The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-12-26
The Fredericksburg Disaster,

the disaster which was visited upon our
Army at Fredericksburg, and the ques.
tion, who is responsible for the delay
which occssioned it. demands a prompt
and satisfactory answer. 1t is not too
much to say. (remarks the correspondent
Of the Tribune. in speaking Of the battle
ofSaturdHy,) that. in this battle, we were
butchered. The loss Of the enemy,in com
parison with our own, must be insignificant;
More than half the division oi Genera!
French were placed hors du combat be
ore they had fred shot, having been
ordered to withhold their FIRE, charge
bsyonets and rush upon the eutrench-
ms1ts. They anticip e,ed no obstacle un'
iii they should meet in hand TO hand con
fict for the FIRST range of hills. but how
little they hnew the foe they had to deal
with. Lying close upon the aoft earth he
hind low stone wall and half destroyed
fence which we had not taken into our cal
eulltionS as obstacles, the enemy watched
the approach OF French, until every man
10 battle line came under the aim Of the
bes: sharp shooter, in the rebOl army
In an instant, almost beGors the lenoe Was
discovered 20 be an obstacle, a long, thick
line OF fame and smoke sueamed above
the fence and wall, and, at the moment
the first volley was dred, sixty pieces Of
artillery, charged with grape and canister,
sent their Internal contents straight into
onr advancing lines, rNkng them 10 front
and upon both h1nks. Destruction so ter.
rible was never beiore seen during this
war.
French wen, into battle with 1000 men;
two days after battle. only ,2oj mrn have
reported 10 him. the entire loss OF the
corps Of Couch, consisting OF the divisions
OF Howard, French and Hancock. which,
iu the morning OF the battle con, aimed ~
regiments, old and new. amounting 10 at
least $4,000. is now 10000. l think
official reports will not vary from tns es'
innate moro than 500. oven or under.
The losscs "f Reynolds corps o
Frankln's Grand Division, which were nj
6rst supposed to be but 2 900, are 10 nigh
considered by some Of Franklin's staff
officers nearly 1000.
The following is based upon official re-
ports. as lar as made out, and upon the
estimates Of those who have the best IA
ciiIies for judging is rs near corre;t as cal
be obtained up 10 this time:
Right Grand Division Of Sumner Sec
ond Corps COUGHS aud HowSrd's di
vision. ESQ: Honcock's division, 3 800
French's division, 900 9Th Corps
Wilcox and Sturges' division. .925; Getty
division, 400. Total. 1906.
Center Grand Division, tlooker's s.--5tl
Corps-Buterfrld and Humphreys di
vision, | 500 GriAiG's division. 300
Sykes division, 100. Total, 1850
Left Grand Division. Frankin's.-,'
Corps.--R"yuolds and Gibbons division
300; Mead's division. 1900; Double
days division. l5o. SIKH Corps--Smi'h
division, zoo. To'aI. 1850.
Totals--Right Grand Division, 1905
Center Grand Division, 9. $50; Left Gran
Division, $3.50 Entire total, l3.055.
II is believed that these 6su:es will ia
nnder rather than exceed the Official r,
port.
The Times gives tho following aocoun,
tho withdrawal OF our troops from Fro
ericks5urg:
Tho movement commenced at dark Mo-
day night All tho sick and wounded We
removed during the day, to hospital ten
on this side. Burnside inspected tho p
Bition of tho troops in tho afternoon, al
general activity indicated that another ba
tie was imminent. Surgeons we're .
derod 10 bo in readiness to care for lar
number of additional wounded. The wit
dFaW M IDTcaa hnWnVpF dat,
mined on at tho oouuc! OF all the Cor
Commanders during tho day. The und,
taking was regarded rs perllous, but II su
oessful would rescue tho army from anoth
battle, which would accomplish but liti
except tho destruction of valuable lives.
Tho troops had received no intimaton
retreat, and had laid down on their arr
for the night. When tho order Was Civ
TO fall in tho troops supposed IL was To-
night assault upon the enemy's works, al
were not undeceiVed until they found the
selves on tho pontoons crossing tho strea
The bridges were covered with earth
desdeh the sound of artillery. A high vii
and darkness prevented tho robels heari
or seeing the movement.
Franklin's division moved hA soon ne
Wss dark. also summers and Hookor's fro
under th0 very guns Of the enemy Ma
ot6oers and s0ldiaTs expressed great YegT
saying they preforrod dying IN from, of I
Te5ol batteries. Very fe~ wounded VI
Iett on tbO field, -"..
Two brigadoS. occupy tho so"p as .
vsnced plekots. and our artillery on ,
higher bank will cooperate 10 keepI
possession Of the town.
Our heavy guns opened on the Vcbel h
tories Tuesday morning, elicidng ht,le
sponse.
the Times correspondent hus d"Crit
tho rebel pn-i,iah oar forces we're exp,Fj
TO storm NJ ,alsai l"F
Tt8rs "a u baSa nIataau az thirl nf
anila ~hfeh s'nrphiag party viii have
srh's IN Ia % isos ih.'y sill ms ~Kp Ia,d
tbA a'e, 6rss. DfIbo auony's Shsp sbooto