The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-20
Correspondence Of The N. 7. Tribune.
rho Battle az Fre6ericksburg-FuI ana
Detailed Description. ~
FRnpxRIcKsRuRG, Saturday,
Dec l9. IS62-ll

Is The third sct of the grand martial drama
,,ened on Thursday lastis over Another great
hattie has been added TO the bloody record OF
the Army of the Potomac. 16 nai, a a.f
Night now covers once more with her benign
nantIe scenes of carnage, strife and destruction
Under her guiding influence, let me attempt to
forget the excitement and overcome the iat'gues
If the day, and describe in concise, though com.
n,ehensive terms, the fearful events OF which
srss an eyewitness during the iast ~ noafA
LAT evening, q general Council OF War, at
ended by all the grand division, corps, and di-
s;.;on commanders, was held At late hour, at
Cen sumner's headquarters, at which General
p,rnsac submitted and explained bis plan for
he general attack he proposed 70 mske to-day
upon the enemy's position p4..t1s.ss Of !.
The plan Comprised simultaneous advance Of
onr whole line upon the eneny's strong positions
An the hlle in front Of the left aud right Grand
,n;vsions. which we're to be carried by sudden
assaults upon the stronghold, Of select bodies OF
troops.
ness and dash ofits author, but some debts we're
EXPRESSED in the Council OF its practicabillty by
number OF those in attendance. All. however,
EXPRESSED their readiness to undertake anything
ordered by the ComhDander.in.Ghief,a ana the
necessary instructions we're given to commence
light. - ,,sss.. 81.
The fog that kept the valley of the river and
the adjacent nights from view every day this
,veek. again prevented the commencement OF
onerations at the stated time. Fortunately, how
ever It cleared away early in the day, and About
m O'clock orders were directed to the Generals
commanding the right aud left Grand Divisions
TO prepare to charge immediately the works re-
spectively assigned to them. cha SNsag sF
THE BATTLE ON TIE RIGHT. ,g
Gen. Sumner and Staff left their headquarters
about ii o'clock, and repaired to the Lacey
House. from which full view Of the scene of
the impending action on the right Grand Divis-
ion could be obtained. Gen. Sumner had select
ed French's division, of Gen. COUGHS corps, for
the advance Of the attae king column. ossA
Orders to move from its position in the streets
of Fredericksburg, next to the river. to the out
skrts of the town, form q line Of battle by brig
AIDES, and, preceded by . cloud of skrnishers,
move st double quick upon the first line OF the
eueny's works. IL svig -. ssaL bay.ossl
Gen French was necessarily obliged to march
his traops in solid columns in parallel stPeets-
AS sooo AZ the head of the columns emerged
from the lower TO the higher portions of the
streets, the eneloy's batteries opened upon them
from several points. Upon reaching the out
skirts of the town, the order was given to de-
ploy, but stone and other fences prevented its
ready execution. --r
During the delay thus caused, the troops were
exposed to an enfladiug fire which taxed the sd-
vance of the troops most severely.
The line being formed at last, about noon the
order to advance was given. The line moved up
and over low range Of elevations and down
toward the foot of the hills on which the enc
mys breastworks were situated from houses,
rife pits, barbados, across the roads and other
shelter.
The Rebel sharpshooters now opened from all
sides with fearful effect. The vigor of the fire
Of the Rebel artillery also steadily increased, AND,
when the line reached the foot of the second
range of hills, perfect hail of lead fell upon
it The advance, however, was continued until
within few hundred yards Of the Greet of the
\ hills, when rapid succession Of terrific volleys
from long lines of Rebel infantry, suddenly rising
in front Of their works, checked it.
From the position they had gained our troops
now exchanged round after round with the enc.
nv until their ammunition became exhausted,
and the line fell back some distance, leaving
nearly one half Of its number on the Aeld,, to
make room for Gen. Hancock division
This division advanced, likewise formed in
l parallel lines Of briga1es, It moved forward
steadfastly up to the point where French's had
II
the murderous fire of the Rebel infantry and ar
I .ilery.
For two hours it alternately replied to the
enemy's musketry, and attempted to make its
wayup the second range of hills. Although
unable to advance, and continually losing num-
bers, it fought until its ammunition gave out,
when it was relieved by Towards division, and
J retired nearer to town. r..r.- 4, H..
Howard's command vent into action about 3
o'clock One afterthe other Of its brgades was
advanced to the front; but, like those of French
and HancoCk's, did not succeed in reaching the
eusmy's works. The last of it. uuder Gen Sally,
vas ordered to charge up the bill with the bay
I oust, and moved forward in most gallant style,
but was checked, as all the other troops had
been
Shortly after French's Division had moved to
The attack, Sturgis's Division Of Wilcox's Corps
advanced over parallel road on the left of our
Y right upon the works and batteries covering the
enemy's right flank. It experienced the same
difficulties in forming, in consequence of obs
structons on the ground, as Frenoh's, but push
edforward with the utmost determination, halt
ing onlyat times to open its way musketry.
1 ltreached within eighty yards Of the crest Of
y the bill it aimed to take, but having been fear
FULLY weakened in numbers during it's advance,
had to halt. I.held the point gained for three
hours
Notwithstanding it was confronted by vastly
superior numbers of infantry, and enhladed by
batteries on each fank-eveD after its arnnuni-
non had all been spent, it did not give wsy, but
ntml! bed its ground unit! properly relieved
4 shortly before sunset. .,.', =. ~
when HoWard's Division moved 10 the front,
tne last Of the available force of Crouch's corps,
forming our extreme right, WAS employed. OF
m,coIs corps. Getty's Division, which had been
oela IN reserve during the day, wae all that we're
command, after S,urgis had become exhaust
% BY the severity of its protracted struggle,
nsfas having been sent early in the morning TO
establish connection between the left and right,
sua not being within ready march.
fortunately, however, Butterfelds corps Of
nookers Grand Division, which was acting as a
.eMt the rght,as stonemsn's vas to the left,
came 10 the rescue, when the energies Of VIII
"t' ana COUGHS corps had been nearly spent
aA0 commenced moving across the river, over
upper and middle bridges, as soon o. the ad-
vance o. Couch's and Wilcox's troops furnished