressed in the council of
its practicability by number Of those in
attendance. All, however, expressed
their readiness to undertake anything
ordered by the Commander-in Chief, and
the necessary instructions were given to
commence general movement upon the
enemy with daylight.
The fog that kept the valley Of the
-iyef and the adjacent heights from view
every day this week, again prevented The
commencement of operations at the stated
time. Fortunately, however, it cleared
away early in the day. and about 10
o'clock orders were transmitted to the
general commanding the right and left
grand divisions to prepare to charge i'm
media'cly the works respectively assigned
to them.
THE RATTLE on THE RIGHT.
Gen. Sumner and staff left their head
quarters about II o'clock and repaired to
the Lacey House, from which full view
Of the scene of the impending action on
the right grand division could be obtain
ed Gen Sumner had selected French S
division Of General COUGHS corps for the
advance of the attacking column.
1t had orders to move from its position
in the streets of Fredericksburg next to
the river to the outskirts of the town,
form line Of battle by brigades, and pre-.
coded by line of skirmishers, move at n
double-quick upon the first line of the
enemy's works.
Gen. French was necessarily obliged
to march his troops in solid column in
parallel streets. AS soon as the head Of
the columns had emerged from the lower
into the higher portions Of the streets,
the enemy's batteries opened upon them
from several points. Upon reaching the
outskirts of the town, the order was given
to deploy, but stone and other fences pre-
vented its ready execution.
During the delay thus caused, the
troops were exposed to an enflading fire
which taxed the advance Of the troops
most severely.
The line being formed OF last, about
noon the order to advance was given. 49,
The line moved up and over low range
Of elevations and down toward the foot
Of the hills on which the encmy's breast
works were situated. From houses, rife
pits, barbados, across the roads and
other shelter, the Rebel sharpshootcrs
now opened from all sides ~ith fearful
effect. The vigoro of the fire of the Rebel
artillery also steadily increased, and when
the line reached the foot of the second
range Of bills. perfect hail of lead fell
upon il. The advance, however, was
continued until within few hundred
Yards of the crest Of the hills, when n
rapid succession of terrific volloys from
long lines of Rebel infantry, suddenly
rising in front of their works, checked it.
From the position they had gained, our
troops now exchanged round after round
with the enemy until their ammunition
became exhausted, and the line fell back
some distance, leaving nearly one-balf Of
its number on the field, to make room for
General Hancock's division.
This division advanced, likewise formed
in parallel lines Of brigades. It mo7ed
forward steadfastly up to the point where
French's had received its check, when it
was also stopped by the murderous fire
of the Rebel infantry and artillery.
For two hours it alternately replied to
the enemy's nusketry, and attempted to
make it, way up the second range Of bills.