The Placer herald., 1862-12-20
EASTERN NEWS.

the Rappahannock river and occupying
Fredericksburg, which place had been deser-
ted by the rebels, who retired to their line OF
works about mile in the rear of the city.
The following is brief account of the battle
on Saturday.
Frankn's division, which had crossed
the river some miles below the city, and
composed the left wing of the grand army
moved bis columns at sun rise, and common
ced skrmishing with the rebels a few min
utes after day light. In short time the
fight became general and terrific. At sun
down Franklin had driven the enemy about
mile, having lost nearly 5000 men in the
days fight. All the fore part of the day was
foggy but the sun came on. about noon,
when the assaiIants had better view of the
field.
The fighting at the center, under Gen.
Hooker, and the right wing, under Gen.
Sumner was terrible. The Federal troops
were shot down by hundreds by the rebel
fire.
The New York Tribunes correspondent,
speaking of Saturdays carnage, says: ut. is
not too strong an expression to say that
in this battle we were butchered. The loss
of the enemy in comparison with ours must
be insignificant" More than half Of French's
division were placed hors du combat before
they had fired a shot, having orders to with
hold their fire and rush upon the intrench-
ments, antici pating no obstacle until they
should meet in hand to hand fight. But,
lying close upon the earth, behind low
stone wall and half destroyed fences, which
we had not taken into our calculation as obl
stacles, the enemy watched the approach Of
French until every man in the battle line
came under the aim of their sharpshooters.
In an instant; almost before the Federals
discovered them, thick line of flame and
smoke streamed above the fence at the same
moment sixty pieces of artillery, charged
with grape and canister sent their internal
contents straight through our advancing
columns, rakng them in both TANKS. Desl
truction so terrible was never before seen
during the war. French went into battle
with 1000 men. Two days after 1900 have
reported The losses in Reynold 5 corps are
believed to be 5000.
The following figures are based on official
reports as far as received it is believed they
will fall under, rather than exceed the full
official reports: Right division. 1905; cen
ter division, 1880; left division, 3,050-total,
1906.
The Times gives the following account Of
The withdrawal Of our troops from Frederi
irksburg. 1t saws the movement commenc
ed at dark on Monday night. All the sick
aud wounded were removed during the day
TO the hospital tents on this side. burnside
inspected the position of the troops in the
afternoon, and the general activity indca ed
that another battle was imminent. The
withdrawal Of our forces, however, WAS lie
termined on at council Of all the corps
commanders during the day. The under
taking was regarded as perilous, but if sue
cesstul it would rescue the army from the
risk of another battle, which would accom-
psh little but the destruction Of valuable
lives. The troops had received 20 ntima
ton of the retreat, and had laid on their
arms for the night. When the order was
given to fall in, the troops supposed that it
was for night assault upon the enemy's
works, and were not undeceved until they
found themselves on the pontoons.
The bridges had been covered with earth
high wind and the darkness prevented the
rebels from hearing or seeing the movement.
Franklin's division moved as soon as it was
dark, as did also llooker's and Summers di
visions, from under the very guns of the en-
envy. Very few of the wounded were left on
the field.
The Times correspondent thus describes
the rebel position which our troops were ex'
pected to take: bare plateau third of
mile in width, which storming party would
have to cross, during which they would be
exposed to the fire of the euemy's sharpshoot,
ers posted behind a stone wall running along
the base of the ridge, in double rifle pits on
the rise of the crest of the hill and behind
strong field works at the top Of the hill, and
the double, enfiladng fire from cannon to the
left of the hill. This correspondent adds
that Sebastopol was not half so strong as this
rebel position.
l. I I'LL