, 1862-12-04
FROM The ARMY OF The POTOMAC,
New EsrihWorks Thrown up by the
Rebtls Near Fredericksburg.
The Significance Of the Recent
Visit Of tbs President,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Poro,tAo.

slslG OF lbs President,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroxAn.
Sunday, Nor. 3a-7K p. nj,
oeme camps of the enemy, visible yester.
gay, oleapPeared last night. They probably
haye retired to the valley behied the range of
hlis IN Inc rear Of Fredericksburg.
A. new leoel earthWorks almost daily make
toelr appearance, and the range In the rear of
Inc to*n Ia crowned almost continuously with
red0ubts and rife pits. "''A'
ln1ce hundred infantry, belonging to the
Eeth and 17th New York regiments. were ra-
pofIeo surprised and captured last evening A
mock. >. cf' ''>A''@3''
Abo nt dunk last evening the enemy com.
Menced throwing up new line Of eart6works
beloW fredericksburg, from 500 to 800 work
men oelng visible from our signal station.
rive gnnboats are reported to have advanc-
ed up the Rappahannock opposite King
1eofge court House. The right wing Of the
some distance from the river. a few shots
we're throNn n over the river yesterday,
;, Inc rebel army have paid particular atten-
ton to the defense OF the GordonsyilIe road.
: which is the chief one leading out of the city
TO ne nor;h and west a long line OF earth
rose to view In the morning on the linz al
this read. To say nothing OF these accumu-
latirg works Of defense, the formation of fha
h1l3s back Of the town renders the position
one Gf the strongest imaginable. The first line
ct hills, which rise like an ampitheatre from
the river plain occupied By the town. Is trav- @
ersed by i1dentations or ra4ines ruuninp
at various angles, the sides Of which are Gov.
cred by Preparations for batteries, and several
OF them have guns in position, capable Of
pouring q raklpg cross-fre upon any adyanc-
ing column. Behind the first range, with an
1rfHTVprTnEf Uo11a 1f
as the Mattoponix Valley, is a still more for.
mldapie range OF hills, which ia turn will no
doubt be strongly fortified. There are also
their taTor1te woods for shelter. To Cross this
river, and carry the positions I haye described,
win large army to oppose US, is the most
sented to any military commander dusinE the
War! - AI'S
Nothing has passed between the town and our
own lines for several days, the statts QUO. Al
least Oh our part, being observed. The enemY
6ase no large military force in the town, but
90 not hesitate to come and go at will, in
emall squads OF cavalry The pickets, near
Iae place, OF course, have quarters in the
hcnses Of the town, and at our distance 1t ia
difficult to decide as to now much good faith
the authorities observe in keeping their own
promises not to GLOW stores or Supplies to
pasB out Of the town.
The rest Of the pontoon train was expected
last evening, and horses and mules in consid-
erab1e numbers have arrived, The weather
this morning is cool, clear and braciar, the
sur rises rosy and clear, and gives promise OF
hne, crisp day-just such as gives elasticity
70 the step, and Life to the spirit Of the SOL
der. The frosty Temperature OF the night
must have stlffened and dried the roads SO
that the wagon trains can move With greater
ease. A WegoDma5ter yesterday told me that
one OF the Teams became tssta1led'' on tne
way hi,her from Bellplain, aud that after the
load of bard bread had been taken ous. eight
horses and mules could not haul the wagon
out of the mud.
Last evening ne could hear the welcome
sound OF the steam whistle, near Potomac
r1ver, to which point the locomotive now
travels with materials for completing repairs
O. the bridge. General Hooker, yesterday,
frish the work. We shall then be ready r.
receive the locomotive and cars which are al-
ready On the way from Alexandria, The for
mer were safely conveyed away when the
troops eyacuated this position last August.
The freight cars were destroyed.
:, NO one who has not given his attention to
OF stores which is1equired for the simple sub
s's1enee OF large army. Allowing four pounds
per Gay per mau, it will require $50 net tons
for one weeks subsistence for zoe, 200 men. 70
supply the current demand OF an army of 15O. :
NCu men at five pounds each, and accumulate
portation Of 1860 tons. tbs estimate M :, does ans
net include the most bulky PORTION OF sup
p1ies-forage for the animals 4 large part nf
this, in the present bare condition of the conn
try must nIso be hauled in wagons over the
salnc roads BY which the food is transported,
1,I Isls would furnish 1ull cargo for four first
class Liverpool ships each ten days. The
forage wild keep in constant employment
q fleet Of 200 schoorers Of $50 tons each.
10 all this let it be remembered there
should be added the cumbrous poutoon trains
end transportation for thousands of horses
and mules required for keeping up the work.
lng force Of tie army. No estimate is here
made for ammunition and miscellaueous sun.
plies.
IlsE PRESIDENTS VISIT TO GEN. BURNSIDE
WASHINGTON. Noy. 70, 1sts,
The object Of the Presidents visit TO Gen.
Burnside continues to be the theme Of specu-
ja'ien. think that, without departing from
the lite OF strict propriety, cau say that it
had reference to the delay Hlich has attended
the advance acrcss the Rappahannock- When
Gcp. Burnside assumed command Of The ARMY
OF the Potomac, he al once wrote to the Gov
erHment concerning change of base, and a
rapid advance, a1.d specifying certain supplies
which would be zndispeasa5c to tue move
nent He based his movement on the assur-
proved ard the supplies Promised. lie exc
euted bis part OF the progra with rapid
ity and yieor Of which The country has already
been informed But when he reached the
designated point, lie found none Of the prom
sssti su12plies--neither ponioons, forage nor
PROVISIONS. Tne Government had filled, and
bis movements Werc of necessity arrested.
6Qrmfse that the President went down to
See about ito ascertain precisely where the
responsibility for this failure reeted-to assure
Gen. Burnside OF his steady and hearty sup
porto renew promises OF all the supplies
and rcintorcements he might need, and to tell
him that, Whatevermjght be the pressure upon
him, be wished him to fight no inascisive bat
tie there. The visit was intended and calcu-
lated to aid Gen. Burnside's advance.
We Learn here that the rebels continue to
strengthen their position in the outskirts Of
fredericksburg; that they are thro wing up
eatthWolks bearer the town, and that four or
five separate forts have already been com
pleted and made ready for their guns, which
had not, however, BEEN mounted on Friday
morning. The rebels are evidently preparing
Tor an obstinate resistance. We shall see
whether combination of pluck and strategy
carnot circumTent and overcome them.