The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-12-18
From General BurnsIde's ATHIy.
The Bombardment OF FrederIckSburgh b
Commenced.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Potomac,
December LIZ 2. NJ.


Everything last night was hustle and
activity. as to-day Wac the time 6xtd for
crossing the river. During the night the
poulOOns were conveyed to the river, and
the artillery, OF l42 pieces, placed in po'
sitiou opposite the city.
Ar this morning the rebels frei two
sigual guns, and during the l't,er part Of
tie night rockets were frequently seen
within their lines. Al o'clock the con.
strucliou of three bridges 10 front of the
city was commenced. When the brigdes
". re about baf completed. the enemy
opened murderons FIRE of infantry from
the houses on The river bank. Up 10 this
time not shot had been fired from our
side The engineers wers driven from the
bridges, aud several killed and wounded. d.
At O'Clock Gen.ral Burnside ordered all
the guns to be opened On the city. The
Cannonading, which has continued Up 10
the present lime. is terrible. Ths city is
Oh fire. and its Obstruction appears Ger
tain. The enemy about this morning
opeud d with their heavy guns from their
woFks. But so far have done no serious
injury. General Franklin constructed his
bridges abeut 8 miles below the city,
meeting but sligh. opposition. His troops
are now Oro0sing, aud the ganbosts are
now sheliiug the enemy about fftsen milss
down the river, where they hste been
concentrating their forces for the past
few days. The concentrated Gre of our
batteries on tie city has had the effect OF
driving back the enemy S infantry and the
work on re bridge. has again eommcnc.
ed. The troops are all under arms near
the river prepared TO rush over as soon
us the bridges are completed.
SECOND DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS. Dec. 1l-Noon.-On
The attcmp, being made to finish the
bridges in front Of the city. the rebel in
faulty again opened their FIRE, when our ar.
,ilery in position again opened their fire
90 the city. the result. being that the city
was fred in several new places. The
enemy has used very little artillery up to
this time, as it would endanGer their own
men, who are holding the river front.
Burnside has jus, issued an order to
concentrate every available gun upon the
sity, under tho cover of the FIRE Of which
it is believed the bridges can be finished
The killed and wounded do not amount
to moie than fifty men.
THIRD DESPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToNAC |
December lf-Eyeniag.
But little firing took place between one
and eight. during which time all the avail
able batteries were placed in position.-
They number l76 guns. The FIRE was
terrible, bu, the rebel sharpshooters could
not be driven from their hiding places
The shot and shell went through Tie hou
ses, in many cSscs setting them on fire,
ca using dense smoke, which, together
with the explosion o SO large a quantity
Of powder, almost hNl the city from rlcw
1t soon became evident that the bridges
could not be built, e4cep, BY bold dash
Volunteers were called for TO cross In
small boats. The order was no sooner
given than hundreds stepped iorward;bu
as all could not go, about one hundred
were selected. They were soon on
their way, while the artillery threw
perfect storm Of iron on the OPP
posite hank. They reached the opposite
shore. but not without loss. With fixed
bayouets they rushed upon the enemy,
killing several and taking one hundred
and one prisoners. were safely landed or
this side. At ha'f.pEs, two the bridges
were finished opposite tho city, when the
troops Immediately bsgan to cross over
The enemy were soon driven from th'
city back to their line Of works.
This two bridges in front Of Genera
franklin were successfully laid early il
the day. but his troops did not cross 40
I'll the two upper ones were ready. A
sufficient force is now on the opposite
side Of the river 10 resist any attack thl
is likely 10 be made. The rebels free
but few guns in the morning. aud mont
in the afternoon. although their work
where in easy range during the forenoon
The rebels burned the railroad bridg
outside tAe city. Between thirty ant
: forty houses we're bulned mostly in tb'
business part Of the city. During th'
day bstwsen 5000 and 900O rounds o
ammunition were>Gted by our artillery
Everything is quie, tonight. The indi
cations are that battle will tSke plac,