, 1862-12-13
FIRST DISPATCH.


FIRST DISPATCH.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tr;bn2c.l
WASHINGTON, Dec t2-1v p. II.
| Absolutely no news has yet bccn received
| from Fredericksburg beyond last nights
! Associated Press news, The fallure Of dis
| patches is explained By the fact that the tcle-
! crcph ,.ir,s arc down some where between
here and Aqua Greek, News by boat will
undoubtedly be received here during the
| "7c1lIn..
| If tic rebels have mt fallen hack to Rich
,aolld, as some belicyc, A great batt1e will be
fought probably today or tomorrow. Rebel
prisoners taken yesterday are reported to
have said TINT The bulk of their army had
gone down to Port Royal, expecting us to try
crossing there. If that be truc, they arc
probably caught in 4 had fix.
No1E.-Pvrt Royal is point on the south
'a.nk of the Rappahannoek, fifteen miles be-
how The city, ana The point referred TO III our
Thursday night dispatches a5 the .'lacc where
our yunhaatS were s]eillng the force Of the
c,ic.ay there being masscd.
LATER.
Esrccial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc.l
W.su1sGTaS, Dec. T. 1sGa-11 p. m.
, Although awaited with intense cagerness,
there las ur 10 this time been no news to-day
from Fredericksburg, except that there has
| been slight skirmishing to-day. with 10 serl-
OILS fighting, There WIS some expectation OF
c :, la;tl. tomorrow, though it is not now even
CO: tain that the rebels are now there III force.
!, LATEST
h Especial Dispatch to the Chicago TribInc.l
WASHINGTON. December II, 1862.
Wade Hampton's cavalry was 1T Danafries
u IN The 0cco4nan, today, and cut the wire:
r ard captured :. lo1 Of our operators. Thi;
e is tic secret Of the interruption Of the new:
q from Fredericksburg throughout this fore
noon.
Communication is low restored, anu IL
::G,ancc Of Sigcl's corps is trying +
cut off 1Ia1,,pten's retreat, though Wit
doubtful prospects Of success.
T. | iiEtpQCAETEEs ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, |
December rs Z. IL. !
1T Il quartcr-past nine the first gun was fire
he tho engagement lasting half all hour, th
~, rebels not ulaking very spirited reply
n- It il thought the troops will all be over !:
at nuou. Information received during the nIg]
~ and this morning from descrters and rrlso
" ne crs, shows that the rebels have two stro1
lines If batteries il tho rear Of the city; Il
ILL., first one being one mile back, and the secol
~: u mile from the first.
o:s Our whole army is i'll rapid motion and vi
concentrated. The troops are in cxceile
hat | s1irits and anxious to be led OH the enc1n,
us works.
= The enemy has concentrated his forces, Il
tic it is believed will give battle.
lar Much will depend upon the result Of tod:
,,r All feel sanguine Of success.
,or At 10 clock this morning The fog began
trs. clear away, but before II o'clock the cir y
:. !! 10 sscir thick, which continued until u clo
when it entirely disappeared.
;ycd At quarter past . the rebcls opened with
5 Of their guns posted on the first ridge Of hi
Their ma!1, fire was directed upon the c
~ ~, wlich was filled with our troops. Those G.
w. which were posted on the left OF the ri
the were opened Oh the large body Of tro
Fort vi:c., crossed on the two lower bridges
!led: .,aa formed in line Of battle and were n1oS
- :, ~ ~ oblisucly down The river, fronting the Ma
ltiy. pony.
rails. Although several Of their shells eSp1c
eral, | o-or .>,r tr,,nz ponc urarc iniura1 {
will w. ~ -, 49,. n
1slde t basaso c.'s'1's' "i'len eiosse VI 't4e ~
Sher- bridge, Ind five men killed while cndeayo
Muir t In ascertain tic enemy' 5 position.
efl'ls The troops which crossed below arc 81
}. int iue on their arms tonight, The advance b
Glory within three-quartcrs of mile Of the IL
C!oss pony Creek, their left resting on the Ra
fsio;, hammock.
,antic The enemy occupies the opposite sic
uess; The creek in force.
su1s The guns posted on the bank this Sit
tehes, tlc river silenced the ercny's artillery
1ddles 4 duel Of half an hour. This ended the
,5mb1e 1Ig for the day. The only damage done by
c aud rcoel shei1s 1h1o"h INTO lie city, WIS y
= it is so much to its destruction.
army Twenty-Five of our men were killed
:rly Of 4,o :, .oo4s ,vh;,a s..: 49,
Joined cut. Nearly every house in the city has
rely in damaged more or less By the firing IF thc
S.a; Eap., few days
o TnuT Several splendid residences have been
crform pletely riddlcd, also all the churches
ljutant fire cappearcd to be directed on tue mostp
- aoo9 l,os3 ncnt Of the editicc=-
res3or. Several cases Of wanton destruction Of
Mt If : crty occurred by our troops when they
, ln;rsa e; cd, Of property which could be Of no +
nnS;u7 :he enemy. In many houses the fur
ortb. all remained, Some Of our troops nj