, 1862-12-18
FROM KeHCHaMOND.
AeDe4 Accounts of the Preliminary
Operations at tFrcdcrtckHbUr.r.

VIC have received files Of late Southern
papers, including dates from Richmond to
Friday last. The Richmond En11iaey Of
December 12th contains the rebel report Of
the preliminary operations ut Fredericksburg
rs follows:
THE BATTLE OF THE RAPPAHANSocK COM
MESCED NEAR FREDERICKSBURG,
At al early hour yesterday morning the I'LL
portant rNnlor was buzzel il the streets that
the long expected action ut Fredericksburg
mad at last commenced, and that we were en-
gagged with the enemy in force.
1he following is IN epitome Of all the in
intelligence received at the War Department
IN the shape Of official dispatches up to a late
hour last night:
The dispatches Of Gen. Lee relate that the
fight bcgan at Fredericksburg at o'clock in
the morning, At that hour the enemy at-
tc1rpte ed the passage Of the Ral,paha]senock ] "a at
thrge different points by means of pontoon
bridges. At two points they were repulsed
At The third it is presumed they effected a
passagc, MS tue dispatches suited thai they had
got under cover Of their guns and could not
ne interrupted in their construction Of a
bridge. At last accounts, dated about noon.
The light was progressing on the southern side
II the Rarpalannoek.
FrRT6ER PARTICULARS, 1Sc1DES7s. ETC,
It is. understood that tAe point at whjcl, the
enemy effected d passagc Of the RappaIlan-
mock was mt Deep Run, about two miles below
Fredericksburg. The Yankees arc said to
have secured !; landing there on a low cape,
and onr guns We're in i position to sweep theif
ranks on their reaching the table land extend
ing towards fredericksburg
The description Of the carnaGc which we
Lave from these sources is frightful. At one
point We arc said to have cut the line Of the
enemy s pontoon bridges, and pouring in q
deadly shower Of grape, to have filed tue air
with the legs, arms and disjointed members
Of the Yankees. {Bosh-).
When the fire was opened on orr lines, sev-
cra1 hundred women and children WERE re-
naming within the limits Of Fredericksbure.
and their CONSERVATION is said to have been
most pitiful: We have, from different
sources; the report that two women were Ger
tainly killed By the cncmy's fire
The general conclusions from what we learn
up to the hour Of writing are, that the enemy
lad effected a passage Of the Rappahannock,
probably in considerable force; that the ac-
tion Of yesterday WIS without any: important
fruits or predatory to more important action
Eow impending; and that to-day will witness
large aId important, but, perhaps, indeci-
sire battle on the disputed lines of Freder-
icksbuIy. As confrmatory of this prospect.
an order WAS received last night ut tie Medi-
cal Puryeyor's Office, for all the ambu1ances
md stretchers that could possibly be sent
EoA ot!s ch5. iEese '1fe tHe gloomy indlc1-
tions Of the work to-day.
1AIER ACCOUNTS.
By through passengers who arrived here
LAST night from Fredericksburg we learn that
simultaneously with his attempt to throw. his
pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock,
the enemy bombardcd the town. The few in
habitants still remaining there began to leave
immediately and make their way towards
Ham1lton's. Station on the railroad. A mum
bcr Of the houses in the town were struck,
and two OF them, Mr. John. C. Kings, near
the depot and o Mr. acott's, were burued