, 1862-12-13

New YORK, Dec. 18th Herald has th
following special:
HEADQUARTERS OPPOSITE EFREDERICKsEGRG, |
December 11-3 P. m. r
Between and o'clock this morning, the
pontoon train in charge Of the 18th and 5oth
New York engineers, under command Of Gen.
Woodbury., proceeded to the river bank,
where, with infantry supports, an attempt
was made to throw three bridges across the
river 4 dull haze so obscurcd the movement
that for time it was not discovered by the
rebel pickets. The pontooners had succeeded
in partially constructing the bridges, when
the rebels suddenly opened brisk and deadly |
fire Of muskctry from along the banks OF the
river and the windows Of houses, compelling |
4 cessation Of work. Returning to the cover
Of the surrounding hills, tic mcna again formed,
aud about o'clock the attempt was renewed,
but the rebels had now been thoroughly
and with reinforccnlents Of sharp
shooters swarmcl 70 the opposite banks and |
houses. Nothing daunted by the hot fire
which they poured in ut the re~appearancc Of
our troops, tine pontooneers went gallantly to
work, but i'll vain. A storm Of bullets cnvel-
oped them. The planks and boats ~erc rid
died by every yollty. Once more they were
compelled to Withdraw and f1l back to The
cover Of ridge Of tills running parallel with
the river.
1t was evident that The rebels had deter
mined to use the houses Of the city for a de-
icn=c, contrary to IN implied agreement in the
correspondence which had recently passed by
u flag If truce. Orders were given to our ar
tillelymcn to open fire upon the city. Ac-
cordingly, BenjaznIn's, Edwards, Mullen
berg and other batteries Of the 9Th corps.
together with the batteries Of the corps to the
right and left Of the city, commenced IN :ll-
most Simultaneous bombardmcnt. The fog
was so dense that it was Impossible to sec
but short distance beyond the edge Of the
river. The houses, however, in which rebel
sharpshooters had ensconced themselves were
plainly visible, and to the1n the fire was for 4
time particularly directed The effect was
their partial demolition. In short time ai
Ter the first fire they became untenable By the
rehci rihemen, who rctreated to The rear of
lie town, where they took shelter behind rs
yet llnllar1ucd buildings.
By seven o'clock the bombardment became
general, and from that time until one O'clock
the roar Of artillery was inccssant. The bat
| terics Of the 9th raked the streets with shell,
sl,rapnel and grape, though The fog still con
| tinued to obscure, in a measure, thu results
| Of these discharges. The rebels, with the
| greatest stubbornncss, still kept within the
city, and at times parties Of them could be
| seen going from one point to another On q
double-anick. The carnage cannot but be
fearful amongst them. It was somewhat sill
rular that the rebel batteries did not return
the fire Of our guns Up to the present time
they hare not opened.
Al about 10 o'clock the engineers formed
for the third atteuptto construct the br1dgesI
After tile previous inct1eetl'al attempts on the
Fart Of the engineers to cross, Il party o.
eighty 1nen Of tic Sth Connecticut, under
| Capt Marsh, volunteered to assist i'll this new
cnleayor to finish the bridges. and once more
The column with this reinforcement started
Cn,icr direction Of Gen. Woodbury., the,
! seized planks and carried out some dozen t
| the end Of the string Of boaiz, placed par
| Of them, anu we're then compelled to retira
under very CALLING tirc from The rebel sharp
shooters, who were cnsconced securely in rii,
FITS below tic range Of our artillery, Ill;
within fifteen or twenty feet Of the river edge
Tho engineers suffered severely. The move
;ncn, l,yin. been interrupted, the Who'll
,,aYty was ordered back 10 their original po
sitinn.
, AT II o'clock it E;as discovered that one
| the houses WIS On fire. The flames, Wh:c
commenced in a westerly part Of the city
| r. -, ,1--1 l.. q
;, | yc:opet. i'll fire and smoke.
. An cn1lat1ing fire has opened on the rcbs
. rife pits up tho river. 1t las been s'lcces5tt
50 far III driving the sharpshooteTs from til
vicinity of the railroad depot The cnyinccl
are now constructing the bridges across tt
river The rebel: still maintain their grouu
opposite the upper bridges. The cavalry no
:, ,s,ssing Summers headquarters are eu rou
TO make charge across tlic river at one of IL
= fords.
- AQUA CREEK, Dee 11-a1idnight.- Intel
l. gencc from the front tonight states that o.
# forces have crossed the river, and are nov
II possession Of Fredericksburg The enfEadi'
! lire from our batteries on the right succeed
" in driving the rebels from their rine-rfts
the river edge, thereby permitting an easy Al
rapid construction Of the pontoon bridges.
NEW YoRK December ia special Was
5, irgton TO the Philadelphia Ii:s$s dated vest
a.. day. states that private dispatches were
:, cciycd last night from Fredericksburg, viii
's s;y that tie greater part Of Franklin' di
rs sion creased safely. throwing out pickets
re- ! those Of Hooker ut Fredericksburg. {
pickles were advancing towards those Of
-, enemy Tho city was on fire, but it :
thought most of the buildings would
to saved.
It'll Tile enemy has been s1irnlishIng all I
with our advance. but gradually fell t''
Our losses are insignificant as far rs kno'
General Parkc telegraphcd: ave arc in
red possession Of fredericksburg tonight.
The troops are crossing rapidly. The whole al
will be over, ready to engagc Tue enemy,
ut MORROW"
pht WASHINGTON, December 12.-Nothing
on been heard from Fredericksburg up to l
ong to-day.
the PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12.-Thc Psess amt
ond ces Sigel.s advance to Culpepper as indica
Of march to Gordonsyi1le, and protectio
5a1l Gen. Burnsidc's flank.
lent HEApcuARTERs ARNr or PofoHAe
,,,. december 18th, 1&i2s-l0 a, III.
After occurying the river front Of the
,,,a ! last night We lost about 10o men Ill hiAed
~ wounded while driving the rebels through
a., city
They fred on our men as they adya
through tue streets while seercted in ana
=. & ~ hind houses. Not much mercy was shos
~. ",7 those who were caught. This 1norni
dense fog hid every thing from yivw, but
:, II, it is partially cleared away. The troops
a;,ss menccd moving at an early hoar-Major
IT, Summers grand division lending the way
,sa 49,, ! in front Of the city, TO be followed by
s Gen. Hooker>s division.
Gen. Frapklin'5 division, which G
eofs nearly three miles below the city, is I
wing o'~'' --------
''t'a- FROM MIL WAuKEEE.
lodco Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tr5oun
Gen MILWAUKEE, December IL,
lower Lieut. Col. Henry Bertsam has been
oring uissioned Colonel Of the Goth Wisconsin