The New York herald., 1862-12-14
Description of tho Demolition and
sack Of Fredericksburg.
ne Battle to be Renewed 81
Daylight This Morning.
Gun TROOPS IN HIGH SPIRITS.
-. Ae. ~
OPERATIONS on THURSDAY.


FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Dec. IL, 1904
cnossEo RIVER.
.Avss Ten hours terrific cannonading, troops last
Amt entered the city Of fredericksburg Al day long,
eh tho exception Of few brief intervals the artillery
IA roared and numbered knocking at the Threshold Of
- Deeacured city for adnittance, while from every
o,lsr she'd and stable along the river CALLING Ore Of
~usketry cut down our at every attempt to COM
,asts the half finished bridges Two companies Of the
seventh Michigan regiment volunteered to nrive the
snemy from his cover crossed the river in pontoons
carged calamity up the bank and sent back as prisoners
= var nearly nfsy q the rebel sharpshooters.
Al the lower bridge Companies and K, Of the Eighty
.,nth New York, performed similar OF daring The
AOusss were occupied and the bridges in a trce made
ready for use.
ma Ninth corps-Burnsides gallant heroes Of North
n>ro,ina-in two huge columns stges above and Bir-
ssy,s and Gettys below passed into the town. and
b,vouackng along The river ndustrousy set about maxi
mo selr comfortable in deserted houses and with depart.
q rebels household goode.
me enemy opened upon the bridges occasionally with
.,<Msy pu. were soon siIsnosd by our heavier metal
end their infantry kept up constant fusilade In the
suburbs.
mus the night came oa-thus ts weary hours watch
IND slowly passed away. Ths rebels stin occupying .
pcrsion Of the town, continued 70 annoy our advance
Wow and then . shot came scrccchiny over from the
through which no sleam had shown for weeks and the
frightened females crep rsm their hiding places to end
srotsotson for homes and property.
DESTRUCTION or vuRxruRr
ss ndulged In much ees by the troops than had been
anticipated Exasperated - they were by the perti.
ec,ty Of the rebel sharpshooters, and Wild with the
sxo,tsusps og the bombardmsnt, n was expected
Rat some diniculty would be encountered in
prsvsusng The city from being burned 70 the
ground OF ocursc everything convenient for soldier
70 carry was ,aken but nothing wantony destroyed
uor were the apartments injured though great number
q tho roops spent the night IN houses fitted up with
every luxury Flour, moasscs tobacco, &c were found
a sons places In great quantities. though the houses Of
she poorer classes showed signs terrible desttution
sev d The buildings Close by The river whose walls have
been completely shattered by The batteries were tum
bsd down, bus nops red sad not one was injured
sf,ee tho artillery withdrawn. Arms were stacked
IN the Streets rss kindled In the dosrysrds shs can
ssed -four baked sdde cakes cansssps OF o,asse,
ossssd round and the night spsHt in fighting the rebels
through the streets and doing by the blazing rss alter
safely. -
ound IN oil astir Revee was sounded long before day
brsax and with the rst appearance Of the Genera
urus,de was his saddle hts escort provided with
three days ratons and the prospect exceedingly bril-
NAN tor long exposure 70 cold and hunger in the opcu
ash. The air was loaded with mist, and "a keen az
,u,ers morning this latitude need be. The frost LAY
white on the barren elds tiny wresihs OF smoke ouret
m rom the embers Of expiring watchres and the heavJ
Banks Of fcs ,hrobbsd wshtbs reverberations from
ssnssn on the blun above the quiet village OF Falmouth
- n ~ rishs ne enemys guns leisurey repynl