Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-24

OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS Army NoRTHERS VIRGINIA,
December l4th, 1862.

December l4th, 1862.
The Honorable Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.
SIR: On the night Of the 10Th instant the enemy
mencsd to throw three bridges across the PotOmscwo
at Frede rick sburg, and the third about mile and
quarter below, near the mouth OF Deep r. n.
The plain on which FredsrieksbUrg stands Is so com
petey commanded by the hills Of Stafford, IN posses
sion Of the enemy that no ehectuR opposition could be
offered the construction Of the bridges tha passage
Of the river without exposing troops 10 the destruc
tive fire OF bis numerous bateries Positions were,
therefore, selected oppose his advance after crosR
The narrowness Of the Rappahsnnock, its winding
and deep bed, Afforded opportunity for the con
structOn Of bridges points beyond the reach of
artillery and ths banks had to be watched by skirmish
The latter shelterng themselves behind the houses
drove back the working parties Of the enemy at the
bridges opposite the city; but at the lowest point OF
crossing where shelter could be had sharpshOOt
ers themselves driven of, and the completion OF
the bridgs Was effected about noon on the llth.
In the afternoon OF that day the enemy's batteries
opened pom the city, and by dark had demolished
the houses the river bank deprive skirmsh
Of shelter-and under of bis guns he effected
lodgment in the town
The troops which had SO gsIlany held their position
in the city under the cannOnad, during the day
resisting the advance Of the enemy at every step were
withdrawn during the night also those who,
with equal enacity had maintained their post at the
lowest bridge. Under cover Of darkness and of dense
fog the 18th large force passed the river and took
position the right bank protected by their heavy
guns the left
The morning Of the 18Th his arrangements for attack
being completed ab iut oclOek-the movement veiled
by foghe advanced boldly in large force against
right wing Gen JaeksonG corps occupied the right of
line, which rested on the railroad; Gen. Long.
streets the left extending along the nights TO the Rap
pahsnnOek above Fredericksburg Gen. Stuart, with
brgades Of cavalry, posted in the extensive
plain extreme right.
As the advance Of the enemy discovered
through the fog, Gen Stuart, with bis accustomed
prompness moved up section Of his horse artillery,
which opened with effect upon his flank and drew upon
the gallant Pslhsm heavy 6re which he sustained ua-
hinchingly for about two hours In the meantime the
enemy f,rcsly encountered by Gen. A. P. Hills
divon forming Gen. Jackson's right and after OBJ
stnate combat, repulsed. During this stack, which
prOtracsd and hOtly contested, two of Gen. Hills
brgades driven back upon second line.
General Early with part OF his division being ordered
his support drove the enemy back from the point OF
woods he had seized and pursued him into the plain
until arrested by his artillery The right Of the enemys
column extending beyond Hirs 'front.' announced toe
right Of Gen. hood, OF Longstreets corpe The euemy
possession Cf small corpse in front Of Hood but
were quickly dispossessed and repulsed with loss.
During the attack on our right the enemy cross
ing troops bis bridges ut Fredericksburg and
lag them in front of Longstreets line. Soon after his
repuse on our right he commenced series Of attacks
on left with aview Of obtaining possession Of the
nights Immediately overlooking the town. These re-
psated attacks repulsed in gaGnt style by tbs
Washington artillery, under Col Walton, and a portion
Of McLaE's division. which occupied tkese hights.
The last assault made after dark, when Col Alex
snders battalion had relieved the Washington artillery
(Those ammunition had been exhausted and ended the
contest for the day. The enemy supported in his
attack by the re Of strong batteries Of artillery the
right bank Of the river, as wen as by his numerous
Our loss during the operations, since the movements
OF the enemy began amounts to about eighteen hundred
killed and wounded Among the former 1 regret
port the death Of the patriotic soldier and statesman
BrigsdierG eneral Thomas K K. Cobb, who fell upon
our left and among the latter that brave soldier and
accomplished gentleman, Brigadier Cen. Msxey Gregg
who very seriously, and, it is feared, mortslly
wounded during The attack right.
The enemy to-day has been apparently engaged in
esring for bis wounded and buryng bis dead His troops
visible in their hrst position in line Of battle, but
with the exception Of desultory eannonading aud
firing between skrnshsrs he hes not attempted 20 renew
the lack About FIVE hundred and fifty prisoners were
taken during the engagement but the full Of his
loss is unknown.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obsdi-
snt servant, lOfieiaL R E. LEE, General
CHARLIE MARSHALL Major and A. d. c.
Graphic Description Of Saturdays Fight.
Special Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirerl
BATTLE FIELD, Saturday, December IL, ls62.-This
morning the sun struggled mp through the ObHcHrng
miss which overhuDg the landscape but his rays were
for hoUr or two intercepted by aAhen clouds
slowly drifting overhead, Everything was still as
on any mild December morning. Scarcely breath
Of r waited the falling leaves stirred the frnges
the pine The fog and smoke, thoroughly mingled
through The night and shrouded hill and plain In grey
ish dim cloud
As this gan rise about eight O'Clock the roar Of
the enemYs artillery woke he stiffness Of the scene
aud tignaled tbs coming great bstte fastening the
front, obtained a view Of the enemy.
Birds-ege Vtes0 Of The Battle Field.
The observer who stands on the Nights that rise Rb
ruptlv from the suburbs the side OF Fred
ercksburg and casts his eye to the southwegt seei
stretching before him level plain, to where the Kappa
hammock making broad curve, with the rising hills OF
the northern bank, forms the horizon. This plain Ia
about six miles long, with breadth Of two and
half miles On the right the plain is ssoOped by spurs
Of hills, gradually soping down into the bottom land
at intervals Of about me elOtted with dark pines and
ieaflsss oaks On the ieft where the RsppahannocE
sweeps along hid by its high banks succession Of h
rise much abruptly than the right the face o
eiOttpd with ErsnpiinQ Diuea and the
SUBMITS crowned with dense timber. These hillsidei
are white with the ensmys tents and trains and from
his batteries bistle in countless profusion
far the eye can reach
Now let Us cast our eye again down this broad etcH
Of bottom land and note what birds eye view affords
First the Of Fredericksburg, Of the ruins
still sending up wresths Of pale blue smoke but the
town Il not 20 much demolished excited iInagin
stons may have supposed and hardly enough to attract
the attention Of the casual observer Then the plain
seen mingy lowest IN the middle, but actually near
" level A few long, groves Of leafess oak
breaks the monotony, and here and there eumpI
/ OF cedars are seen. TIE fields containing al
average hundred acres separated by worm fences
and bitches the latter Indicated by lines Of low hedge
The enemys line occupies the left Of this plain, and n
some places thsir columns which the casual OBJ erver
from his point would take be dark elunps Of cedar
sot far out into the fields In the center Of their line
near the Iiver rising ground, s posted battery
tFenty-one heavy guns-there may be more-but thes'
/ only are distin guishable by the eye.
Inst in the rear OF these far one s able TO judge
nv tbs long line Of smbulRnees which disappear th
o1posife bank Of the river and emerge near by pou
toon bridge spans the rivera single Ddgo sun told
Tbis battery forms prominent p'rt OF the picture
especaIIv when it fires regularly BY eetion sending IT
.bes sefoss the plains sn4 into the rising hills on th
robt short distance above this bs'teryr that Is, rex
,,s oIgsrver A narrow grove OF oaks eItend dsgo
psv toto the plain, half amle, perhaps erlninAtns !
low rnsrshy ground. deep gully extends the engt
Of this gro e. and spanned 10 the middle oy
brid0 fbe line of the railroad Indicated here and ther
bv patches Of red earth which marks its length dow
the left side Of the valley GiH ths grove lne eiel