The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-23

the piles of planking destined for tht
covering of the bridge, behind rocks
&c. In this situation they acted some
fifteen or twenty minutes as sharpshoot
ers, they and the rebels observing eacl
other. In the meantime new and vigor
Gus artillery firing was commenced or
our part, and just as soon as this was
fully developed, the 7th Michigan rose
from their crouching places, rushed for
the pontoon boats, and pushing them in
to the water, rapidly filled them with
twenty five or thirty each.
The first boat pushes off. Now, ifey.
er, is the rebels opportunity. Crack
Crack Crack from fifty lurking places
go rebel rifles at the gallant fellows, who,
STOPPING low in the boat, seek to avoid
the FIRE. The murder,us work was well
done. Lustily, however, pull the oars
men, and presently, having passed the
middle of the stream, the boat and It's
gallant freight come under cover Of the
opposite bluffs.
Another and another boat follows
Now is their oppo, ,tunity. Nothing could
be more amnsng, in its way, than the
result. Instantly they saw new turn
of affairs. The rebels pop up by the
hundred, like so many rats, from every
cellar, rifle pit and stone wall, and scam
per off up the streets of the town. With
all their feetness, however, many OF
them were much too slow. With in
credible rapidity the Michigan and Mass.
achu0etts boys sweep up HE hill, making
rush for the lurking places occupied
by the rebels, and gaining them, each
man capturing his two or three prison
ers. The pontoon boats on their return
trip took over more than a hundred oil
! these fellows.
You can ina inc with what intense
interest the crossing Of the first boat
load of our men was watched by the nu-
merous spectators on the shore, and with
what enthusiastic shouts their landing
on the opposite side was greeted. 1t
was an authentic piece of human hero
ism, which moves men as nothing else
can. The problem was solved. This
dash of bravery had done what scores OF
batteries and tons OF metal had failed TO
accomplish.
The party once across, and the rebels
cleaned out, it took the engineers but a
brief period to complete the bridge
They laid hold with will, plunging
waist-d deep into the water, and working
as men work who are under inspiration.
/ In less than half an hour the bridge was
completed, and the head OF the column
of the right grand division, consisting of
! Gen. Howard's command was moving
upon it over the Rappahannock A fee
ole attempt from the rebel batteries was
made to she'll the troops in crossing, bat
it failed completely,
Your correspondent found an opportu-
nifty 10 cross the river along with the
party who first went over, in boat, hay
ing been curious to take a closer view o
the city which we have for near month
been observing over the river, not SOC
yards wide, without the power of vista
ton AS the rebels We're in very con
siderable force on the nights back of the
city, one could not extend his perambu
lalions beyond the street fronting on The
river. Every one of the houses which
here entered--a dozen or more--is torn
to pieces by shot and shell, and the tr'
still hotly RACES in dozen parts Of th,
city. \ few citizens-a score or two
perhaps-male and female, present.,
made their appearance emerging out Q
the cellars, whittier they had taken ref
uge during the bombarlment. THREE
women--w hije-whom W. found in
cellar, told us ,haJ theY. with a majority
of the inhabitants, had moved out O
Freder cksburg fortnight or so previ
ously, but that, being treasured by ou
long delay, they, with good many 9th
ers, had come back the evening before
The former inhabitants they report a
now living in various parts OF the enyi
, rons, some in negro huts, and others il
tents made with b.3e'al'es. DC.
During the afternoon OF the lombard
ment we observed couple OF whit
handkerchieis waved out of the window
OF house in the city. This was takel
by S me for flag of truce, and the Chic
I OF Artillery was on the point Of causin!
= the shellng to cease. Gen. Burnside
: however, decided that il was pIobabl
! merely only the wonled rebel ruse. An,
} ordered operations d BE- continued w
> found out that the demonstrations wer,
: made by two of the women referred to
, with the desire that we would send owe
boat aud convey them away from Fred
ericksburg.
, Among other prominent objects dur
: ing the bombardment was . large Brit
! ish flag flying over the house Of tn
} English Consul. This parsonage, how
ever, was not found in his house whe
r we entered the city, and the flag was Ia
ken possession OF and brought away.
A number OF rebel dead were foun
in various parts of the city, some exhib
lting frightful mutllaions from shells
and took as a trophy rifle, still load
ed, oul OF the grasp OF hand belongin
TO headless trunk.
The infantry in the city appear to hav
9 been Mississippians. South Carolnian
b aud Floridians. Those of them that "
G took prisoners were wretchedly clad, an
! mostly without blankets or overcoah
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