Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-13
8gg
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
of the Bombardment of
fredericksburg.
10 u . ( HoraIds Special
HEADo'Rs OPPOSITE FREDRRIcKsB'e, I
December llth. 3P NJ

hAADQ RS OPPoslTE FREDRRICKsB' g,
December llth, 3 P. AZ.
Between Y aud O'Clock this morning the
1lpontoon train In charge of the 18th and
3oth \. Y. engineers under command OF
/ Gen. sf9pod 6ury Proreeded to the river bank
Whste lwith infantry support where attempt
was made to throw 3 bridges across the
river. The dun haze so obscared the move.
ment that for time it was not discovered
by the rebel piCkets, Pontooniers had sue.
eeededI In partially Constructing bridges
when the rebels suddenly openedfa brisk
and deadly FIRE musketry from along the
banks of the river aud windows of houses
/ compelling cessation of works. Returning
to cover of the surrounding bills the men
agaipe formed, and about 6 O'Clock an at
tempt was renewed but the rebels had now
been thoroughly aroused and with rein
lorcements of sharpshooters swarmed to
the opposite sbankssaud hohses. Nothing
dAunted by the hot fire which they poured
IN at the reappearance' of our troops The
pontooniers went CALAMITY to work but in
vain. A storm Of bullets enVelOped them.
Plauks aad boats were riddled by every
volley. Once more they were compelled
TO withdraw and fell back to cover of
the ridge hills and running. parallel
With the river. IL was evident the rebels
determined to use the houses of the city
FLOR defence contrary to an implied agree
ment. In a correspondence which recently
passed by flag of truce orders were given
TO our artillerymeu to open FIRE upon the
city, accordingly Benjamin's, Edwards,
Muhlenburg's and other batteries of the
9th corps together with other batteries Of
corps to the right and left of the city COM
menCed on almost simultaneous lombard
ment. The fog was so dense that it was
In 90 -, =, IL.
you'd the edge of the river, the houses,
however, in which the rebel sharpshootets
had esconsed themselves were plainly visit
bic, andto them IRE for time was par
licularly directed, the effect was their par
tial demolition 10 short time. AFTER the
fret fire they became untenable by rebel
lrihemen, who rctreated to the reariof the
town where they took shelter behind as
yet, nubarmed buildings. By O'clock the
bombardment became general and from that
until o'clock the roar Of artillery Was in.
cessant. The batteries OF the 9th raked tn
streets with she'll, shraPpel and grape,
though the fog still continued TO Obscure
in a measure the results of these disehar-
ges. The rebels with the greatest stub
borness still kept within the city, aud at
times parties OF them could be seen going
from one point to another on double quick |
The carnage cannot but be fearful amongst
them. Il Is. somewhat Singular that the |
rebel batteries did not return the Ere Of
our guns, Up to the present time they
have not opened. 'ss i0rs l
About 10 o'clock the engineers formed
for the third attempt to construct bridges. |
After previous Intellectual attempts on the |
part Of ths engineersto cross q party Of 80 |
men OF the 9Th Connecticut under Captain |
Marsh, volunteered to assist 10 this new |
eudeRvor to finish the bridge, and once
more the column with this reinforcement !
started under the direction Of General
Woodbury.. They seized planks aud |
cSrried out some dozen to the end of
the string of boats and placed a |
part Of them aud were then compelled to
retire under very CALLING FIRE from the
rebel sharpshooters, who were ensconsed |
securely in rife pits below the range Of |
artillery and within 10 or 20 feet of the |
river edge The Engineers suffered se-
yerely. The movements having been thus |
interrupted the whole party were ordered |
back to their regular position. at eleven |
o'clock it was discovered that one of the |
houses was on fire. Thefiam which COM
menced in a westerly part of the city, soon
spread aud fredericksburg is now enVel-
oped in Gre and smoke. L u-
An enflading fire has been opened upon
the rebel rife pits up the river. 1t has
been successful so far in driving the sharp
shooters from the vicinity Of the Railroad
Depot. .aollst ..ri-einl
The Engineers are now constructing
bridges across the river The rebels stu
maintain their ground opposite the upper
bridges. -.i, .,.I3 ~ Ill ~
Cavalry are now passing Gen. Summers
headquarters en- route to make a charge
across the river at one of the fords.
NEW Yonr. De. o. r 1,t,.- .nD ,ril wash