Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-12-25

is still the exciting and absorbing matter OF in
terest throughout the country. AS the inci-
dents of the fight are learned, the conduct of
our gallant troops stands out with greater lus-
tire than ever, Their bold advances, their re
peated charges, their resolute determination,
and, above all their fearful losses, attest how
gloriously and cheeriully they went into bat
tie, After describing the nature of the ground,
the rebel position, Qualifications, &c, cores
pendent of the World says
sour men, in advancing, were obliged to 60
within canister range OF the enemy's guns be-
fore they could form line of battle. Right
here, in the face of en6lading, converging, pung
ing and cross firing, did our brave men, led 10y
Their heroic officers, form and reform line after
line of battle, and struggle for every inch of
the ground with an energy and devotion most
inspiring to behold 1t was
over this ground that during that sanguinary
day our brave men made sepes distinct chaYg-
eS, each renewed effort growing more desperate
and more determined until the last, when not
even the brilliant leadership of Hooker and
Humphreys, who thrice essayed the breach,
amid the devastating fire, could accomplish the
work. Only when night came on did our eff
forts cease, for there We're still two fresh dlvl-
sions Of the Ninth Army Corps in reserve,who
fully expected to be called into action.
The close of the battle is described in the
following graphic and stirring manner by a
correspondent of the New York Times, who
was with Gen. Summer during the afternoon,
and up to the close of the terrible engagement
at Fredericksburg, and who had ample oppor-
tunity of hearing and seeing what was going
on. tHt
The old man, (Gen. Sumner, looked anx-
ous and fearful. Things We're not going well
with his command. For three hours his men
had been fighting at fearful odds, They were
much exhausted, their loss was excessive, and
nothing had been accomplished Indeed, to
the test Of the ear, at the point where we were
located, it seemed as though they were beng
badly pressed. The batteries had been bro't
a.-ra, and planted at the head of the street.
The troops We're hugging the city closely to
escape the fearful fire. Where is Frank lin Z?
was the eager inquiry. Everything depends
on r.ranklln's coming up on the flank ar.Irg
Franklin,s position was plainly observable
by the line Of saaoke and FIRE a couple Of
miles to our left below. He was making no
nearer. 't
90 AT 3 o'clock an aid arrives from Gen. Conch
to say that his COUGHS troops were advanc-
ing finely, but that Wilcox was not keeping
up. Tell Gen. Wilcox replies Gen. Sum
ner, tell him he must make the Ninth Army
Corps keep pace Nth the Sssscon,., " can. "a
AT IL o'clock, Stargis, who has been
ehg.ng to the vail", amid showers. aoswea Of Ct
hold h;s p''se - that he hardly thinks he can
q. l''' I'm TIL Griffin comes up Inv
IA o'clock French reports that his right
is held by brigade (Mason's) aohich IS ''ttt.-
| oat ammunition aE a.a.. e.s-saa- ~
| Summer sends a message begging Burnside
| that Franklin be directed to advance. But
| Franklin cannot advance. He has enough tc
i do at this moment to hold his own, for Jack
4 son has lust thrown in reinforcements, and IL
1 pushing hard to turn his left.3g a.i 10 isvtT78
Meantime the reserves have not been touched
Hooker's Central Grand Divislon--fifty thou
sand fresh men--have not yet been engaged
indeed, are mainly on this side of the river.
Tell Gen. Burnside that he had better, by
all means, throw some of Hooker's in.' @ 3aa
Burnside replies that he has directly ordered
Hooker to go in, and that every man on THU
side Of the river shall cross. 's''' ''A. ''' "4t
Promptly the column is pushed down to tn,
pontools, Humphreys Division of Butterfeld'
corps leading. The wary rebels, sharply OF
the alert for the movement of troops, and hav
! ing battery or two admirably trained on til,
bridge, pour in the shells, and somewhat della
Operations. ga Happily, though they fall al
round the bridge, and kill some men on tn
! banks, they do the structure no harm
I case they do however, corps of pontoonier
! stand ready to repair any damage. slF
! At o'clock, Gen. Hooker, who had not y,
I | been across the river. proceeded over, remark
, ing to a fhend that he was going to put tn
9 thing through fstaa J5e a8. a3yja
: m half an hour prodigious volleys of mu
! kerry announce that Hooker, with the reserve
!, is engaged. This last assaultng column COZ
s sisted of the divisions Of Humphrey Mon
!. Howard, Getty and Sykes They had, hov
u ever, hardy got fairly engaged before the 81
s went down and night closed around the clan
u orous wratlg of the combatants. 70
/ Al tnls lH1e, ucil. Duffisfuc, WHO lidu J
u manned all day at the Phillips House, can
n downto the Lacy House; and, in the gard
facing the pity, followed the progress of ID
y fight Externally calm, the leading PLAYER
I, this tremendous game was agitated by such i
OIL tensity of telling as one can conceive, and
IN paced the garden gloomy as night. roa .eq
'hl r. sThat cre4, he exclaimed passionatey, 'rnu
OIL be carried tGnightp 159o eyed
10 The breviy of time into which the stupen
al ,ous issue of be day had to be crowded seem
N to add redou,led energy to the fury of the col
az .batants. aeE
It. Not Nigt or Blucher, as Wellington I
Y, claimed at Mterloo but'rather Aiax's pray
nd for more ligt,' was the prompting of eve
ay heart. '1"' y s".iA- 7
OF Creeping uHon the flank by the left, Get,
Ok troops succeed in gaining the stone W
Wy which we hadbeen unable all day to wren
/, from the rebel. The other forces rushed
he the crest. Oui field batteries, which, owing
to the restricted pace, had been Of but little !
ne all day, were bought vigorously into play.