Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-18
The Great Battle.

NEW DIRK, Dec. II.
The morning papers are filled with de
tailed accounts Of the surrender Of oul
right wing, which are too extended foi
,elegraphng. They contain no rca
news, but comprise mainly incidents rel
tive TO the affair.
The Times gives the following account
of the withdrawal Of our troops from
Fredericksburg. 1t ,avs movements
commenced at dark on Monday tight
All sick and wounded were reno, cd dur
ing the day to hospital tents this side
Gen. Burnside inspect the position Of
The troops in the al crnoon, and the gen
cral activity Of the enemy indicated that
another battle was imminent. The sur
geons were ordered to be in readiness to
take care OF additional wounded.
The withdrawal Of our forces, howev-
er, was determined on nj council of all
corps commanders during the day. Such
an undertaking was regarded AS perlous,
hut II successful, would rescue the
army from another battle winch would
accomplish but little except the dcstruc.
ton OF valuable lives.
The troops had heard no intmation Of
retrea', and had laid down on their arms
Tor the night When orders were given
TO ''iall in the troops supposed it was
for night assault on the cncmy's works,
and were not undeceived till they found
themselves on the pon,oons crossing the
stream
The bridges were covered with earth
to deadcn the sound Of artillery.
High wind and darkness prevailed,
the rebels not hearing or seeing our
mosen ent. FrankIin's division moved
soon as dark : also Sumner and IIooker's
divisions, which were under the very guns
Of the enemy.
Great many officers and soldiers ex-
prcsscd much regret. saying they prefer
red diving in front the of rebel batteries. !
Very few wounded were left on the
field.
Two brigades were left 10 occupy the
own as pockets, and oar artillery, on the
higher banks, will cooperate in Keeping
/ ossesslon of the town.
Cur heavy guns opened fire on the re-
bel 'ttercs Tuesday morning, eliciting
little response.
The Times correspondent thus de.
scrlbes the rebel position our forces we
to storm and take There was
A bare Plateau Of third Of a mile in
en.th which the storn.ing party will
have to cross. and in doing this they
viii he exposed to fire of the enemv's
harp shooters, posted behind . stone
vail running along the base Of ridge
! double rifle rt on the Use Of the crest.
With heavy batteries behind, and strong
ield works that stand at the top OF the
MI powerful infantry force is now I
wing concealed behind these a pIunc.
~ hire from batteries on lower range. of
double iutilading fire from cannon to !
le left OF them. sebastapool was not !
aIf SO strong.
The Times account of the battle shows
'at llooker's grand division was not on
us side of the river until o'clock. At
O'Clock Hooker, who had not vet been
ross the river, proceeded over, remark
g TO friend he was going to put this 7
ing through in half an hour. Prol- !.
cons volleys of musket,y announce that
ooker, with the reserves, is engaged.
his last assanltlng column consisted Of
umphrey. Monk. Howard, Getty and
ykes' divisions. They.however, had not .
't fairly engaged before the sun went
own, and night closed around the CON-
atants.