Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-22
DIXIE.


RICHMOND, December 70, 1862.
The operations of the enemy al Fredericksburg are
not clearly understood as yet Day before yesterday,
they attempted the passage Of the RappahannOck at
several points, at and below the town Twice they
were driven back in confusion aud with considerable
loss by the continuous and well-directed fire of our
Sharpshooters, but the third time, under cover of their
artillery on the Stafford hills, they succeeded in throw
Ing their pontoons across the river, and brought over a
force of ten or twelve thousand men. During the day
a heavy and rapid cannonads was opened upon the
tswn with destructive effect. Two or three blocks Of
buildings were set on FIRE and consumed. The Method.
LIST church was also burned, and the Eteeple of the Epis.
eopaI church was toppled to the ground Three or four
Of the cItizsns were killed, an uncomfortable loss Of
life. to be sure, but the town had been almost wholly
evacuated by its resident population several days be-
fore. NOthirg could have been more wsnton' than this
bombsrdment, more in violation of al the usages of
civilized warfare. After nightfal the Yankees entered
and occupied Fredericksburg, after skirmshing with our
pieSsts in the suburbs, and they now remain, so far az
"a known here, in undisturbed possession Of the place.
What significance there may be in this movement we
can only conjecture. Doubtless it is claimed at the
North as a magnificent conquest Of Burnside's, and New
York aud Boston are possibly in a blaze Of nlumi-
nation over the happy augury Of ultimate sue.
cess. That the enemy should make good their
passage OF the river WIS % AattUI 10 y 9 reasonably
expected Among military men, It ia conceded that
a river may s'ways be crossed by an army sbundantly
provided with poutoon trains and siege artillery, unless
the opposing shore gives ts the enemy some great ad-
vantage of position In the case. Of the recent crossing
of the Rsppahannock, the advantage Of position wss
with Burnside. The northern bank of the river is billy,
the southern bank All extended plain. The true diff
Gully Of the advancing general always commences after
he has crossed the stream and begins his march into the
country beyond, and this Burnside will discoveras surely
as he attempts to move onward in the direction Of Rich
nond. Adult the occupation of Fredericksburg whether
it was designedly permitted by General Lee or eosld
got have been successful " resisted, we are all in the
lark. One account states that It was a surprise, and that
On entire company Of Longstreets corps d arrnee, posted
ia the town as pickets, were taken prisoner. Whatever
may be the facts Of the case, fredericksburg, in its
present disma ntled condition, can be Of little service to
The Yankees, and cannot beheld by them, fit is thought
desirable to dislodge them. Meanwhile we wait with
inpatienes the great shock of arms that must come OF
10 a very few days, and upon TIA result of which SO much
depends. It would be uncandid to say that there is not
much anxiety feltiu Richmond concerning the battle. The
numbers aud pie operations of the invaders are so immense,
and tho iSsueg Of war are SO uncertain, that our people
" ould be fnsepsibls if thsy did not feel anxious IN the
Of this last and most s;rious attempt upon the
capital. But they maintain a calm eOmpOsure, even the
remembering the lore summerd days when thsy
heard till the sunset the sullen roar Of MeClellsu's can
and saw the smoke of bis burnin9 eneampments all
around the city. The name Of Lee Is enough 10 dispsl
The fears of the most timid. and the thought of jackson
aud Lougsirest lends a hopeful co hdenee to all.
A dispatch hom Besuresard, yesterday, gave intelli-
gence that she ships Of Banks great expedition had
seen of the North Carolina coast, making shore in
the direction Of Newburne. and 1t is therefore probable
the design Of this new armada is the investment Of
by a land force. The idea is doubtless the
ong-cherished one Of cutting Of the Communication be.
tween Richmond and Charleston.
The matter Of Intervention by France is gaining be
levers zmong the Yankees as well as with the sanguine
1t home. The last New York papers have ominouI
in relation to the policy Of Louis Napoleon,
which they regard as fixed, upon an early recognition