Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-12-17
100 Volunteers Cross the River
A BAyONET CHARGE! F.! !!
Rebel SEiarpshOOters Driven
From the KifIe-pits.
OUR TROOPS OCCUPY
FREDERICKSBURG!
HEApeuARrERs AMY PoroNAc, /

December liz ven!ng. !
But little firing took place between one
and three O'Clock, during which time all
the available batteries were placed in po
sition. They numbered l78 guns,
Alta signal they all opened fire. on the
city. Tie firewa, terrible, but the rebei
sharp.hootors C, u'd not be driven from
their hiding places.
Shot and shell went through the house,
in many cases setting them on fire, ca us
ing dense smoke, which, together, viii
the explosion Of 81 large n quantity Of
powder. almost hid The city from view.
l, soon became evident that the bridges
could not be built except by a bold dash
+ Volunteers were called for to cross in
boats. The order was SO suddenly given
that thousands stepped forward, but all
could not 90. About one hundred were
selected. They were soon on their way,
while the artillery threw a perfec; storm
Of iron hail on tic OPP osite bank aud
they reached the opposite shore, but not
wilhou, loss. With fixed bayonets they
rushed upon the enemy, killing several
and taking l0l prisoners, who were safe
" tandem on this side. At halfpast four
two bridges were finished opposite the
city, when the troops mrcl aiely began
10 cross over. Tho enemy were soon
driven back TO their line Of works.
TIE two bridges in front of General
Franklin were SUCCESSFULLY laid early in
the day, but bis troops did not cross until
the two upper ones were really.
A sufficient force is now on tho oppo-
site side of the river to resist any attack
that is likely to be made.
The rebels fired but few guns in tho
morning, and none in the afternoon, al
though their works were in e@sy range
during The forenoon.
Tho rebels burned their bridge outside
of the city. Between thirty and forty
houses were burned, mostly in the busi
ness part of the city during the day.
Between S, 600 and 8, 600 rounds OF
ammunition were fired by our artillery.
Everything is quiet to night. The in-
dications arc that battle will be fought
Tomorrow.
HEADQUARTEEs OpPosr FREDERIcKs !
BURG, December llth, 1862.
+ Hera}ds Special Between four aud
five O'Clock this morning the poutoon
train. in charge of tho 18th and 50ih
New York engineers under command Of
Gen. Woodbury., proceeded to the river
bank, where with infantry support, nm at
tempt w7s made to throw their bridge
across The river. A dnII haze so obscurcd
the movement that for Il time it was not
discovered by the rebel pickets.
The Pontooners had succeeded in par
tinlIy constructing the bridge. when the
rebels suddenly opened a brisk and dead
" fire Of uIusketry from along the banks
Of the river, aud windows of the houses
compelling a cessation of the work.
Retur.ins to the cover ofthe surround-
ing bills, the men again formed, and
about six O'Clock the attempt was renew
e. Lut the rebels bad now been through
IL aroused, and with reioforcenents of
sbarpshooters, swarlned 10 tho oppos te
banks and houses, nothing dauntcd by
the hot fire which We 10 lrcd in. At
the re-appearrnce Of our troops TIC pom
TONERS went gaIIaptly to their work, but
in vain 4 storm of bullets cnveIoped
them, P!anks and boati were riidIcd
by every voIlcy. Once more they were
C mpelIed 10 withdraw, and fall back O
the cover OF q ridge of hiIIs running par
nllel- the river 1t was evident that
the rebels had determined to use tie
houses oftle city for a defense, eontary
to an implied agreement in correspond
enco which recently passed between The
armies, by a flag of truce. Orders were
g ven to our artillery men to open fire
upon The city. Accordingly, Bcniarnin's
Edwards, Muthenburg's, and other bat
ferries of the Ninth copps, together with
batteries Of ,hc corps to the right and
left of tho city. commenced alrnAst sim
itane, u.s. y the bonbardmeni. The foo
was SO denss that it was Impossible 10
see any distance beyond tho edge of tho
river.
Houses, however, in which the rebel
sharpshooters had ensconsed themsclcy.
were visible, and to them tho fire was
for time directed. The effect was
their partial demolition in short time
After the first fire they BEGAN unton
able by rebel rifieman, who rctrea,ed TO
the rear and took shelter behind I'M
burned buidins.
BY o'clock the bonbardmeut be-
came general, aud t, ON that timo until
o'clock the roar of of artillery was in
cessant. The batteries of the 9th raked
the streets with shell and grape. Thus
the fog still continued to obscure in a
measure the results Of these discharges.
The rebels, with the greatnest stubbora-
ness, still kept within the city, and, at
times. parties of them conld be seen going
frem one point to another in donbleqlick.
The carnage cannot but be fearful.
II WAS somewhat singular that the rebel
batteries did not return fire--fonr Guns