The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-17
LATEST NTHLLEENGE|

wAsHlSaroN, Dec. 14-Up 70 mid
night no intelligence of importance had
been received from the army. There was
occasional firing during the day, but Of
little consequences ia results. The taking
of seyeralrife pits yesterday evidently
gave rise 20 ihe report Of the first line Of
the enemy's works having been taken.
Anhmher Of wounded arrived Tonight
and were conveyed to the several hos
pistals. Another boat load is on the way.
NV YORK, Dec, 15.-Tho Herald says
Of Saturdays battle: II ragged fiefcely
through the entire day, and even after
darkness. Fighting in our immediate
front and right, aud beyond Fredericks-
burg. Itwas carried on by Summers die
vision,
Shortly after 8 o'clock, the second
corps, Gen. Couch, moved out from the
upper part of the city with strong de-
tachment Of skirmishers. The enemy
yielded gradually, though they contest
ed our progress with great stubbornness,
and for some time the rattle Of mhsketry
was incessant.
At the same time this movement COM
menoed, the batteries of this division,
which was stationed on bluffs across the
river opened with shell TO cover our adj
vance.
The rebel infantry, having fallen back
to their first line of intrenchments aud
rifle pits, their batteries opened with a
rapid fire upon our columns, which had
now come TO temporary halt, awaiting
e tba ort;lta.u Gohk;no
For some time our artillery on the Bluffs
kept up heavy fire on the rebel batteri
with much better success.
The batteries on Tayior's Hill, nearly
opposite Falmouth, were finally silenced.
During this time the rebel artillery was
almost entirely devoted TO Smelling our
advanced troops. ..,...-..
Hancocks division had the advance,
supported by the other division of the
corps, while the 9th corps, Wilcox, re-
manned under arms in the town in readi-
ness to advance. .,........
Soon after the whole corps deployed
into line of battle, and moved forward to
attack and storm the rebels right bat.
teries. A terrible shower of shell, grape,
and sharpnel tore through their bleed
ing ranks, Notwithstanding which they
steadily pushed on to the rifle pits within
a short distance Of the first line of en-
trenchments.
From the former they drove the rebels,
making prisoners of some, while the re-
mainder took refuge behind earthworks.
This was accomplished after the most
heroic and long continued efforts, under
a murderous fire.
Unable to hold out against the terrible
firethey now encountered, they now final
ly retired in good order, carrying away
their wounded
They fell back TO their original line of
pickets, thus holding the ground which
they first occupied, and which they held
until morning when they were relieved
by Stoneman's command. 'H47oi 4
just before the advance of Couch's
corps, heavy firing and dense smoke ON
the left indicated that Franklin was adj
yapcing upon and had engaged the enc
my's right flank.
To open communication with him,
therefore Wilcox detailed his division
under Burns, and sent it TO the left by
the edge of the river, with instructions
10 ADVANCE uuuef cover Oi tle river Dank,
until he could place himself in close
proxibity TO Franklin's right.
After hard fighting, COUGHS division,
being unable to carry the rebel works,
the tremendous fire from the batteries
rendered il necessary for them TO retire,
which they did when the order had been
given for the third time. Ni N.a31l
II was now dark, and the division fell
back TO its original position, after being
six hours under FIRE. After severe fight
ing on Franklin's left, with varied sue
cess until dark, the relative position Of
our forces was about the same as in the
morning, except that we had gained a
half mile or more on the left. nii io
HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAcl
December 10, ii A. M.
Considerable firing occurred yesterday
between the advance OF both armies.-
The rebels showed a disposition to move
on Franklin's forces, but did not. Some
skirmishing took place this morning,
with considerable artillery firing,