The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-26
The Battle at Fredericksburg.

ers an account of the passage Of the Rap
pahannock by the enemy on Thursday
and the fighting which ensued in and
around the town of Fredericksburg. II
was anticipated by those unfamiliar with
the time TO man9uvre and place in posi-
ton large bodies of troops, that genera
engagement between the two armies
would take place on Friday. This ex
peciation was disapp POINTED. and the fight
ing of that day amounted to little more
than preliminary skirmishing for position
most of the fighting being on the part o.
the slowly advancing columns of the enc
my. Before nigbtfall the firing ceased
and by all parties it was believed that the
issue would be fully joined at daydawn on
Saturday morning. With this view the
divisions OF D. H. Hill and Ewell (the lat
ter commanded by General Harlyl were
ordered up from the extreme right in the
direction Of Port Royal, and about 8
o'clock on Saturday morning took posi-
ton to the west Of the railroad. and near
Hamlton's crossing. Before their arri'
val, however. our line of battle had been
formed-the right wing consisting OF A.
! P. Hills and Taliaferro's divisions, and
the left and centre formed by the divis-
ions Of LoEgstreet's corps, and extending
TO within three-fourths of mile of Fred
ericksburg. The line WAS nearly semi
circle, and reached about four miles from
the extreme left to the right wing.
About 81 o'clock the booming Of the
first gun was heard at II milton's Turn
out, away off to the left, in the direction
of the town. In a short time the success
sive reports ofartillery told Enthusiastically
that the ball was opening, and along the
whole line of the right wing the troops
buckled on their armors for the conflict
before them. As the morning wore on,
and the fog which had partially obscured
the light was lifted from the earth, the
cannonading became more general, until
about | | o'clock, when what had before
been but occasional report became an un-
interrupted ro"r. So general was this
cannonade that an unpracticed ear could
scarce distinguish the report of our own
from the guns Of the enemy.
About o'clock P. M the long black
columns Of the enemy, ir regular order.
were observed moving up from their po-
silion near the river, in the direction of
our batteries on the hill side three
fourihs of mile in advance of Hamil
tof's.eFossnig. As they moved across
the wide valley, stretching along between
the river and the railroad, one of our bat
teries away off to the right, opened upon
them fire which was kept up until the
head of their column had reached the
woods in which our line was formed,
when the sharp crack OF infantry, first at
intervals and then in volleys quickly sue
ceedin each other was near nd OBJ
served from the surrounding hills. AT
this time the fight at this point had be-
come general and very severe, both sides
contesting the ground with more than
usual obstinacy. Here and to the left OF
the right wing the battle ragged for per-
haps an hour our troops engaged being
A. P Hills division and portion of Ear
ly's and Taliaferro's forces. Meanwhile,
the enemy's column were observed to fall
ter, and presently to recede, when it ve-
ry soon became evident that the fire was
too warm for them, and that they were
yielding and gradually giving way, as our
own forces pressed on. For distance OF
about one mile they were followed by our
men, who then withdrew from the per-
suit, and retired to the west side Of the |
railroad, in the woods where the line was
first formed. Later in the afternoon, the
enemy renewed the attack, which was
met with such spirit that it was but faint
" sustained. and they again fell back in |
the direction Of the river. This ended |
the heavy fighting on the right OF the |
line, and the battle WAS principally fought |
and won by the troops Of Hills division. !
aided at times by the other troops Of Jack
sons corps.
Whilst these operations were going on
on the right, Longstreet's corps was hot
ly engaged with the enemy on the left, |
in the neighborhood OF |
Fredericksburg. The right of the enc
my's line was formed few hundred yards |
from the Southern lines of the town, and |
our forces fronting them were posted on
range of hills about halt mile distant. |
The fighting at this point was very heavy, |
and continued throughout the afternoon,
during the whole OF which time our posi-. |
ton was maintained without reverse, |
and late in the day the enemy were sig
nally repulsed and driven back into the
town. We were informed that McLaws's
division sustained the principal shock oI
baltle on this end Of the line.
When darkness drew on the firing Of
small arms ceased, and the stiffness OF the
night was only occasionally interrupted
by the report of heavy guns. The result
pi the days bloody work is easily summed
up. At every point OF attack the enemy
we're efiectually repulsed, and at night
our forces slept on their arms on the
rround occupied by them in the morning.
The number Of prisoners taken during
the day is yariously estimated from 600 to
| 900, and we think will reach the latter
figure. Among these are u number OF
minor officers In conversation with one
Of them-a man of more than ordinary
ntelIigence--he stated that Burnside's
orces did not exceed 100000 men. and
no confidence is felt among the troops
hat they will be successful in the strug.
lie now in progress, and which resulted
With such dtcided advantage to our arms
~ Saturday. He says, that at no time
,ince the war commenced has there been
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