The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-13
The Opening Scene at Frcderieks-
burg.


HEADQ' RS OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG,
Dec. ll-3 Pm
Between four and five o'clock this
morning n pontoon train, in charge of
he 18th and 50th New York engineers,
lnder command Of Gen Woodbury., pro-
,eeded to the river bank, where, with in
antry supports, an attempt was made to
arrow three bridges across the river. A
lull haze so obscured the movement that
or time it was not discovered by the
ebel pickets. The performers had sue
;eeded in partially constructing the
bridges, when the rebels suddenly open
ID brisk and deadly fire of musketry
rom along the banks of the river and
windows of houses, compelling the ces-
iation of work. Returning to the cover
If surrounding hills, the men again
ormed, and about six o'clock the at
empt was renewed, but the rebels had
row become thoroughly aroused, and,
With reinforcement of sharpshooters,
svarmed to the opposite bank and
houses. Nothing daunted by the hot
lire which they poured in at the reap
0earance of our troops, the pontooniers
vent CALAMITY to work, hut a storm of
bullets envelOped them planks and
BOATS were riddled by every volley.
Once more they were compelled to with
1raw, and fell back to the cover of a
:idge of hills running parallel with the
liver 1t was evident the rebels were
determined to use the houses of the city
or defence, contrary to an implied
,uraanant in tho oorraeDoDdo,oo nh; al,
recently passed under flag of truce
Orders were given to our artillerymen
;hen to open fire upon the city. Accord
ngly, Benjamin's, Edwards, Mullen
1urghs and other batteries of the ninth
corps, together with batteries of other
corps to the right and left of the city,
commenced almost simultaneous bonn
oardment The fog was so dense it was
impossible to see but short distance be-
JOnd the edge of the river The houses
however, in which the rebel sharpshoot
ers had put themselves were plainly visi-
Die, and to them the fire was for time
particularly directed. The effect was q
partial demolition. In short time after
he first fire they became untenable by
he rebel rifemen, who retreated to the
ear of the town, where they took shell
,er behind the, as yet, unframed build
ngs BY Z o'clock the bombardmen
became general, and from that time til
| o clock the roar Of artillery was inces
SAINT The batteries of the ninth rakeC
he streets with shell, schrapnel ant
grape. though the fog still continued t,
obscure in a measure the results of thes
discharges. The rebels, with great stub
oornness still kept within the city, and a
lines parties of them could be seen &c
ng from one point to another on tn
louble quick. The slaughter cannot Blu
le fearful among them. 1t was some
What singular the rebel batteries did nc
return the fire of our guns Up to tn
present time they have not opened.
About 10 o clock the engineers forme
or a third attempt to construct til
bridges. Alter the previous Intellectual a
.empts on the part Of the engineers I
cross, a party Of eighty men OF the S0t
Connecticut, under Captain Marsh, vo
unteered to assist in this new endeavC
to finish the bridge, and once more ii
column with this reinforcement starte
Under direction of Gen. Woodberry the
seized planks and carried out some doze
10 the end of the steps of the string
boats, placed part of them, and we
agthen compelled to retire under We
calling fire from the rebel sharpshooter
who were securely in rihe-pits below Il
range of artillery and within fifteen