The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-25
The Retreat OF Burnside.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoToMAc
FALMOUTH, December II, 1862.

FALMOUTH, December II, 1862.
Yesterday morning when daylight
appeared, the enemy seemed to be, as
they no doubt were, perfectly aston.
ished that our army had succeeded in
returning to this side of the Rappahan-
mock River.
We returned without losing a single
man or gun in the retrogade move
ment.
A few soldiers who had struggled off
made their appearance OH the river
bank after the pontoon bridges had
been removed, but they were subse-
quently brought over safely in small
boats.
A few privates who were guarding
house inhabited by a private family
were not during the night aware of our
recrossing the river, but in the morn
ing becoming aware OF the fact, they
safely swan the river.
The pickets of the contending armies
being separated by only few yards,
rendered it necessary that everything
on our front should be conducted with
the utmost caution.
The pickets on our outposts were
unaware of the movement we were
making until just before daylight, when
an officer went 10 each individual man
aud in low tone of voice ordered him
to fall back.
After they got sufficiently far away
to be out of danger they were ordered
! - quicken their pace and reach the
bridges as 9,,isl.l--s.-- r,ossitle.---
About o'clock yesterday morning
the enemy advanced their skirmishers
along their entire line, and by noon
had established their pickets near the
4 bank Of the river.
We had large number of dead on
what was regarded as neutral ground y
and as soon as it was known our forces
had evacuated the city the soldiers OF
the enemy, commenced robbing the
Iifeless bodies. This was plainly seen
through field glass, as well as indis-
tinctly with the naked eye.
About ten or eleven o'clock ladies
very neatly dressed were seen walking
about the streets of Fredericksburg
They had doubtlessly been concealed
in their houses during the time the
city was occupied by our troops, and
doubtless availed themselves of the
first opportunity tN-a,aalia -their reap
pearance alter our retreat.
On Monday the pickets Of the con-
tending armies fronting the left wing
mutually agreed upon an "armistice"
among themselves, and freely inter
minging with each other, exchanging
their dead friends and comrades who
lay on "neutral ground"
During this time a general 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 general had left, the
friendly demonstrations of our pickets
were renewed, and butternut and blue
uniforms freely mingled.
About this sine Gen. Franklin dis
patched flag of truce, which the enc
my Immediately recognized, and the
exchange of dead bodies was resumed
and continued until completed. Yes.
terday Gen. Lee sent flag of truce to
Gen. Burnside, asking 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 pos
sible are being sent to Washington.
Onr entire army is now encamped
on the same ground which they previ-
ously occupied.
The soldiers are as comfortable for
the present as they can be, in shelter
tents.
Our army has been considerably re-
inforced since the battle, and no dan
ger whatever attaches TO our present
position.
Our soldiers, it may repeated, be-
haved with the greatest gallantry, cour-
age, bravery and determination, but no
troops in the world could withstand
such concentrated fire of heavy ord
nance and musketry, under cover of
Notifications, as was sent forth by the
r.,ho1o