The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-12-19
WAR NEWS.
FRoM THE ARMY cF THE PoroNAc I
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. Il.


aHd 5UdI New Y0ik engineers, under CON.
maud Of General Woodbury., proceeded to
the bank, where with infantry supports an
attempt was mado to throw threo bridges
across tho river. Tho hpEo So obscurod tho
movement that for timo it was not dis
covered 10y tho cnemy's pckcts. The pom.
toonio,s had succeeded iu partially coustruc.
ting the bridges. when the rebels suddenly
opened a brisk and deadly fire Of muskctry
from along tho Jauks of tho river and the
windows Of houses, compelling u cessation
OF tho work. Retiring to tho cover OF the
surrounding bills, the men again formed,
aud about six o'croGk the attempt was re.
moved, but tho rebels had now been thor.
ougbly aroused, and roiniorccmcnts of
shat p. shooters swarmcd to tho opposite
banks aud houses Nothing dauulcd by
the hot Gro which the enemy poured in upon
the rc0ppunranco Of tho troops. the pOntoun.
i,rs Went calamity to work, but 10 vain a
storm OF bullets Cuyr'Optd them, md the
boats aud piuHks wcro ridllud by evory
yOluy. Once more thoy wero compelled
to withdraw aud fall back to tho cover Of
tho range OF hills running parallel with the
liver.
Il was evident that tho rObels wsro do.
teI mined to uso tho houses of the city tor =
dOtouso, contrary to an implied agreement
in "a correspondence which recently passed
by flag OF truce. Oiders were given TO
our artillery men to open fire upon the city.
Accordingly. Bcrjamins, Bdwutd's Middle.
burys aud other batteries. Of the 9Th corps,
lugsthcr, with the batteries Of the corps to
the right aud lott of the city, commenced
u,most simultaneously bOmburdmeut -
Tie iog was so dense that IL Sus mpOss Die
! 10 $50 Uut d short distance bgyOUd the edge
Of tho Iiver. The houses however, iR which
the rohei sharpshootcrs had OusCouCcd
themselves, wore plainly visible, and to
them ths fac was for limo particularly 81
rectcd. Tho effect was their partial dem.
thtiUu in u short tItno. Alter the first FIRE,
shUy became untcDable by tho rebel RHO.
mon, WHO ruireAled to tho rear Of tho town.
whuro they took shelter behind as yet IN.
har med buildings.
By seven o'clock the bombardment be.
came general, and from that time until ono
O'Clock, the roar Of artillery was inccsSunt
Tho batteries of the 9th rnkGd the streets
with shnrpuol shell and grapc Though
tho fog stiil continued TO OOscurO IN moas
uro tho results of these discharges, the
rebels With the greatest stuhbOrnness. stIll
kept within the city, and at times parties Of
them could be seen going from one point to
another ut double quick The carnage can.
not but DO fearful amorgst them.
IL was somewhat singular that the rebel
batteries did not return ;he fire of our guns
Up to the present tune they have not opened
About ton o'clock, the ongineOrs formed
tor thc tnlId timo to construct tho bridges
After the previous inChcctual attempts OF
/ tho part Of tho engineers to cross, party
/ OF eighty mon Of the 9Th Connecticutund
! Captain Marsh vulrntUered to assist IN thin
new sudcuVor Ga fnish the bridge, aud once
more The column. with this reinforcement
started UUdtr the dir' ctcu Of Genera
/ WOOdbuIy. They seized plauks and carried
out soIne dozen of them to tho end OF Ga,
string .: boats. placed n part of thcm, ant
wore then compelled TO retro under q
! Calling fire from tho rebni Bhurpshoote 8
/ who wero enscunced securely ia rifle pts
/ below tho range of the artillery, and within
/ fifteen or twenty feet of tho river bank
! The eDgiuoors suffered severely.
/ Tho movement havirg been thus inter
rupted, the whole party wera ordered back
TO their original position AT II o'clock i
was discovered that one of the house wal
on fro. The flames. which commenced in
thG westerly part of tho city, soon spread
! and Fredericksburg Is now enveloped IL
fire and smoke. An eDhlHding frs ha:
beon opened upon the rebel rte pits uE
tho rivor 1t has been successful 40 far ia
driving shap shooters fran tho vicinity oi
the railroad depot. Engineers are nov
building bridges across tho river The
rebels sIIIl maintain thor ground opposite
the uppor bridges. Cavalry are now pass
| ing Summers headquarters, On route to
make q charge across The river al ono of tht
iolds.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY ofTHE PoToNAC. !
Friday, Dec. 1910 AN.
After occupying the river, front Of Tho
city last night. we lost about 100 men ii
killed. and wounded, while driving he reb
els through the city. They fred on ou
men Ms they advanced through the pits
| while secreted in and behind houses. -
, Not much mercy was shown to hose VIII
were caught.
This morning a dense fog hid everylhin
hom view, but now it is partially ciesre
away. Tno troops commenced mOvin
. At an early hour NJ jor General Sumner
: grand division leading the way over
front Of the city, TO be followed by Majc
: General Hooker's grand division. Ger
eral Frsnklin's grand division wh,C
a crosses nearly three miles below the cit.
is nearly over,
. Al quarter pas, nine the 6rst gun vi
fred, the engagement lasting about ha
. an hour, the rebels not making vel
G spirited reply.
= 1t is thought the troops will all be ov,
:. ut noon. Information was received d.
t. ring tke night md this morning, from d
scriers and prisoners, that the rebels ha
a two strong lines Of batteries ic the rear
n the city. the first ore being one mile bac
IS and the second mile from he 6rst.,
u m" The whole army Is in rapid motion, al
. well concentrated. The iroops are 10 e
celeut spirits and anxious to be LED TO 4
enemv's works. The enemy has eonce
!, trated his forces and It Is believed "
. give battle. Much will depend upon I
ID result of to day; all feel saDguine OF su
"a cess.
Is IiEADarARTER Army OF the Potomac,
S. Evening.
Y. Al 10 O'Clock this morning the fog
an gan 10 clear away, but before II o'c!o
h. the air was again thick which conlnu
III until 9 o'clock when it entirely diSG