The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13
TAKING OF RREDERICKSDUR
Farther Particular.
THerald'a apecisI

HEADQUARTERS. opposite Fredericksburp. Dec
IL, 3 p. m.-Between 4 and O'Clock th;s
morning the pontoon train in charge of the l7tb
and SOth n. Y. engineers, under command of
Gen. Woodbury., proceeded to the river bang
where with infantry support they attempted TO
throw three bridges across the river. A dull
haze SO obscured the movement, that for time
it was not discovered by the rebel pickets. The
pontooniers had succeeded in partially con-
structing bridges, when the rebels suddenly
opened brisk and deadly fire of muskesry from,
along the banks of the river and windows Of
houses, compelling a cessation of work.
Returning to the cover of the surrounding
hills our men al formed, and abost o'clock the
attempt was renewed, but the rebels had now
been thoroughly, aroused, and with reinforce.
ments OF sharpshooters, swarmed to the opposite
banks and houses. Nothing daunted by the hot
fire which they poured in st the temperance of
our troops, the pontooniers went CALAMITY 10
work. But in vain. A storm of bullets enyeI-
oped them, and the planks and boats we're rid
died by every volley Once more they were
compelled to withdraw, and fell back to the cover
of ridge of hills running parallel With the rivrr.
1t was evident the rebels were determined to use
the houses of the city tor defense, contrary to
an implied agreement in correspondence which
recently passed by flag Of truce. Orders we're
given to our artillerymen to open IRE upon the
city. Accordingly, Edwards,, Aullenbergs, and
other batteries of corps together with batter
les of corps to the right and left Of the city, com.
menced almost simultaneously the bombsrdment
The fog was 90 dense that it was impossible
to see but short distance beyond the edge of
the river. Houses, however, in which the rebel
sharpshooters had esconced themselves we're
plainly visible, and to these the fire was par
ticulary directed; the effect was their partial
demolition; in a short time after the frst Ere
they became uatenantable by the rebel riAemen
who retreated to the rear of the town where they
took shelter behind the as yet unframed build
ings. By o'clock the hombardment became
general, and from that time until O'Clock the
roar of artillery was incessant-the batteries of
the 9th rsked the streets with shell, shrspnel
and grape-though the fog still continued to
obscure in q measure the results of these dis
charges the rebels with the greatest stubborn.
ness still kept within the city, and at times
parties Of them could be seen going from one
point to another on double quick. }a -sra
The carnage cannot but be fearful amongst
them. It was somewhat singular that the rebel
battery did not return the FIRE of our gums. Up
to the present time they have not opened
About ten o'clock the engineers formed for
third attempt to construct bridges. After pre-
vious Intellectual attempts on the part of the
engineers, to cross, party OF eighty Of the SIN
Connecticut, under Capt. Marsh, volunteered to
assist in this new endeavor to finish the bridges,
and once more column with this reinforcement
started, under the direction of Gen. Woodbury..
They seized planks and carried out some dozen
to the end of the string of boats, placed part
Of them, and were then compelled to retire under
very CALLING fire from the rebel sharp shooters,
who were enscoLced securely in rife pits below
the range Of artillery aud within fifteen or twenty
feet of the rivers edge. The engineers suffered
severely. .' Wv '
The movement having been thus interrupted,
the whole party was ordered back to their orig
inal position. At IL o'clock it was discovered
that one of the houses was on FIRE, the flames of
which commenced in a westerly part of the ai-
ty, soon spread, and Fredericksburg is now en-.
veloped in fire and smoke. An enflading Ere
has been opened on the rebel rife pits up the
| river. 1t has been successful so far in driving
the sharpshooters from the vicinity of the rail-
road depot The engineers are now constructing
q bridge across the river. The rebels still hold
their ground opposite the upper bridge Our
cavalry are now passing Summers headquarters,
en- route to make a charge across the river at
one of the fords.
Aqua Greek, midnight, Dec. 1l.-Intellige1ce
| from the front tonight states that our forces
have crossed the river, and are now in possession
of Fredericksburg. An enflading fire from our
batteries on the right succeeded in driving the
| rebels from the rife pits on the rivers edge,
| thereby permitting an easy and rapid construc-
ton of pontoop bridges.