The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-12-23
The Battle of Fredericksburg.

A correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer
gives the following account of the crossing of the
River by the enemy at fredericksburg Va, and
of the battle which afterwards took place
The enemy attempted the passage Of the Rap
Pahannock by laying down their pontoons at l
! O'Clock on Thursday morning, the 11th They
l'were permitted to get their bridges half finished
/ before our fired upon them. About dawn,
however theNl7th and 18th Mississippi, part of
Barksda!e's Brigade, opened fire upon them, kill
ing and wounding a large number. These regi-
ments were armed with Springfield rifles, and for
a VII lie drove the pOntoonicrs from their work
4. 1ban it was that the Yankees opened upsn the
town with shot, she'll and grape, TO the desruc-
/ ton Of the houses and the terror Of its panic
stricken and flying Inhabitants, two-thirds of
which were women: but doing little or no harm to
the gallant band Of Mississippians who were there
% dispute their entrance. The fring upon the
+ town was not responded TO by our batteries And
here the magnificent spectacle was witnessed of
the Yankees firing for four mortal hours upon the
town OF Fredericksburg with batteries placed
close together over space of nearly two miles
and ranged in three tiers. AS the result of their
hendlsh work, the two squares on the north side
Of Main street. which are situated the Virginia
Bank and the Post Office, were entirely DESTROYED
the enemy throwing what is called "liquid fire"
The sight is represented by those who witnessed
1t as one of surprising yet terrible grandeur. The
| inhabitants who were caught inside tell of
| many hairbreath escapes. In one instance, we'll
known servant man. named James Rollins, had his
hat knocked off and hair singed. In another in
stance twenty-seven shells went through a frame
! house in which were some eight persons. without
killing any of them. Some who sought shelter
from the shells In their cellars, compelled to
vacate because OF the houses catching on fire
their heads
The gallant Missssippians under Barksdale
kept back the pontooners for nearly ~ hours,
Notwithstanding their exposure during the entire
time to shot and she'll. Our troops then fell back
and the enemy landed on the Fredericksburg side
Of the river, and commenced plund"ring the town.
\ Georgian, Oh picket duty in town on Thursday
night, killed man aud brought out six priso-
ners-all of them thus caught were drunk; and it
is said that rations of whiskey freely supplied
the 1t is also reported that the first brigade
Of Yankees that came across, had to be forced
at the point of the bayonet.
The amount of suffering Inflicted on the non
combatants of Fredericksburg by the unprincipIed
foe, is heart-rending. The picture which meets
the eye at every farmhouse cabin and hut
treitives from burning homes and desolated
hearthstones clustered in melancholy groups in
the houses and about the yards watching the
|
to the steady Of the artillery whose every
volley adds to the alread terrible scene Of des-
truction-is enough to affect the stoutest heart,
and from the most charitable call out curses on
the infamous authors of so much misery. The
continued inacton Of the enemy gave assurance
to a number Of families who had for many weeks
been suffering IN sight of their homes, that the
danger of bombardment had passed, and within
the past few days they returned to the city.
They were startled from their dream Of security
! 6y the Kissing she'll through the bed-chamber,
the ratting of grape in the street and the sotiQ
shot opening with murderous crash It's way
through roof and floor, even Of churches and
pl6wiug up the very bones of their ancestors in
| the churchVards The shricks Of w0lNan with
their infants IN their arms, snatched hastily from
peaceful sleep, as they ran in frantic ;;5lazement
and terror through the streets was enough to ap-
pail any but Yankees heart Some sought
refuge in their cellars but the blazing rafters and
! steainng tmhers overhead drove them again into
the street. How any escaped is problem whose
solution must within the catalogue Of mira
| cIes There rumors OF women and children
/ having been killed or perishng amid the flames
I,ut amid the confusion of conflicting reports we
can affirm nothing definite.
| We encountered numerous fugitives from the
! burning city. An old man, accompanied by his
wife and four five children, .was seeking roof
to shelter them They saved nothing but the
clothes on their pcrsonS the results Of cong years
Of toll remaining in ashes behind them. a most
affectiD. sight was widow with four little
Children some barefoot and others in their night
Clothes following her weary steps. An infant in
her arms was growing Justify unconscious Of the
tears coursng silently down the mothers cheeks
This scene, however, forms only part of the sad
picture on every hand presented.
THE BATTLE OF SATURDAY.
The same correspondent speaks of the battle on
Saturday the 18th as follows:
The ball opened on our left with artillery about
81 a m and was carried on with heavy guns
until about half past one, when the infantry first
went into action on our rgnt. Then it that,
for hours, the combat ranged with intensity at
least equal to, IF not greater, than anything that
has occurred during the war.
! Your correspondent on the right, and Of
course can speak with more accuracy IN regard to
the fighting on that wing than on the left. Jack
son. sustained by i P. Hill bore the brunt of the
battle, and nobly did they sustain themselves
+ The Yankees fought well, but were repeatedly
driven back At one time, it was said, they had
been forced back to the extent of one and d half
miles Our line of battle extended along the
railroad track whilst that Of the enemy was
formed on the county road running parallel with
the river. Here they had the benefit 10 case Of
being forced back, Of the natural Notifications
which the ditching, for the purpose of drainage,