Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22


or rHE ESEMys LISH-HERoisM OF OUR
TRooPs-ScESKs At FREDERIcKsBURe.
Special Correspondence Of the New York Herald.
FREpERIcKsBURG, VA, Dec. 49,
The occupation of Fredericksburg having been
successfully ACCOMPLISHED, the next move was to
drive the rebels from their strongholds in the
OF the city. The lines of the rebels, which ex-
tended in the form of a semi circle from Port
Royal to a point six miles above Fredericksburg,
were strongly fortified and protected by range
of high hills Stonewall Jackson occupied the
right wing, extending from Port Royal to GUM
ney's Station, (a station the Richmond and
Fredericksburg Raroad.) Gen. LOngstreet the
center. extending to the Telegraph road, and
Gems. Lee and Stuart the left, west of Massa-
ponax creek while Gen. A. p. Hills corps acted
as reserve Lees reason for occupying the
left was because he could be on his guard against
Sigel. who threatened to outhink him by way of
Culpepper. The entire rebel force was estimated
at 300, 900 men, and occupied front of not less
than twenty miles The troops were for the most
part veterans who bad fought through all the
Peninsula campaign, while the officers were the
ablest that the South could produce. 1t was
no mean enemy had to contend with. l as
sure YOU.
The disposition of the Union forces occupied
the whole of Friday night and Saturday morning,
and, as Gen. Burnside anxious to commence
the attack at as early an hour as possible, there
was not much chance for the troops to rest them
selves. few stragglers, it is true, managed to
sneak away for the purpose of pillagng; but the
great mass of the soldiers were constantly under
arms. Gen. Burnside was in the city all night,
personally inspecting the troops and directing
their movements. 1t was arranged that Gen.
Franklin's corps should cross the river two miles
below the city, with the view of turning the
envy position on MassapOnax creek while Hooker
would engage the rebels near the center, and
Sumner would turn their right. BY this arrange
ment it will be seen that franklin was opposed to
Stonewall Jackson, while Hooker and Sumner
attacked the center and left of the rebels, under
LODgstreel and Lee.
The eventful morning came and with it
dense fog. which obscured the movements of the
enemy. The balloon was sent up just before
daylight, but in consequence of the fog no OBJ
servation could be had. However, the disposition
of the Union forces had been made, and Gen
Burnside determined to commence operations,
fog or no fog.
| THE LEFT.
FFankln moved his column, consisting of the
First and Sixth corps, just before sunrise, his
| right resting the outskirts of the CITY, his cen
ter advanced mile or so from the river and his
| left resting on the Rappahanock about three
miles beow Skirmishing commenced few
minutes after daylight on the extreme left. A
rebel battery opened on our troops, and the FIRE
became 50 annoying that the 9th Regiment New
York State militia were ordered to charge and
take the cannon at the point of the bayonet The
order was obeyed with alacritY. but after a fierce
struggle the charging party were compelled to
| fall back.
At this critical moment Gen Tyler, perceiying
the disorder into which the 9th New York were
thrown, came to their aid with brigade. The
9Th were quickly rallied, and assisted by Gylers
brigade, another attempt was made to storm the
rebel batteries, but without success. The fight
now became general on the extreme left, and
another desperate effort made to capture the
rebel battery by Gen. Tyler's brigade; but the
/ fire of rebels was so whitening in its effect that
our brave fellows were unable to gain any advan
tage. Each charge thnned the ranks at fear
full rate and the chance of capturing that much
coveted battery appear ed no better than at first
By noon the whole of Franklins corps was en-
gagged With the enemy, and desperate effort was
made to turn the enemy's position the Massa-
ponax and drive him beyond the creek Gen.
| Franklin commanded { a movement in person.
and handled his troops with remarkable iudg-
ment The rebels maintained possession of some
small hills with their usual stubbornneSs, but
gradual fell back as the Union troops evinced
determination to go forward. During the after
noon the rebels came to a stand, and for time
assumed the offensive; but as they advanced to
meet US they were bravely met and repulsed with
heavy loss. 1t was at this time that some three
hundred of Hills command fell into our hands
and conducted to the rear as prisoners. Still
the enemy contested every foot OF the ground,
and il was ONLY by dint of the hardest kind of
fighting that he could be compelled to change his
position.
IL was during the heat of this engagement that
the gallant Bayard mOrtally wounded. He
was conversng with Gen. Franklin. when a can
non ball struck him in the hip and threw him
clean out of the saddle. Poor Bayard. he never
dreim of danger in the thickest of the battle,
and never lost his courage even when his leg was
amputated. The Surgeons say that he cannot
survive many days, and that the operation they
have performed can only prolong his agony Il
short while But am DEPRESSING from main
facts
The obstinacy with which the rebels held pos
session of their ground rendered Gen Franklin's
task "A very difficult one indeed. He had TO cope
with Stonewall Jackson and The veterans of Ce-
dar Mountain, Bull Run and Antietam-trOops
who understood their business thoroughly, and
were not to be scared by trhes. Hence the task
of turning the rebels position on the Massaponax
was no ordinary one. Still the Union commander
was not discouraged; he had driven the enemy
back several rods and was determined to drive
them further. Old Stonewall had met his match
this tine, and, notwithstanding MS troops fought
with their usual bravery. they were gradually
pushed southwark. At shutdown Franklin had
succeeded in driving the enemy nearly mile.
and his troops occupied the field during the re-
mander of the night. The movement on the
left was a complete success. although tomorrow
is required for finishing up the job. The casual
ties on both sides were very numerous. Among
those who we're wounded were Capt Hendrickson,
commanding the 9th New York State militia, and
Capt Hart, Assistant Surgeon General to Gen.
Tyler.
REYNOLDS corps advanced ere the dense fog
had lifted itself from the river banks, and about
9 o'clock the enemy's infantry were engaged.
The opposing column had fairly got to work when
the rebel artillery commenced playing upon us
through the fog. The shots were all aimed at
random. however. and produced but little effect.
Notwithstanding the view was so Obscured, the
rebel artillersts kept upthe cannonading for sew
eral hours and peal after peal rang through the
air, The effect was terribly sublime. The fire was
returned bv our batteries ia gallant style. and for
hours nothing but the deaftening of artillery
ctiuld be heard all sides. Up to noon. Shen
the fog cleared off and the balloonists were en-
abled to get glance at the enemy's works, the
fight was an artillery one, and productive of no
very important results on either side. As soon
ms the sunshine shovel itself however the in
fintry were brought into play and lhe work com
menced in real esrnest. Generals Mead and Glib
bon's divisions encountered the right of Gen
eral A. p Hills command and Longstreet's vet
Grams
The Eight ragged furously during the entire day.
and our troops suffered terribly from the enemy's
artillery. The enemy were posted behind hills
in great strength and at one time IL seemed inn
nossible to dislodve them About noon Gen