Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-16
THE BATTLE ON SATURDAY.
StorIning the Enemy's Works.
T Z RIFIC HTING.
The Object OF the Battle Umattained.
Letters from the Battle Field.l

THE REBEL FORCES.
The occupation of fredericksburg having been
successfully accomplished, the next move was to
drive the rebels from their strongholds in the
rear of the city The lines of the rebels, which
extended in the form of a semi-circle from Point
Royal to point about six miles above Freder-
icksburg, We're strongly fortified and protected
by range of high hills. Stonewall jackson
occupied the right wing, extending from Port
Royal to Guinneys Station "a station on the
Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad), General
Longstrt ct the center, extending to theiteegraph
road, and Gems. Lee and Stuart the left, west of
MasSapUnaX Creek, while Gen. A. p Hills corps
acted as reserve. Lees reason for occupvinp
the left was because he could be on his guard
against Sgel, who Threatened to ouIflank him
by way of Culpepper. The entire rebel force
was estimated at 100000 men, and occupied
front of not less than twenty miles
THE UNION FORCES
The disposition of the Union forces occupied
the whole OF Friday night and SATURDAY. morning
and, as Gen Burnside was anxious to commence
the attack at as early an hour as possible there
was not much chance for the troops TO rest them
selves. Ii was arranged that General Franklin a
corps should cross the river two miles below the
city, with the view of turning the enemy's posi-
ton on MassaponaX Creek while Hooker would
engage the rebels nearer the center and Sumner
Would turn their right. By this arrangement it
will be seen that Franklin was opposed 10 Stone
wall jackson, while Hooker and Sumner attack
ed the center and left of the rebels under Long
street and Lee
THE BATTLE ON THE LEFT.
franklin moved HIS column, consisting of the
first and sixth corps, just before sunrise his
right resting on the outskirts of the city, his
center advanced mile or so from the river, and
his left resting on the Rappahannock about
three miles bel)w. Skirmshing commenced a
few minutes after daylight on the extreme left
IT bel battery opened on our troops and the
fire became SO annoying that the 9th regiment
New York state hliIla were ordered to charge
AMI take he cannon at the point of the hayonet.
Inc der was obeyed with lacrity, hut after
herce struggle the charging party were compell-
| ed TO TALL back. AT this critical moment Gen
| Tyler, perceiving the disorder into which the 9th
| New I ork were thrown, came to their aid with a
| brigade. The 9th were quickly rallied and, as
sisted by Tyers brigade, another attempt was
made to storm the rebel batteries. bur witbout
| success. The fight now became general on the
| extreme left, and another desperate effort was
| made 10 capture the rebel battery BY Gen
| Tyer's brigade; but the fire of rebels was SO
| whitening in its effect that our brave fellows
| were unable to ggin any advantage Ea h
| charge thinned the ranks at a fearful rate, and
| the chances of capturing that much coveted
| battery appeared no better than at first By
noon the whole of Franku'S corps was engaged
| with the enemy, and desperate effort was made
| 10 turn the enemy's position on the Massaponax
| and drive him beyond the creek Gen Franklin
commanded the movement in person, and han
uleu us troops with remarkable judgment. The
| rebels maintained possession of some small hills
| with their usual stubbonness, but gradually fell
| back ms the Union troops evnced determine
ton TO 20 forward. During the afternoon 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. IL was at this time that some three hun
| dred of Hills command fell into our hands aud
were conducted to the rear as prisoners Sill the
enemy contested every foot OF the ground, and
| 1t was only by dint of the hardest kind of fight
ing that he could be compelled to change his po-
| Sition.
| DEATH OF GEN. BAYARp
| Ii was during the beat Of this engagement that
the gallant Bayard was MORALLY wounded He
was conversing 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
| dreampt OF danger in the thickest of the battle
and never lost his courage, even when his leg
was amputated. The surgeons say that he can
not survive many days, aud that the operation
they have performed can only prolong his agony.
| Ten: Franklin, ut shutdown, had succeeded In
| CRYING the enemy nearly u mile, and his troops
| occupied the field during the remainder of the
| night. The movement on the left was com
| pete success, although tomorrow is required for
hnishing up the job. The casualties on both
! sides were very numerous.
| THE BATTLE ON THE RIGHT.
The right, consisting Of the Seventh and Ninth
| co. ?s.-'nder Gen. SIMMER, earned imperishabe
Ia doN aad, AS The list OF the killed and wound,
| ei |ili tA'Uy, the 1urels were won ut ~ . 40
cost Wv oction OH the right commenov- yful
Ten oV''N and ragged furiously all day long.