Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-20

.~ouoI1ckSbuTg mad a.
.s. COMMENCED, and that we were engaged
with the enemy ~infogee. The authorities were,
as usual, bothreostive and dilstery in giving out
anything to Crafty public euriosity; and it was
minated at thslWsr Departmslt,wit obvious
| prspriesy, that it would ba advisable for the
sneYepapers to await the official dispatches, and
nokBl6sler their bulletin boards with hasty and
sensational reports.
Ihe following is an epitome of sll The inteli-
gsncs received at the War Department in the
shape Of official dispatches up to q late hour
last night.
The dispatches Of Gen. Lee relate that the
| fight began at Fredericksburg at FIVE o'clock in
the morning. At that hour the enemy attempt
ed the passage OF the Rsppshsnnock at three
different points by means of pontoon bridges.
At two points they were repulsed. At the third
il is presumed that they effected 8 passage, as
tho dispatches stated that they had got under
cover Of their guns, and could not be interrupt
cd in their construction of a bridge. At last
accounts, dated about noon, the fight was pro-
crossing on the Southern side of the RapPshaa-
mock.
PARTICULARS, INCIDENTS, ETC.
1t is understood that the point at which the
/ enemy effected a passage of the Rappahsnuock
was at Deer run, about two miles below FredeT-
icksbuIg. The Yankees are said to have secured
a landing there on a low cape, and cur guns
/ were in q position to sweep their ranks on their
reaching the table land extending toward Fred
erickshurg. -
The passenger train which left here last even
ing left its station three miles this side Of Fred
ericksburg, about half past one o'clock in the
/ afternoon, aud brought q number Of persons
who profess to have close and minute Observs-
tons of the mornings part of the action
The descriptions of the carnage which we
nave from these sources are fTightful. At one
point we are said to have cut the line of the
enemy's pontoon bridges, and pouring in deadly
showers Of grape, to have filed the air with the
legs, arms aad disjointed members of the Yam
KEGS.
When the fire waSopened on on. lines, several
hundred women and children were remaining
within the limits of Fredericksburg, and the
CONSERVATION is said to have besn moRt pitif1l.
We have, from different sources, the report that
two women were certainly killed by the enemy's
FIRE. We could not obtain the names of the IN
happy victims.
From the best information we can obtain, it
appears that Loagstreet's division was the por-
ton Of our force actively engaged yesterday.
The rumor was circulated in the streets last
night that the town had been fred by the ineen-
diary shot of the enemy. The rumor up to a
late hour had obtained no confirmation in any
thing received at the War d partment.
The general conclusions from what we learn
up to the hour of writing are, that the enemy
had effected a passage of the Rsppahannock,
probably in considerable force that the action
of yesterday was without any important fruits
or predatory to a more important action now i'm
pending and that today will witness a large
and important, but perhaps indeeisiYe battle on
the disputed lines Of Fredericksburg. AS con-
fImatory of this prospect, an order was received
last night at the medical puIveyor's Office for all
the ambulances and stretclers that could be pos
Sibly sent from this city. These are the gloomy
indication of the work of to day.