Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-12-25
FROM FREDERICKSBURG
TIE GREAT BATTLE OF sATURDA

FROM FREDERICKSBURG!
TIE GREAT BATTLE OF SATURDAY
Correspondence of the New York Herald
FREDERICKSBURG. Va Dec. IS.
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 lorm Of a semi
circle from Port Royal to a point six
miles above Frederick sburg, were
strongly fortified and protected BY a
range of high hills Stouewall Jack
son occurred The right wing. extending
from Port Royal to Guinuey's Station.
Ia station aahe Richmond and Fred
ericksburg Railroad. General Long
street the center. extending TO the
Telegraph Road, and Generals Lee
and Stuart The left, west Of Massa-
ponax Greek, while General A. P.
Hills corps acted as a reserve. Lees
reason for occupying the left was be-
cause he could be on his guard against
Sigel. who threatened to oulfiank him
by way Of CuIpepper. The entire
rebel force was estimated at 100000
men. and occupied front Of not less
thar twenty miles. The troops were
for the most part veterans who had
fnnahi thrnnsh al the Peninsula cam
paign, while The UmrerS wrI1 rur
abIest that the South could produce
1t was no mean enemy We had to con-
tend with | assure you.
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 10 rest themselves. A few strag-
glers, it is true, managed to sneak
away for the purpose OF pillaging, but
the crest mass OF the soldiers were con-
stantly under arms. Gen. Burnside
was in the city all night. personally in
specting the troops and directing their
movements. 1t was arranged that
Gen. Franklin's corps should cross the
river two miles below the city, with
the view of turning the enemy's posi-
ton on MassapOnax creek. while Hook
er would engage the rebels near the
center, and Sumner would turn their
right. By this arrangement it will be
seen that Franklin was opposed to
Stone vail Jackson, while Gen. Hooker
and Sumner attacked the center and
left of the rebels under Longstreet and
Lee.
The eventful morning came. and
with it dense fog, which obscured the
movements OF the enemy. The balloon
was sent up Just before daylight, but
in consequence OF the fog no observa-
ticn could be had. However, the dis
position Of the Union forces had been
made, and Gen. Burnside determined
to commence operations, fog or no
fog.
Franklin moved his column, consist
ing Of the First and Sixth corps, Just
before sunrise, his right resting on the
outskirts OF the city. his center ad-
vancrd a mile or so from the river. and
his left resting on the RappahannOck
about three miles below. Skirmishing
commenced few minutes after daylight
on the extreme left. A rebel battery
opened on our~troops, and the FIRE be-
came so annoying that the 9Th Regi-
ment New York State militia were or
dered to charge and take the cannon at
the point of the bayonet. The order
was obeyed with alacrity, but after a
fierce struggle the charging party were
compelled to fall back. At this critical
moment Gen. Tyler. perceiving the
disorder into which the 9th New York
were thrown, came 10 their aid with a
brigade. The 9th were quickly rallied.
and assisted by Tyler's brigade. snoth-
er attempt was made to storm the rebel
batteries, but without success. The
| fight now became general on the ex-
treme left, and another desperate effort
was made to capture the rebel battery
by Gen. Tyler's brigade; but the fire OF
the rebels was so Withering in its effect
that our brave fellows were unable to
gain any advantage. Each charge
thinn-d lhe ranks at fearful rate, and
the chances Of capturing that much
coveted battery appeared no better than
at first. By noon the whole of Frank
Inns corps was engaged with the enc