Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-19
Soc a .A .ssAaapd : aIros ~

supported by Infantry. General Stoneuans corpSwers
at this time crossing the river 20 support the move
i ment on tho lef. The batteries on both sideS now
bszsd away with fearful fury. Doubleday on the left
Hank close to the river advanced his lines gradually,
meeting with but little opposition; Al one o'clock the
divisions of Generals Meade and Gibbons advanced un
der cover of artillery They went forvardn splen-
i did style, with colou flying. - ~ ts.-
They soon became actively engaged In the works q
the foot of the range OF hills while from whefe
their artillery planted the crest an additional in
/ flntry fire poured into men. Both divisions,
however advanced to the woods and number OF pris-
oners hundred or more we're captured by them! The
Are Of artillery and musketry was incessant at this time
Presently hogeyer aesh and more vigorous FIRE burst
/ forth from the woods the Pennsylvania reserves,
throwing nearly the whole Of the division into confu-
sion and disorders This euiB6ldened ths rebels, and
they continued t5fdvanee meeting with not much OPP,
position fomthoss troops. Their officers tried to raj
| ~ than, but without mich success.
Gea. Jackson, commanding one OF the hrgades, was
killed by muskst ball, which struck him IN the head,
whie endeavoring to rally his men. His body left
upon the field together with that Of bis ASatant Capt
| Sweringen.
This unfortunate decentralization of General Meade's
dvisoncaused partial success Of attempt TO
4 flank our forces. - = =
Of Veteran braves was. brought forward on double
quisk and Immediately pushed the front TO Gil the
gap They opened sharp fire. driving the rebels back
| to the woods from which they had come.
/ On the right of Frankns line Smiths corps was &C
tiyels enaaaaA Gen Howes division and the left Of
\ Gen. Brook Kept bssk tn snsny IN their froa. .
After this the fire hacked little. Towards sunset
the enemy made very vigorous attack on several parts
Of the line, to bold portion Of our ground at
dark, but he was SPEEDILY driven back at every point.
Al dark the relative position Of the forces was about
die In the morning, except that we had gained
| half mile or more on. the left 90.
General Burnside was at the Phillips House nearly all
day His position, most of the time, was on the upper
balcony where with powerful glass, he was watching
the movements across the river. He has his staff aud
courers running to and fro conveying orders and bring
ing reports of the progress Of the fight He gave or
| ders with prompdtude, and succncty.
Lose no time" the almost universal injunction
/ TO every courier
i smoky mist obscured thu view in the morning. II
/ was the hazy sky of Indian Summer day and the
same genial warmth Of the made more remhrkablc
/ BY its contrast to the recent intense cold.
Proiessor,Los made frequent asceusons during the
| iay TO obtain more extended view of tie enemyS
movements and position but the conditioner the atmos
phere interfered very mateialyswth bis success.
The Fifth army corps was not engaged In the fight,
and therefore had opportunity add TO its already
weearued reputation for soldiery CALAMITY and stead
meas earned in many previous hardfought batteheds
As darkness shut out the light of day, the was
| one Of terrific beauty and subhmity.
| The loss oars side very heavy, and eannot as
Iyetbe known with accuracy.
| THE LOSS OK BOTH sIpKS
We have conflicting accounts OF the losses Of the reb
les Where they fought behind their works they are
bot believed to have lost heavily did but where
they left their wor and advanced 70 meet US on t and
noual aerms they suffered IN eh more heavily than We
did Thus those engaged where the enemy kept behind
ltheir Notifications estimate their loss much more than
Esurs while those WHOM they met in open field ipsist
that their killed and wounded at loast double OURS
The struggle our left, nnder General Franklin was
especially obstinate and his eYentus decided the
/ fate of the dAy ... . p. p &
| NUMBER 'oy UNION rRoops EsaAoID. ~ 7
L. It Is estimated that forty Thousand Of our glorious
and gallant army were'engaged in the bloody work Of
the day irving take the t ridge back Of the tosn
Lon which the rebels 6ist line Of works situated
Unit, late in the day il seemed impossible TO do so but
liz il reported that the perseyerauce and uninchng
courage of the Army 6 the Potomac at last prevailed
Jus before darkness put stop to the days battle sue
| coss crowned their efforts.
TiuI they took the whole ridge from in front Of the
town down to franklns position, three miles beloNs-
They occupied all night and at four o'clock this morn
ing were cagcriS making Preparations 10 renew the fight
General Burlsde remaiped on the battle field all night,
gyi1g orders boxing to the position and condition of
serces aud encouraging them in view Of the work 10
| be Performed. q FL.
| - ;oAsrAtrIts AMONG YEpERAL oFFicEEs
Gen Bsyard was killed in the battle, anihisbody has
been sent to w shngtOn. He waStO haveb OeA married
on the Wednesday following Bdgadicr General Conrad
F. Jackson of Pennsylvania, was also killed: Among
the wounded Generals arc vinton, Kendall, Caldwell,
Gibbon and Mcaghert the latter reported severely
| Lieutenant coloaC Dickinson was kiled;;.i
| LATrsT DISPATCHES. IT,
Wo find in the Oaroiieis the following dispatches
dated "Headquprters Amy Of the Potomac December
Is" Il viii be borne in mind that cd tie night
this grand army, which lis elsewhere Represented DO
ano spirits and iOndOn F'''e''s to the north
bank of the RappahannoSk;
There was considerable, firing yesterday between the
| advanced troops Of the two armies.
Az one time the enemy showed disposition to advance
| upOu Cen. Frauklin'ss command Occasionally the
rbes would throw few shells among onE troops just to
remind Us of the fact that they were still there With
| these exceptions everything was quiet
We have no idea exactly when the attack ~i be COM
| menced, but il must be soon.
Most of our wounded to-day were removed from the
city 10 this side of the river the renewal Of tie
battle the rebel guns would likely its destruction.
Over seven hundred prisoner have besn taken sincs
| our army crossed the river. 80
| INo1hER CAVALRY RAID INTO HARrIAsD-A' COMPANY
|. OF FsDEkifs cAPTURKD. ''E
oyrUrrs CESss Roips Dee. l6.-At o'clock this
morning our pcketts The Pooesye road brought in
a sergeant Of company L, SCOTS 900" who made his
way from Poolcsylle on; FOOT where his company were
captured by cavalry forge OF the enemy about o'clock
| last evening.
Sergeant Thomson reports that he with some eight
others were at church heard pistol shots, aud
number of the euemy not being able to reach the
stable he made jhe best of his way foot to this camp
He reports seeing bright ghe when one and half
milesfrom Poolesyle which he supposed was csusedby
burning the stables. II may have beon the Northern
lights (which we're tomev hat brilliant last evening.
Sergeant Thomson says that lieutcnaa, Smith had
no guards out and the force OF the enemy he estimated
at seventy-fvo T.
The above account was rather strong for the Abolition
stomach, and they trpmped PIP another as follows;
last night about O'Clock, The rebel cavalry under
| Major White sg5 strong, madea raid into goolesvle,
Nd They found there IS men of company L. SCOTS
| Einc Hundred ouarteied in wooden building.
| After brief but determined struggle and when the
budinr was ON Gre Lieut. smith aud II men Of com
PAW surrendered and were piroed On our side tie
L.: MAS one killed Sercean, Stiles and TWO wounded