Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-12-12
FRoM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

FROM FREDERICKSBURG
HEADoUARTERs OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG
Dec IL, 3 p M.-The Herdids special says
between four and FIVE o'clock this morning
portion OF train in charge Of the nth and
50th New York Engineers under command
General Woodbury. proceeded TO the river
bank, where with infantry supports snattempt
was made to throw their bridges across the
river. Dull haze so obscured the movement
that for time it wasn't discovered by the
rebel pickets Pontooners had succeeded in
partially constructiRg-the bridges, when the
rebels suddenly opened brisk and deadly
FIRE of musketry from along the banks Of the
river and windows Of houses, compelling the
cessation Of the work, returning to the cover
Of the surroundings hills, General Woodbury.
again formed, and about six o'clock the at
tempt was renewed, but the rebels had now
been thoroughly aroused aud with reinforce
menls Of Sharpsbooters swarmed to the oppo.
site banks and houses Nothing daunted by
the hot fire which they poured in at the reap
pearance Of our troops pontooners went gal
lantly to work, but in vain. Storm Of bullets
enveloped them. Planks and boats were rid
died by every volley. Once more they we're
compelled TO withdraw and fall back to the
cover Of the ridge of hills running parallel
with the river
| IL was evident the rebels determined to use
houses OF city for defense, contrary to an i'm
piled agreement in correspondence which re-
Gently passed by flag of truce
| Accordingly Benjamins, Edwards, Mullen
bnrgs, and other batteries Of -, com
menced almost simultaneous bombardment
Fog so dense that it was impossible to see
but short distance beyond the edge oi the
ryer.
Houses however in which rebel sharpshoot.
ers had ,enscunsed themselves were plainly
visible and to them the FIRE was for a time
particularly directed The effect was their
partial demolition.
In a short time after the first FIRE they be-
came untenable Tor rebel rihemen, who retreat
ed to the rear OF town, where they took shell
ter behind as yet unharmed buildings.
BY clock bombardment became general.
and from that time till /, o'clock the roar Of
artillery was incessant
Batteries of the 9Th raked the streets with
shell, shrapnell, and grape, though fog still
| continued TO obscure III a measure the results
of their discharges, Rebels with greatest
stubbornness still kept within the city, and at
times parties of them could be seen going
from one point to another in double quick.
Carnage cannot but be fearful among them.
Ii was somewhat singular rebel batteries
did not return fire of our guns
Up TO the present time they have not
opened
About 10 clock the engineers formed for
the third attempt to construct bridges after
the previous Intellectual attempts on the part
Of the engineers to cross A party Of so men
of the 9Th Connecticut under Capt Marsh
volunteered TO assist in the new endeavor to
finish the bridge and once more in column
with this reinforcement, started under the
direction OF General Woodbury. They seized
planks and carried out some dozen to the end
of the string of boats, placed part OF them
and we're then compelled to retire under
very CALLING fire, from the rebel sharpshooters,
who were ensconced securely in rife pits
below the range Of the artillery and within
fifteen or twenty feet OF the rivers edge
The engineers suffered severely. The move
ment having been thus interrupted the whole
party were ordered back to their original
position. AT II o'clock it was discovered that
one of the houses was on fire flames of
which commenced in a wealthy part OF the
city and soon spread Fredericksburg is now
enyeloped in FIRE and smoke An enfading
fire has been opened upon the rebel rifle pits
up the river / has been successful GO lar,
driving the sharpshOoters from the vicinity Of
the Railroad Depot.
Engineers now are constructing bridges
across the river. The rebels still maintain
their ground opposite upper bridges. Caval
ry now passing Summers Headquarters en-
route to make charge across the river a
! one Of the fords.
I LATER-AouIA CREEK, Midnight Dec II
= Intelligence from the front tonight state
that our troops have crossed the river and arr
now in possession of Fredericksburg Emf
lading FIRE from our batteries on the righ
succeeded in driving the rebels from riA
u pits on the rivers edge thereby permitin
e measures for rapid construction of pontoo
. bridges.