New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-27

Of the Late Battle.
From Our Special Correspondent -
OPPosITu FRsDxEIoKsBuRG, Dee "a, iec?
Whether or no the chief officers in command OF the
Army of the Potomac have received any instruction
from the still higher powers that winter quarters
is now 10 be the order, none but themselves can
positively say certain it is that the soldiers are every
where acting upon the supposition that the " Rebs
are to be permitted peacefully to enjoy their occups-
ton Of the Fredericksburg nights for some time yet
Everywhere is heard the sound Of cutting down
the sparse pine and cedar, and still scantier OAK
trees that make upt the thin forests Of this part OF the
| Old Dominion. Everywhere goes constantly on the
work of building log huts, OF putting up tuif chin
nies of ceiling up and roughly flooring the interior
of buts and of erecting stables for officers hortes,
in short all things show that the men have resolved
to make themselves comfortable In their present
quarters for the rest OF the Winter.
From headquarters, too, come floating certain
straws which universally accepted as signiiicsnt
of the direction in which the Official wind blowing
Many officers having commando and many other stan
officers indispensable in OF renewal OF active
operations are said 10 have procured leaves Of alb
sence for length OF time that viii enable them to
spend the holidays among their friends at home.
For the soldier there Is leave Of absence no visit
with friends, except such yicarous visiting az may
be carried Oh in tho guise Of CHEEKY comforting let
ters which are, LEI hope, more plenty at this time
of year than any oheriOr the soldier there Is LITTLE
Christmas cheer "hard tack" and "sali junk
taste no different on Christmas day THAI before or
after aud If he can get a canteen OF whisky 10 make
an evening toddy b. il ouy too bappy-let nc MOI.
be too hard on him, for even such celebration IL
better than none / Lave, however, seen pinned on
one or two tents sprg o. holly, in humble remem-
brance OF the holiday which should draw all men
closer together, and when loyiog kindness should
rule over all tie earth.
Gen. Hooker's Center Grand Diyison. with which
my duties specially lie, are encamped IN the sane
pO.i,lon, very nearly co. ~ II 5ccupied before
crossing the riyer-the ohcofs like all the others
those who can. getting leaves Of Gbsence-,be men
Ike all the Others. those who must, staying In camp
aud making themselves AS comfortable as possible
for the rect OF the Winter. No movement, and no
prsssnt silyns Of one
The only thing that I have observed that M 8
possibly be construed into indication of n speedy
advance in rome direction, was simultaneous
movement Of the pontoon Trains but II appeared TO
be only in obedience 10 an order OF Gen. Woodbury.
TO concentrate tbs trains, that they may be put In
perfect order, and be ready the minute they chance
TO be called for.
There being in camp rumor that j. T.. Is. Stuart
was about making another raid" by crossing the
Rappshsnnock somewhere near Deep Run, | went
out Of my special dominions, invaded the territory
held by Gen. Summers Grand Division, and took Il
twenty mile ride mp the river TO the United States
Ford, and thereaLout. i found the fords all guard
ed, and the shores Of the riyer are viglanty pick
eted by come Of the regiments Of Gen. Pleasantons
Cavalry Brigade which consists Of the 9Th Illinois
81 Indiana 9Th Pennsy wanna, 9th Regulars, 9Th
New-York, and 9Th New-York Cavalry, and Pen
pington's Battery Of Horse Artillery. The other
side is just vigilantly guarded by the Rebels,
Hampton's Legion doing the duty.
OF course, rs the events Of the terrible battle Of
Fredericksburg are canvasssd hundreds Of instances
come to light of individual gallantry, daring and
coolness. Col Burnss regiment OF the Irish Brig
ade went into the fight with about 700 men, and
came out with $50. One after another the standard.
bearers were shot down, until trenty men had been
killed at the duty and the coors torn to rags
BY the storm OF fire through which they so
gallantly borne. Seven different times did the Col
onel himself seize the colors from the ground, and
hand them TO the nearest man. And ut the last
after even all tbis the colors lost, after 800
men had fallen in their defense. After the battle
it is said the Colonel sat down and wept bitter
The case Of lieutenant Of the same regiment Is
OF most melancholy nature. In the advance Of his
regiment he was struck down by a ball, which shat
tered at the time u leg and an arm; he fell
between the lines Of sharpsh0oter5 he lay there for
long time suffering intolerabe agony and at last,
unable 10 endure il longer, he drew, with his I'M
shattered hand his revolver and deliberately blew
out his brains.
And Of many such terrible scenes il this terrible
war productive in which we are engaged, to-day,
the holy Christmas day of the year OF our Lord
eighteen hundred and sixty-two. ILDRIDGE.