Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-16
TELEG A PHO.
REsTERDAY's DIsPATUHEs.]
SITUGTIONAT FREDERICKSBURG.
NO FIGHTING ON SUNDAY.
The Battle of Saturday.
Charge upon the EntrenGhments'
Terrible Slaughter in the Ranks.
Our Forces Compelled to Retire,
The Work of Franklin'8 Division,
TELEGRAPHIC.
AT FREDERICKSBURG.
OFIGHTING ON SUNDAY.
The Battle Of Saturday.
Charge upon the EntrenOhments.
Slaughter in the Ranks.
Dur Forces Compelled to Retire,
The Work of Franklin's Division,
rRnM rHR sRAT OF Wan.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l4-lZ N. (.
No intelligence Of importance has been
received from the army. Occasional firing
during the day, but Of little consequence
in its results. The taking of several rifle
pits yesterday evidently gave rise to the
report Of the first line of the enemy's
works having been taken.
A number Of wounded arrived tonight,
and were conveyed TO the several hospi-
tails. Another boat-load is on the way.
The Herald says of Saturdays battle:
It ragged fercely through the entire day,
and even after darkness fighting in our
immediate front and right beyond Freder-
icksbnrg was carried on by Summers
grand division. Shortly after o'clock the
I'd corps of General Couch moved out from
the upper part of the city, with q strong
detachment Of skirmishers. The enemy
yielded gradually: though they contested
our progress with great stubbornessI and
for some time the rattle of musketry was
incessant.
At the same time this movement COM
menced the batteries of the division sta
toned on the bluffs across the river open
ed with shell to cover our advance. The
rebel infantry, having fallen back to their
first line of intrencbments and rife pits
their batteries opened with vigorous and
rapid FIRE upon our columns, which had
now come to temporary halt, awaiting
the result of artillery fighting. For some
time our artillery on the bluffs kept up q
heavy FIRE on the rebel batteries with much
better success. -
The batteries on Taylor's hill, nearly
opposite Falmouth, were finally silenced.
During this time the rebel artillery were
almost entirely devoted toshelling our ad-
vanced troops.
Hancocks division had the advance,
supported by the other divisions Of corps,
while the 9th corps, under General Wilcox,
remained under arms in town in readiness
to advance.
Soon after, the whole corps deployed in
to line Of battle and moved forward to at
tack and storm the rebel right batteries
while from the enemy's works terrible
storm Of shell, grape and shrapnel tore
through their bleeding ranks; nOtwith-
standing which they steadily pushed on to
the rife pits within a short distance Of the
first line Of fintrenchments. From the for
mer they drove the rebels, making prison
ers of some, while the remainder took ref
uge behind the earthwerks. This was ae-
complished after the most heroic and long
continued efforts, under q most CALLING and
murderous fire. Unable TO hold out under
the terrible fire they now encountered,
they retired in good order, carrying away
their wounded comrades. They fell back
to their original line of pickets, thus hold
ing the ground which they first occupied,
and which they held until morning, when
they were relieved by StOneman's COM
mand.
Just before the advance of Couehs corps,
heavy firing and dense smoke on the left
indicated that Franklin was advancing
upon and had already engaged the enemy's
right flank. To open communication with
him, therefore, Wilcox detached his diTi-
sion under General Burns, and sent 1t to
the left by the edge of the river, with in
structions to advance under cover Of the.
river bank, until he could place himself in
close proximity to Franklin's right.
After hard fighting, COUGHS division be-
ing unable to carry the rebel works, the
tremendous fire from their batteries rem
dered it necessary for them to retire, which
they did when the order had been given
for the third time.
1t was now dark, and the division fell
back to its original position, after being
six hours under fire.
The severe fighting on Franklin's left
continued with varied successes until after
dark.
The relative positions of the forces was
about the same as in the morning except
that we had gained half mile or more on
the left.