The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-12-24
FROM nURNsIDE,s ARMY.
Particulars of the withdrawal of the
National Forces 90 the North Site Of
the Rappahannock.


Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tirncs.l
FALMOUTH, viRoISrA, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1859.
The whole country will experience sense Of
relief at the announcement that the Union army
has been successfully Withdrawn from its position
before the rebel Malakof at Fredericksburg, to the
north bank Of the Rappsnnocck that the sick and
wounded have been safely remoyed the entire ma
tcral Of the army saved, and the forces plac q IN
position to renew the attack at its leisure, upon
more vulnerable point Of the enemy. ~
This took place last night, upon a thorough sur
yey OF the situation OF affairs, and by agreement OF
all the Generals commanding at u Council Of War
held on Monday. The order was not given until
evening, and the movement was not even suspected
by the troops who had Just arranged their by ouack
for the night and laid down upon their arms, when
they were ordered to fall in aud retire across the
bridges 10 the north bank of the river. II is need
less W say that the order was obcyed with alacrity,
and that ,ycry man took personal interest in is
execution, for the experience Of Saturday had fully
satisfied both officers and mcn that il would be
useless sacrifice Of brave soldiers to renew the at
tempt 10 carry the rebel works by assault. The
position was known To be strong one bnt the
effort 10 dislodge the enemy revealed new and pre-
yiously unlookcd-for difficulties.
The enemy had been successfully deceived MS to
the point We should attack, and large part of thcir
army, under Jackson, had been rapidly marched to
point fifteen or twenty miles down the river, and
another portion Of it, under d. H. Hill in the oppo.
site direction, in anticipation Of the crossing ut
or the other Of those points.
Thus, while they were least Of all expecting the
Union army to cross In front Of the town, their
forces were so dsposed as 10 make the direct attack
the only one likely to succeed. Their forces had
been divided, and sudden assault upon their ccn-
ter promised to place us in possession OF their well
chosen position, and between the right and left
wings Of their army, which would have comp sled
them to fall back aud open the way for our advance
upon Richmond by their line of retreat.
These, understand, were in part the reasons
which operated in the mind of General Burnside for
crossing where he did, and it is presumed that the
same arguments secured the assent of the majority
Of the corps commanders 10 the plan.
Tka il did not succeed is, no doubt, owing to the
delay Of whole day in throwing the army across
the river, and attacking the enemy while he was
off his guard delay which was caused by the
stubborn resistance of II brigade ot Mississippi
rihemcn, General Barksdalcs,) who concealed
themselves behind stone walls and in brick stores
and houses opposite To and near the landing, and
thrice compelled our men to abandon the attempt by
their deadly fire.
A whole day was thus saved to the enemy, who,
notified Of their movements, rapidly cOunterinarched
his forces and concentrated them behind his skill
fully chosen position. General jackson, ON his re.
turn march, was just In time 10 fall upon General
Frankns left flank, who had crossed two miles
below the town, while the two Hills and Longsrcct
engaged him in front, ard prevented him from
forming junction with the right aud center grand
divisions under Sumner and Hooker.
The details of the gallant fight which was made
by our troops, against one uf the most formidable
positions ever confronted by army, have already
been laid before the public and its result is known
After all exausting and bloody struggle, beginning
early in The day, and lasting long after the darkness
of night had thrown its mantle over the field, oul
brave boys laid down beside their wounded and
dying comrades upon the bloody ground, within
rifle shot of The encmys entertainments which hu-
man courage and endurance had proved inadequate
tn scale.
| The natural formation of the ground had beer
most ingcniOusy improved by the rebels, ON which
to construct cnflading batteries, with long lines
Of rinepits and trenches at the base of the hills
under cover of their guns. These all Iaked oui
line of advance, and exposed our men to terrible
fire Of schrApneI, shell and solid shot.
Tho position Of General Franklin on the lett
though offering comparatively op,n field OF
operations, was found 10 be very critical, beleag
ueied as he was on three sides by the most expert.
| enced rebel generals in command of the best por'
on of the Southern forces, equal, il not superior
! in numbers. Though his losses were severe, the
enemy here suffered Il much greater proportional
loss than he did at the right, where he kept under
cover of his earthworks. Here, on the left they
had only one line of the fence in advance of the
| woOls-the railroad cut---Out Of which they were
soon driven by the impetuous courage of Franklin's
ipen, to take shelter in their NvOrite haunts, the
| woods aud rayinea beyond,
The result OF the days struggle, however, only
with the right and center, and renewal of the en-
gngement would only weaken our forces without
accomplishing anything decisive.
Under these circumstances conference of sey.
eral Generals took place late IN tho evening, and
General Burnside at midnight, proceeded TO confer
with those general officers who could not leave the
field.
On Sunday nothing occurred to indicate that ci-
ther party would abandon its position. The rebel
batteries Kept UP al irregular shelng of our pom
L.l
the picket lines continued to fire occasionally upon
each other when the relief went and came.
Some of the wounded remained on the field 50
near the cncnIy's lines that they could not be recov
crcd. When they raised their heads To attempt to
get away, u Is said they were fired on by the rebels.
At night, food and water We're conveyed 10 thcm by
comrades, and on Sunday night most of them were
removed from tho field.
On Monday opdOrs werO issued To all the rrgi-
mental aud brigade surgeons 70 prepare tOg a con
siderable increase Of the wounded,
During tho forenoon, shelling from both sides
was kept up, aud unusual activity among the troops
in the town and ut the various batteries indicated
q renewal of the engagement during the afternoon
The wounded were all sent across the river tC
tcni hospitals, and every ono expected 70 see the
town shcllcd by the robcl batteries when the Aght
began. There was an ominous silence OF all the
battcrcS-a lull before the storm as was supposed
Night came. however, and yet there was no fight
At an early hour orders were sent t. the various
commanders To silently and rapidly withdraw tleil
troops across the river rs il became darl
enough u GoGo without being observed and draw
/ ing thccncmy'S fire.
At about O., L. NJ. the mpyrmeu, began on III,
right and almost simultaneously pu the left also
Dirt was StEewG across the pontoop bridges, Il,
10 dcaden the sound of thu artillery as II pasSeC
| over. This prccautium, however, was hardly nee
cSsary gale Of wind blowing all night from tht
direction of the enemy towards our own lines, zen
! dercd il impossible for any sound 10 reach hin
| from the river Silently, but with steady tread
our infantry continued to press over the bridges
the artillery coming In bowcon zach command.
! A person standing at the river side would no
, have observed that anything unusual was goini
| on. | stationed myself ut the upper crossing, be
tSacn the hours of four and six A. NJ, and watchc,
! the long, dark lines of infantry and artillery n
they filed aerGss the bridge, and along the base o
the hill below the Lacey House.
A. each command came oycy. thGy marched T.
the same quarters which they had occypicd betor
| breaking camp.
Thus the crossing Of the right grand division
| and of the left, had been simultaneously and mos
successfully accomplished, under cover of night
aud the army of the Potomac once more rescue
from the certain destruction and annihilaton whic
thc rebel Generals had prepared and predicted fer il
tpder the circumstances, the achievement, in al
its parts, is oAe Of the most adroit and successful
military escapadeS whiBb has occurred during thi
eventual war.
The arrival of General Sigl, anS otheg largo re
inforcementS, will inspire new courage iu the army
aud a brief respite will prepare then, for 4 pty
movement, under more favorable circumstance,
and with greatly renewed chances OF success.
THr southern papers state that the mes