The New York herald., 1862-12-15

u''onr o'clock In the afternoon, at which time tho
Oi's were Just ready and the troops expecting
oracis 70 march They then all drawn up line,
anu eNofyooay was in his place. During the day the
DAnas o' INC uieront regiments enlvened all by per-
FORMING national and operatic airs which afforded most
striking contrast 10 the booming OF the artillery ana tho
sharp Kissing Of the sheis hey rushed through the
| air on their mission OF death.
The dense fog which lay everything a tho MORN
ing prevented Of from observing the eects OF the
shells thrown, In fact the batteries on our own
ride; but in the afternoon the mis-, lifted . ht,le,
and able 10 better discern objects
at distance Several burning houses visible,
and for some time II thought that the unfor.
tuna,e city would be completely wrapped In flames, aud
that fire would end the destruction that had been begun
BY shells Those things, which OF riveted the
attention Of ALI made tho time pass quickly that
dark before anybody had the least idea Of the hour We
still expected 70 cross tho river that night but order
| came 10
10 CANT,
and II received with much pleasure by the men, a.
they had left everything comfortable behind them, and
they preferred enjoying good nights at camp ana
then cross TO sburg In the morning when they
woald have daylight to assist their operations. They
were accordingly marched back to their camps, and
| n very few minutes they In their
| old places, and would suppose that
they Lad been awaiting all day Cor q battle. Csnca
Ws Hauc shetcr tents up, ana Drght nres served 70
make them comfortable. A portion Of them were, how
ever, doomed 10 a bitter disappointment, and must
say, TO their credit that not murmur hoard, al
though they had very good feel il-tempered.
Discipline, however, gained the day, and the
membered only that he soldier. II was quite dark
when the regiments returned their places, ana the
roads sufficiently muddy TO render walking
~ unpleasant, and tho men congratulang them
selves when order came for the brigade OF General
fIn..
the river, aud TO act pckes tho other sido Of
river They instantly equipped, and minutes
wore On their way to fredericksburg Why not have
kept the while they tho spot ready and
not send them back 20 camp and drag them through ali
the mud
AT about eight O'Clock last evening they crossed the
river without any opposition having been made, and tho
pickcts extended to the limits Of the city. Nothing
Of Importance during the night In tho afternoon
half dozen Of the rebel batteries opened the
bridges and really the time that they had
exposed their POSITION It caused considerable surprise,
and they very replied TO by the brazen mohs
Of pieces and for short time the artillery duel
sharp aud we'll kept up but darkness bosti-
Titles ceased for the time being
MORNING.
Al early hour this morning tho troops comprising
the Ninth corps under and again awaiting
orders TO cross the river. Our artillery play
clear the whole corps received orders TO advance and a
ten O'Clock the bridges had been crossed and the Ninth
had quiet possession Of the city, II is somewha. sngular
that the rebels did not shell while we're crossing
descending the banks. They could easily havc done
aud have caused great trouble tho protection
had really amounted to nothing The division Of General
surgs crossed at the upper double bridge while The
divisions OF Generals Getty and Burns tho
single bridge below
The enoure Cd in one raa
and upon reaching the other side they depoycd to the
right and left and took up their positions they
assigned 20 them The streets running parallel TO tho
river the selected they afforded protection
from the cnonys shells and helped TO keep out
Of sight. As write tho streets fast nlliug up.
and perceive large additions TO forces coming
from the other sde We have number Of batteriss
the city. md coming so that may ad,
beyond this in few hours or, what is pro-
bable, wait until morning.
FREpEHcRsBuRG.
No one could better understand what war is than b.
ing stroll through The streets Of the almost destroyed
city Of Fredericksburg Turn whore you will and your eye
evidence OF tho terrific nre that hurled
from gins into the streets and dwellings. Nothing
appears to have escaped. Roofs walls fences, trcss
and chimncys perforated, and in insancss 20
such extent that the side Of house presents the
appearance Of huge pepperbox the holes
regular, while Immediately beside the smoking
remains Of what once stately dwelling. Some OF
the houses the river front are completely torn 10
pieces aud turned from street another the
question would naturally TO his mind-IIow coaA
anything remain here and liver And yet strange say,
people did remain and have yet TO learn OF amy casua
~ those who did Quite number after tho fasbioo
Of sharpsbure took their families into tho
cellars Of their houses and there remained in safety.
house found about dozen ladies and few gentle
when crossed they emerged from their place o.
refuge and received Us with open arms The majority o.
them good Union people, and are not TN.
known a number OF officers, who were
here sir months ego. had but Htls
opportunity Of speaking TO them. In all, ] sup
pose some fifteen or twenty families remained,
and cannot see what mved them al from coDmsn
destruction Instead Of looking for house that bee been
struck the dificully find that has MOT soersd
more The streets piled with bricks fron the
chimneys and In fact tho city looks II wanted 10 be
made all again. The churches have wonderfully o.
sape having been but partially injured and the ssespse
are nearly good The Bank OF the State cf Viz
gnia vas burned down. and am very much surprised
that the greater part Of the city was not reduced TO ashss
az the number OF frame houses, would suppose would
serve spread the flames.
The street running along the river savo strong evidence
OF the intention Of the rebels 10 stopping our crossing
was completely lined with rnc pits, and sonc fencse
were made 10 answer the same purpose. From behind
these the sharpsooters picked OF our men, un.' so
PEELED 30 retreat themselves.
The houses were nearly all empty OF furnitcre,
with the exception OF old chairs, tables and the
IKE II one house good piano uninjured. What
ever remained tho buildings soon in the posscssion
or the soldiers and there nothing Of vanc Il was
some little time before they interfered With. Some
udcrous the consequences, tho mcu srrsy
themselves ia old hats bonnets &c and paracng tho
s,rces Ih. nterfcred with discipline, however, and
order was given that any found With any article tEas
was taken from house should be at once arrested Geres
raj Patrick the Marshall rs deserving Of great
prase or his cxeriions in this respect The men for
time took all they could lay their hands or, and tubs,
rakes. baskets and pots Of all descriptions we're
carried away, TO be thrown into the street o. 'hs
next crossing. Tobacco appeared 70 % very