The New York herald., 1862-12-17
THE STU ALTON.


During the storm and darkness of Monday night
General Burnside succeeded in making good his
retreat across the Rappahannock without attract
'ng the attention Of the enemy. The artillery was
Grst moved over. the infantry bringing up the
rear. and reaching the north bank safely
short time after daylight. The pontoon bridges
were then removed and the communication
between the two shores was efTectually cut off.
The retreat and evacuation of Fredericksburg,
which were rendered necessary by the disaster OF
Batdtdsy and the ascertained strength and extent
Of the enemy's Notifications, was pcrilous ad.
venture, but was conducted in safety. II may Be
oonsoling, however, to know that, although the
Union forces suffered loss OF some ten or twelve
thousand brave men in this fruitlcss attack upon
the enemy's position General Burnside did not fall
too deeply into the trap laid for him by General
chances Of annihiaton.
II is but Just, perhaps. TO General Burnside TO
Say that the advance movement upon Fredericks-
burg not undertaken in accordance with his
O"h guuS utcHks but NdS ptiruptoius ny
the military authorities in Washington, who, of
course arc alone responsible for the result. 1t is
stated upon reliable authority that the rebels sent
a notification to our army on Sunday that they
intended to she'll the town, and requested that our
wounded should be removed
We give to-day an elaborated account of the ter
rife battle Of Saturday, which will be found much
fuller and more crowded with those incidents which
render the story Of great conflict more intensely
Interesting than the descriptions which we have
been enabled to furnish previously by telegraph.
This highly graphic and detailed history reaches
us by mail, from our several correspondents in the
fcld. In the reduced map of the battle field which
accompanies il the reader can easily trace all the
important points referred TO in the story, and
reference thereto will greatly assist in thorough
comprehension Of the whole terrible affair.
With reference to the Banks expedition we learn
that one OF the vcssels-the Niagara--had ran
Into Philadelphia Monday leaky, rotten and
the Fiiteih Massachusetts, on board This is the
second vessel Of this expedition in which the ma
chinations OF the jobbers have been manifested
The Thames and the Niagara hSve both been
proved entirely unfit for the service in which they
were engaged, and Il was only by their timely ar.
rival 10 port that the lives Of hundreds Of our
troops were saved. The Old Point boat. which
reached Baltimore yesterday, reports that the
British steamer Cadmus had seen a large feet en-.
terng Cape Fear river. Whether this was por
ton OF the Banks expedition remains to be seen
The news from the Southwest to-day is important.
From Cairo we learn that General Hovey's expcd
ton on the Mississippi has returned to Helena,
.Srkansas. The results Of the expedition are one
1s'ndred and sixty rebels killed, wounded and
'septarcd, and our loss thirty.four killed, wounded
sId missing. The army Of General Sherman has
virfcd to Memphis. The rebel army Of Missis
lS7pi e said 10 be between Jackson and Canton.
q neral Grant IL still Of Oxford with his forces.
Two regiments Of Union infantry and c,,e cam.
paas y cavalry surprised a band Of rebels mum.
1srine two thousand at Tuscunbia on SATURDAY.
oN~plelcy routing them. Their loss in killed and
wocof'd / unknown. Our forces captured seven.
- - yn'fr : number II horses. and burned the