White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1862-12-18

The effect was their partial demoit'on.
In short time after The 6rss Gre they BE-
came unienable BY tbs rsbsl fiasmen, Who
retreated to the resr of46e town. where
they took shelter bebied = - ssh.fm'd
buildings. rs
By seven o'clock the bonbSrdmsat be-
came general. and from thst time, till one
o'clock the roar oi1ftillery way incessanl
The battssiss a tha 0sh eorps raked the
streets with sls)t. shrapeel and grape.
though tbs fog still contiausi to Obscure.
in . measure, the results Of their dis
charges. 3
The rsbels. with grsaa stubbornness.
still kept within the city; It times parties
of them could be seen going from one
point to another on the double quick.
The slaughter cannot bot be fearful
smougst thsm. NCtT JTlTSHCS.
1t was somewhat singular that the rebel
batteries did not return the FIRE Of our guns.
Up ofthe present time they hsvs not
opened. - ' - =
About ten o'clock the engineers form.
ell for the third attempt to construct
bridges, and after sstSrsl Intellectual at.
tempts on the part Of the engineers to
cross. party Of eighty men OF the 9Th
Connecticut. under Cspt. Marsh. volun-
teered to assist IN this, new endeavor to
finish the bridges, and once moro the col
umn with this reinforcement started under
direction Of General Woodbury.. They
seized planks and carried ont some dozen
to the end of the step of the string boats.
placed part Of them, and were then CON-
PEELED to retire under . very CALLING fire
from the rebel shsrpshooters. who were
secure in rife pits below tho range Of our
artillery. and within fifteen or twenty feet
of the river edge. 'T' -r.,s.... r..
The engineers suffered sever'y. The
movement having been thus interrupted,
the whole party was ordered back to their
original position. At eleven o'clock il
was discovered that one of the houses was
on FIRE. and the flames. which commenced
in westerly part Of the city. soon became
general. and spread, and Fredericksburg
is now envelopsd in fire and smoke.
An en6lading FIRE has been opened mp
on the rebel rife pits mp the river. 1t
has been successful SO far in driving the
sharpshooters from the vicinity Of the
railroad. and the engineers are now con-
structing the bridges across the river. The
rebels still maintain their ground opposite
tho upper bridges. Cavalry are now
passing Gen. Summers headquarters en-
route to make charge across the river a1
one of the forLs.
AQUA CREEK. Dec IL. Midnight.-In
tell;gence from the front tonight state
that our forces have crossed the river and
arc now in possession of fredericksburg
An en6lsding FIRE from our batteries OF
the right succeeded in driving the rebels
from their riae-pits on the rivers edge
thereby permitting an easy and rapid con-
struction Of the pontoon bridges.
New YoRK. Dec. PA special from
Washington to the Philadelphia Press
dated yesterday, states that private dis
patches received tonight from Fredericks
burg say the greater part Of Franklin''
division crossed safely, throwing out pick
cts to those of Hooker's, at F.cdericks
burg. ~
The city is on fire, but it is thought
that most Of the buildings can be saved.
The enemy has been skirmishing al
day with our advance. but are gradually
falling back.
Our losses have been insignificant a
far as known.
Gen. Psrke telegraphs: We are in ful
possession Of fredericksburg tonight, am
our troops arc crossing rapidly.
The whole army will be over ready tt
engage the enemy tomorrow.
WAsHlsaroN. Dec. l2-Nothing ha.
been heard from Fredericksburg to-day uE
to l:30 P. n. ..-.