, 1862-12-06
Had news-Comnfeuced DiRgfng-
Nebet Ifleatl0hs-ShnmefulC Cap.
ture Of PlcAeta.

FALMOUTH, Dec. 2. 1862
we have at length co mmenced fo7t!fying.
trcm several curps vent out last uigl! de-
tacements Of dischers to throw up works
which the day time would render unsafe to
labor at. General Wilcox, comm .udiug Gen.
Fight digging Regiment aud more Of n=n,
9aylrg to them aB they pasEed by: ts Work
hard and hriskiy end endure the tell as best
you can. -: necessary inst this work bs
done tonight"
The men ehouldered spades aud moved
With aIacrity fu Obedience to the wi;hes OF
their corps commaE der, whose conduct had
ven !h7ir at1ec'1ons, and bS Daylight this
morning It c doubt not the observation coros
on the ether sid: discovered with their glasses
a:llIt OF euitlWGrss which hid rissn like
midnight mushrooms while they sla3t. We
have, thi1S. commenced ditching in earnest,
IS the Tebtls have been doing for some time.
Our, guns will be protected by lines Of earth.
works ED e1nbanEmeQts.
II il Interesting to obserTc from day to day
the progress OF The truly elaborate aud for.
nidabls system Of Notifications which ar.,
with steady growth, rising up upon the nights
IN The rear OF Fredericksburg. The firsi ST.
Eles OF works upon the first crest OF hills, or
rather upon the verge OF plateau q mile
back Of the town, bare been makieg constant
progress, ard already, to the naked eye, pre-
sent truly imposing appearance. 4 thou-
saud yards to the rear Of this line Of works,
upon higher range Of kills, ne1 fortiAeasioas
arc making their appearance daily, aad last
evening not less than 500 Hnen were seen hard
at work upon redoubts and rifle pits, aud now
the whole country around Fredericksburg, the
roads and all lines of ACCESS to their position,
are completely commanded. Last evening a
battery Of brass field iloEitz.rs were brought
down and placed in redoubt ut the right of
tie village, aud thirty Of these fortiications
eli <.f
tie river
Two days ago the impression prevailed that
tie preparations for a bombardmeut were
merely made to cover retreat. Now there is
little doubt but that the s:rongest resistance
of which they are capable will be made by the
enemy. The tearing Of raiIroad tracks and
moving of wagons to tile rear, recently report
ed by desefters, might be doue as a prccau-
tiona1y measure, to provide for the possibility
OF defeat, and not with the intention of re-
1reatiDg st once. Unless defeated, there
seems little prospect now that the enemy will
abandon their preEebt position.
The recent capture OF two squadrons Of the
Sd Pennsylvania cavalry is most severely
censnred on all bands. Companies c, G, L,
ard IL, Capte. johnson and Huss, Lieuts,
Warren, Hill and Euelebert, were taken b7
the rebels, only t1euty OF The men escaping.
Only cnlpable neglect Of proper picketi9g
cculd have pFoiuced this unfortunate occur.
renee, seven miles from Falmouth, at Hart.
wood church.
Immediately following this announcement
comes report that three hundred infantry
were captured at ford up the river, but few
niles away. Whether this Will be confirmed
CT not have some doubt. It lles assumed sc
n,uch defniteness as to limit the affair to the
18th and 17,h New York regiments, and Gen
Hooker, in whose grand division it is said to
have occurred, is reported to have taken the
sword from the commander Of the brigade, fol
his failure to furcish supports and p.operl;
to place the picket guards. These facts, oc
curing as they have during oEr inactioa, gslll
fear, be learned with indignation and d:sap.
polntment, resulting, Us they do, purely f1ou
careleesrsse, ald being not il the sligntcs
degree necessary.