Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-12-18

The Battle Fredericksburg.


The Battle Fredeicks burg.
The battle at Fredericksburg on Satur-
day was severe, but indecisive. Our
troops made several attempts to drive the
rebels from their entertainments upon TIE
first line Of hills in the rear of the city,
but were repulsed with great loss, probab-
ly much larger than that Of the enemy,
as they held strong positions and were
well protected.
The following is the Tribune correspon-
dents account of the part taken by Frank
liu's Division, in which is the lst Ver-
mont Brigade:
The extreme left of Franklin's division
extended miles below Fredericksburg
and his right was two miles below the
town, his line being mile long. The
first fire was made by the skirmishers of
the 18th Massachusetts in our front
They had moved cautiously in advance of
our lines for half mile, when discover
ing the enemy's pickets they fired upon
them. Cam onading soon commenced in
earnest The hazy atmosphere Of the ear
ly part of the day having cleared away
50 as to give to each of the contending
parties view of the position taken by
the other, Halls battery, the I'd Maine,
discovering battery of the enemy in
close proximity and opened rapid and
vigorous fire upon it. In few moments
the artillery fire extended along the entire
line The I'd U. s artillery, Capt Ran
son; Cooper's battery of Pennsylvania re-
serves, and others, made and received a
severe attack. The skirmishing was kept
up as our lines advanced, and the posi-
ton of the enemy in the woods was al
most reached. Scattering musketry fire
continued from the first advance, about
8 o'clock, till noon, with occasional lulls.
The cannonadiug was heavy and severe.
Now came the most successful and de-
termincd effort on this part of the line.
The attack was made from the point Of
intersection of the angle formed by our
lines. This point was nearest to the
woods, and the enemy's shells were fall
ing thickly about it. Gibbons division
and the Pennsylvania reserves advanced
boldly towards the works of the enemy.
They pushed dcterminedly through the
brushwood and bushes on to a grove of
cedars, and through these up the hills
towards the breastworks of the enemy.
The works were carried, many prisoners
captured. and the crest Of the hill gain
ed. not however, without heavy loss.
Gen. Gibbons fell wounded in the arm,
while leading his command to the attack
The works of the enemy at this point
were gained but not held
The enemy, unfortunately. possessed
the strength to concentrate overwhelming
numbers of fresh troops upon the threat
cned point, and for all the valor of those
who survived, and all the sacrifices Of
those who fell, the position had to be
abandoned. and our troops were compelled
to fall back to the plain. They had pen
etrated beyond the railroad and tho Bowl
ing Green turnpike, through the woods
and across the outer work OF the enemy
to the top of the hill. and were then
forced back to this side of the railroad,
where they maintained their stand in adj
vance Of that they had originally occupied.
During three successive advances and
checks along the center and left grand d.
vision, uninterrupted Smelling was kept
up by the rebel batteries upon the bodies
Of troops at different points Of the plain.
At large stone mansion near the center
Of our line, used as field hospital dur.
ing the day, an incessant fire was direct.
ed
Near this building Gen. Boyard found.
an untimelv death. A shell struck him