The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-16
From Fredericks burg.


particulars of the state of affairs at Frederlcks-
burg on Thursday night and Friday:
"Ihs destruction of furniture was INDUCED in
much less by the troops than had been anticipated.
Exasreratad as they were by the pertinacity Of
the rebel sharpshooters, aud wild with the ex-
citsment of the bombardment, it was expected
that some difficulty would be experienced in pre-
venting the city from being burned to the ground
OF COURSE everything convenient Tor a soldier to
carry was taken, but nothing was wantony de-
stroyed, nor were the apartments injured, though
great number of the troops spent the night IN
houses fitted up villa every luxury. Flour, mo-
lasses, tobacco, &c, were found in some places in
great quantities, though the houses Of the poorer
classes showed signs of terrible desttutlon A
Jew OF the buildings close by the river whose
wall, have been completely shattered by the bat
terits, were tunlbed down, but none were fred,
AID not ons vas injured after The artillery vas
withdrawn. Arms were stacked in The streets,
frs kinded in the doog-yayds, the captured -four
baked into sgiddIe cakes, canteens Of nol-sscs
passed round, and the night 0psE in fighting the
rebels through the streets and doing ly Tie
blazing fires alternately.
Ear y morning found Us all astir rcyeiile was
sounded long before a!yoreak, and WITH the first
Appearance Of the sun Gen. Burnside was in the
saddle, his eacoy, provided with three days raons
and the prospec. exceedingly brilliant for long
exposure to cold and hunger in the open field.
The air was load d with mist, AMI as keen as a
winters morning need be. The frost lay white
On the barren fields, tiny wrco,hs Of smoke CURED
up from the emblrs Of expiring watch-fres, and
the heavy banks Of fog tEroO5ed with the rcysr-
bera.onS from our cannon Oil the duff above ;Ae
quiet village Of Falmouth. Oh to the right, the
enen!'s guns were IeisurcIy replying to oar bat
terry, and over in the city now aad then cracked
the rifles CT the 4kirmisAcrs.
Arriving at Gen. Summers headquarters halt
vas made to wai, for the lifting # the !og Ksgi-
meats Of c@ylry, batteries and brig.des, were
cco 'del on The slopes facing he city, ard from
the camps behind, a steady tide Of troops sweIled
forward, to be lost in TIE vast sea c.! humanity
that swayel to aud fro on the hIl>ides. Abou.
The Phillips House brilliant lhrong CT officers |
waited and watched FOR The expected engagement
S.iIl tie tog hung low b.t"een US and the en-
envy, and nothing could be learned Of operations
On the other side. II was eydsu. that The rebels
had been reinforced, and were only waiting for us
to fill TIE city with troops before their batteries
should open. Occ1>ionaliy the cannonaGns
would break out quite spirited but as nothing
could be through the veil OF mist the results
were Insignificant and after the expenditure o,
forty Or fifty rounds Of Ammunition the guns
y ou.d cease.
About two clock the fox disappeared revealing
. number Of batteries in pos.ion along The ridges
'eyond the city. and every Indication CT I'll. eX-
SteLcc Of largely increased rebel force. Gen.
Sick les dNsi0a moved down toward the city, pre-
,eded BY the S.4,A cavalry band, whose music
lad en!yened The morning hours Q! waiting III the
Phillips House. and all eyes turned to the distant
Ills anxious Y watching the enemy.
Scarcely had the column reached the bridge
before The rebels 0pcaed upla it with shell, some
tf >n2 and exploding within a trw feet CT the
roops, who Immediately took shelter in the neigh
boring ray:ne and under the bill. Our batteries
responded, an artillery due! ensued for half an
lour, and then all asaM grew quiet, With the
lsla! resut-nobody burt.
Thus the day was occupied, our artillery now
nd then Sinking the city win It's roar, with fire.
,uent lulIs Of most impressive silence, TO be first
broken, PEI haps, by The short nervous cheers OF
,ur men as the regiments came down to cross. 4
The enemy have Increased their display OF ar
iery since noon, and batteries have been playing
lpon US qnite brisk!y for two hours. No one has
ct been injured, most of the shells falling short.
Dur siege guns and twen,y-pounders have evident
alsCunctfled TIE itUel urllllerN, ana rendered
hem extremely cautious about ven;urlns within
ange. !
Our troops have bsen busiIy engaged visiting
he abandoned houses and carrying off relics.
Books, periodicals, paror ornaments, dishes. g.,
re seized without a though, as to the disposition
o be made of them; and infantry are to be seen
Juggling of huge Patent office reports, toilet
glasses, dressing eases, and ether useless articles,
IS if each man expected u set Up a first class
establishment for winter quarters. AA immense
.mCuut OF tobacco was found, and tonight We
la"e most Industrious army OF speculstors, who
dispose OF their iIl.Sotlon produce at The most
'Aorb..aOt rates.
Toward evening, guards were stationed through
,ut the portion OF the town IN our possession,
md liUagnS checked, though not entirely broken
AZ. large quantity o. superior tobacco was
s.Sa hshed up from the river, where the rebels
,uH - I, i'm,