The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-12-16

DrefNHFH i5.--Ii sill g. secu Is
the nens e DE sesl that oar troop.
sarrrcd,el after ohe a. luo attempts
Ia llnpaing lgsless across she ntcr
Al FrejrTiclshuFg. and crossed over
nsal iook lsosscssion ~ thc civ Tie
scene ~ tlae iiase q placing lhe ,,oa-
tooa bridges, uas very exciting The
rolsel Sha4,sioo,grs were SD IN lils
aad cellars. along tie bank Of The tiy.
a., BY v lon, a. room rs Our men went
forward 10 lay ihe planks, they we're
hred upon ard many 81 ihcm killed
and wounded. Iiat finally plan was
adopted, which. if Il had been tried
earlier, voald have saved many lives
aad helped the work along much soon
er ia ilie day. Some brave men from
car side, went over in small boats,
drove cat che rebels from their hiding
places, chasing t.em up the streets,
and taking hundred q them prison.
er& This prepared the way for
throwing the bridges over and the
work was soon done, aud our troops
moving 10 the other side. In the
mean time, other bridges lad been
constructed below the city, for Frank
lln's Division 10 cross upon, but his
troops did not cross until those in front
Of The city were rcndy. Finally all
tta troops designated for that purpose
Wsre passed oysr aud posted on the
other side. THIS Of course was only
preparatory TO the soverer conflict TO
come.
This is now the poin, around which
the hopes and fears Of the nation
gather, waiting for Tie result Of the
great battle for Freedom.
DECEMBER lG. = From the papers
received yesterday, We learn that a
severe battle had been fought at Fred
erieksburg between our forces and
the rebels, with Heavy loss on both
sides. As was 10 be expected, the
enemy we're strongly cntrenched, and
had altogether the advantage Of the
attneking purity. The list Of killed
and wounded on our side, shows that
The fight was strongly contested,
II would seem that our troops car
RED only one position Of the enemy,
which they held at the last account.
Whether this is post Of very great
importance Of not, is ret said.
At our last adsiccs, no decisive adj
vantage bad been gained by our troops
since the capture Of Fredericksburg.
The fighting in this battle seems TO
lave been done chiefly by the Divis-
ions Of Sumner and Franklin. The
full accounts Of the battle have not
come TO hand, and this fact operates
unfavorably upon tie minds Of the
people. The inference they draw
from iAis.is llmt the result Of the bat
tie is unfayorable 70 our cause. How
this may be we do not know. Il is
natural that wc should feel great So
licilule in the prescEt state Of our 10.
formation; but We hope fer the best.
II seems that the Vermont troops.
under Gen. Brooks, took part in the
fight. This includes Dudley's com
mand.
We are also informed that our
troops at Camp Vernon. have moved
again, IN the direction of the battle
ground, and we may soon hear Of the
I'd Brigade Of Cascys Division being
engaged in active hos,ilities.
II is some satisfaction that Frank
Tins Division gained somewhat on the
enemy's position, and held it. The
accounts DO no, seem 10 agree entire
ly---oue sitting that tie enemy were
driven back early IN the day, and
another that !, was about dark that
our forces carried The right crest Of
hill occupied by the rebels, driving
them from tlmir position with great
slaughter. We shall be able 70 IN
derasnd the matter better when we
&c, more fuli Information.
The Toss of Gen. Bayari win he
deeply felt. lie was in command Of
cavalry and had much distinguished
himself BY courage and vnlor IL recent
cavalry movements i would seem
from the number # our General officers
struck, that they must expose them
selves unnecessarily 20 The Gre of tbs
sl.arp Shooters. Bui such hasiles a
occur between our troops and tie
rebels expose the lie Of The combat
-. nrA .-..h ~.