The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-18
Particulars of the Evacuation of Fredericks-
burg.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Potomac,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC,
Falmouth, Va, Dec. II.
Yesterday morning, when daylight appeared,
the enemy seemed to be, as they no doubt
were, perfectly astonished that our army had
succeeded in returning TO this side of the Rap
pahannock river. We returned without los
ing single man or a gun in the retrogade
movement. A few soldiers who had struggled
of, made their appearance on the river bank
after the pontoon bridges had been removed,
but they were subsequently brought over
safely in small boats A few privates who
were guarding house inhabited by private
family were not, during the night, aware of
the crossing OF the river, but in the morning
became aware of this fact, and safely swan
over. The pickets of the contending armies
being separated by only few yards, rendered
1t necessary that everything in our front
should be conducted with the utmost caution.
The pickets on the outpost were unaware of
the movement we were making, until just be-
fore daylight, when an officer went to each
individual man, and in low tone OF voice, Or
dered him to fall back. After they got suf-
fciently far away to be out OF danger, they
were ordered to quicken their pace and reach
the bridges as quickly as possible. About Q
O'Clock yesterday morning the enemy adj
vanced their skirmishers along their entire
line, and by noon had established their pickets
near the bank of the river. We had large
number of dead on what was regarded as neu-
trail ground and, as soon as it was known that
our troops had evacuated the city, the soldiers
of the enemy commenced robbing the lifeless
bodies. This was plainly seen through field
glass, as well as indistinctly by the naked eye.
About 10 or ii o'clock, ladies very neatly
dressed were seen walking about the streets of
fredericksburg. They had doubtless been
concealed in their houses during the time the
city was occupied by our troops, and doubt
less availed themselves of the first opportunity
to make their appearance after our retreat.
On Monday the pckets of the contending
armies fronting the left wing mutually agreed
upon an armistice among themselves, and
freely intermingled with each other, exchang-
ing their dead friends and comrades who lay
on neutral ground during this time. A Gen
eral of our army rode by and put an end to
these proceedings. The result was that both
parties Immediately commenced firing. when
nine OF our men were killed. After the Gen
eral had left the friendly demonstrations of
our pckets were renewed, and butternut and
blue uniforms freely mingled. About this
time Gen. Franklin despatched flag of truce,
which the enemy Immediately recognized, and
the exchange OF dead bodies was resumed and
continued until completed. Yesterday Gen.
Lee sent a flag of truce to Gen. Burnside, ask
ing him to detail men to bury his dead in front
OF Gen. Summers grand division. This was
done. The wounded, with the exception of
those whom the enemy obtained have all been
brought to this side of the Rappahannock and
as rapidly as possible are being sent to Wash
ington. During the flag of truce, Gen. Stew
art, of the rebel cavalry, in answer to ques-
ton, stated that Gen. Banks expedition had
gone South, but he did not know exactly
where. Our entire army is now encamped on
the same grounds which they previously oc-
cupied. The soldiers are as comfortable for
the present as they can be in shelter tents.
Our army has been considerably reinforced
since the battle, and no danger whatever is
attached to our present position. 1t is the
opinion of military men that even if we had
succeeded in taking the first ridge of the rebel
works, the opportunity for slaughter would
have been far greater. Our soldiers, it may
be repeated, behaved with the greatest gal
lantry, courage, bravery and determination,
but no troops in the world could witstand such
a concentrated fire of heavy ordnance and
musketry under cover of Notifications as was
sent forth by the rebels.