The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-12-23
THt HATTil OF TuE NOM.

IN tbe c5aoeil of var held on FRI
DAY evening. some Of Barnsiiaf gems
erals expressed doubts aboa, carrying
the enunys position by assault, lat
we're ready for any moyemen, he
should order Il was determined io
assault the enemys position at day
light on Saturday, BOT 'os prevent.
"a upiil \ o'clock, vhcn ihe move.
ment commenced. Cen. Sumner bad
selected Frenoh's division Of Gen.
Coueh's corps Cor tie advance Of the
attacking eolamn on,he right. Ohers
were to move from the streets of
Fredericksburg next to the river 10
the outskirts Of tie town, form a line
Of battle By brigades, aud preceded BY
cloud Of skirmishers, move al a
double quick upon the FIRST line of the
encmy's works Gen. French was
necessarily obliged 10 march bis troops
in solid columns in parallel streets
As soon as the head Of the columns
had emerged from th1 lower into the
higher portions Of the street, the enc
my's batteries opened upon them from
several points. Upon reaching The
outskirts Of the town. The order was
given 10 dcploy, but stone and other
fences prevented lis ready execution.
During the delay thus caused, the
troops were exposed TO an enGlading
FIRE which taxed the endurance of the
troops most severely. The line being
formed al last, about noon the order
to advance was given. The line moved
up aud over a low range Of elevations
and down towards the foot of the hills
on which the enemy's breastworks
were situated. The rebel sharpshoot
ers now opened from all sides with
fearful effect. The yigor of the fire
Of the rebel artillery all steadily in
creased, aud when the line reached
the foot of the second range Of hills, a
perfect hail Of lead fyll upon it. The
advance, however, was continued until
within a few hundred yards Of the
crest Of The hills, when rapid sue
cession Of terrific volleys from long
lines Of lcbel infantry, suddenly ris-
ing in front Of their works, checked it.
l5ren the position they had gained
our troops now exchanged round after
round with the enemy until their am
muniton became exhausted, and the
line fll back some distance, leaving
nearly one-half Of It's number on the
field, to make room for Gen. Hancock !
division.
Ilmcoek's division moved forward
steadlaslly up TO the point where
Frtnch's had received its check, when
il was also stopped by the murderous
FIRE Of the rebel infantry and artillery
For two hours il alternately replied tC
tie cnemy's musketry, and attempted
TO make its way up the second range
Of bills. Although unable TO advance
and continually losing numbers, i
fought until It's ammunition gave ou
when It was relieved by Howard.
division, and retired nearer TO th,
town.
Howard's command went into ac
ton about O'clock. One after ihe
other Of lis brigades was advanced tc
the front, but like those Of French rms
/ IIancock's did not succeed in reaching
the enemys works The last of il
3
under Gen. Sally, was ordered t
charge up the bill with the bayonei
and moved forward in most gallan
style, but was checked, as all the othe
troops had been.
Shortly after French's division la'
moved to the attack, Sturgis' division
Of Wilcox's corps advanced over
parallel road on tie lef Of our rigI
upon the works and LatlcFies COVERING
the cnemy's right flank, Il cxperienc
ed the same difficulties in forming, j
consequence Of distractions on tIa
ground, As French's, but pushed for
ward With the utmost determination
halling only al times 10 open its va.
with muskeiry. reached within s.
yards Of tbe crest q the bin it aime,
to take, but having been fearfuly weak
ened in numbers during its advance
bad 10 halt. II held the point game.
for three hours. Notwithstanding
was confronted BY vastly superio
numbers Of infantry, and eufiladed 8,
batteries on each fiank--cyen af,er il
ammunition bad all been spent, ii di
not give way, bat firmly held il
e,ranna untiI tronerly relieved shortI