The New York herald., 1862-12-14

A1A" ~ - "a l. kON.
The armies OF Generals Burnside and Lee had
terrible conflict at Fredericksburg yesterday. The
corps Of General Reynolds opened The battle The
fighting was severe and desperate the rebels con
testing the ground flerccly. General Burnside was
experimenting the operations Of our troops in the
city in person.
SkiiInishing commenced on the left about day.
light Soon after a rebel battery opened on our
lines, aud The Ninth New York Militia was ordered
to charge, but after . fierce struggle was com.
PEELED to retire. The remainder of the brigade,
under General Tyler, then charged the enemy's
guns, when the fight became general ON the ex.
trcmc eft General Mead's and General Gibbons
div.s;o. eIcornterel the right Of General A. p.
Hill's co..naud.
T4s ~aanonading was terrific, though our troops
SUI 80 but little from the enemy's artillery.
CIR i.ily the fight extended around to the right
Gene, Al Howes division went in. and then General
R-".ls division About ten o'clock A. NJ. Gene
raj Summers troops engaged the enemy back Of
the city. since which time the battle has raged
furiously along the whole line. The enemy, occu-
pyng the woods and hills, had much more ad.
vsntageous position, but were driven back on their
right "a mile and hak early in the day. Through
out the entire day the strife was terrific.
The battle continued till nightall, aud even up
was still going on. and tho rebels were shclling
The city of Fredericksburg. About dark we had
taken important position from the enemy; but.
with the exception OF slight advance of our
left, both armies occupied the positions
they held when the fight began. Tie
loss is reported to be terrible on both
Sides but. of course, cannot be accurately ascer-
tanned. Among tue Unica generals wounded are
Generals Gibbon, Campbell, I. +. Meaglcr VIM
ton, Caldwell and kimball. General Baysrd wa.
killed by q solid shot in the hip willie conversing
with General Franklin. General Jackson was also
killed. Colonel Nusent, OF the Sixty ninth Crish
Brigade). was also badly wounded. We give the
iiss Of casualties far they have reached up
to late hour this morning.
Inc Dattle Whs exIcoteu w Oc EeheWsu tO-ntN
probably q, daylight.
II has been ascertaincd to q certainty that tho
whole rebel force Of General Lec Is In our front
and Eumbcrs nearly two hundred thousand mon.
commanded a. foliows:-Gcnoral I,ongs,roet Is In
the centre. occupying the line from the telegraph
roak to Guiney's Station; Stonewall Jackson
commands the right wing extending from the la,
or point to Por. Royal, while General Lee aud
General Stuart command The left wing
II was said that large body Of our troops pro.
baby Gen. FrankliD's corps) had got to the rear
of the enemy. a raid by portion OF Gen. stu.
arts rebel cavalry was also made In the rear Of
our lines at Dumiries on Friday in which several
Of our scouts and suffers wagons we're captured
and some telegraph wires were cut OFT Dumfries
however, was afterwards occupied by General
Steinwehr.
The news Of to.dsy viii be looked for with pain
ful interest.
Our correspondence from North Carolina, and
the extracts from the papers Of that State which
we publish to-day. exhibit deplorable condition
oi affairs there. Destitusion, not aiear among the
relel soldisn, but the farmers and citizens. reigns