Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-16
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
ON THE ADVANCE.
Our Troops Cross the RappahannOck.
IlrApquAnrrK, Annf or rne POTOMAC

December u - 4. NJ.
Every ihuE last night wa, in hustle aud ac-
tgitE as to day was the tims hXc,l on for cros-
sing the river
Duriug the night the pontoons were conveyed
To- the river, nud the artillery OF li3 pieces were
placed in position opposite the city
At oelock this morning the rebels fired two
signal guns, while during the latter part OF the
night rockets were frequently seen within their
lines
At D o'clock the construction Of three bridges
in front of the city was commenced When about
half completed the enemy opened murderous
fire of infantry from the hou.e-, on the river
bank, Up to this time not shot lad been fired
from our side The engineers were driven from
the poutoou bsidg,s and several killed and woun.
dcd,
At O'clock Gen, burnside ordered all the
guns opened on the city
Tnc cAhnonade, which ha' continued without
interruption up TO the present time, is terrible
The enemy, about o'clock, opened with their
heavy guns from their works, but 50 far have
done no serious injury.
General franklin constructed his bridges
about three miles below the city, meeting with
but slight opposition. Ills troops are now cross
ing
The guuboais are nov shelling the enemy
about hltecn mrs down the river, where they
have been concentrating th,i forces during the
! lhHl NNu uu1 81
The concentrated fire Of our batteries on the
city has had the effect Of diving back the enc
my's lnfantfy, und The work On the bridges has
again been commenced
The troops are nil under arms urar the river
preparing to match over as soon us the bridges
are completed
THURSDAY NooS-On tile attempt being made
to nnsh the bridges, IN front Of the clty, the
rebel Infantry again opened thtir fire
If WVN IRVN IN ..HH..
on the city the result being that 1t was fired in
several new places
The enemy have used very ittle artillery up
to this time, rs it would eudnnser their own men,
who are holding the river trout.
General burnside has just issued an order To
concentrate every avaiabie guu upon the city,
under cover OF the fire ut which ii is believed
/ that the bridges eau be flushed
The killed and wounded, ~ far, do not amount
to more than fifty mea.
HEADQUARTERS, December ! ll-Eyening
But lttie firing took place between one aud
three O'Clock, during which time all the available
batteries were PLACED IN position, which then
numbered one hundred and Asv,nty-six guns. Al
IA given signal nll The batteries opened on Fred
elckHbnrg. The fire was terrible, hut tie rebel
sharpshOoters could not he driven from their
hiding paces The shot aud shell went crashing
Through the houses, in many cnies setting them
on lire, causing ii dense smoke u gather, which,
with the explosion Of SO large q quantity of pow
der almost hid the city from view
II soon became evident thlt the bridges could
not be built except by hold dash. Volunteers
were called for to cross the river IN small boatu
This order was no sooner given than hundreds Of
brave men stepped forward, but all could not
90. About ons hundred were selected These
we're soon on their way, while the artillery threw
Il perfect storm of iron hail on tho opposite bank.
They reached the opposite shore, but not with
out loss Wth fixed bayone they rushed upon
the rebels killing several and taking one hundred
and one prisoners, who Were safely landed on
this side.
At half past four o'clock two bridges were
flushed opposite the cliy when the troops i'm
nedmlcly began to cross over.
The enemy were soon driven from the city
/ back to their line Of works
! The two bridges in front Of General Franklin's
position were successfully lai carly ia the NOR
ming, but his troops did not cross until the two
upper ones were ready.
A sufficient force is now OH the opposite side
Of the ri4er to resist any attack that is likely to
he made
The rebels fired but few guns in the morning,
and none in the afternoon, although their works
were in easy range During the forenoon the
rebels burnt the railroad bridge just outside the
city
Between thirty and forty houses were burnt
| mostly IN The business part OF the city.
During the day between 3 200 and 1000
rounds of ammunition were fired by our arti-
lery.
Headquarters Of tie .trmyef The Potomac, Dec. IL
"A, A-After occupying the river front of the
city last night, we lost about one hundred men
in killed und wounded while driving the rebels
through the city. They fired gu our men as they
advanced through the streets, while secretsl iu
and behind houses Not much mercy was shown
to those who were caught.
This mOrEing dense fog hid everything from
view, but it is now gradually passing away.
Toe troops commenced moving across ut an
early hour, Gen. Summers grand division leading
the way over in front OF the city, to be folowe Il
by Gen. llooker's grand division.
Gen. Frankhn's grand division, which crosses
nearly three miles below the city, is nearly over.
AT a quarter past nine o'clock this morning the
first gun was fired mud the firing lasted for about
halt au hour the rebels not making a very spirit
ed reply. 1t is thought the troops will all be
over by noon.
Information received during the night and this
morning from deserters and prisoners, show that
the rebels have two strong lines OF batteries in
the rear Of the city, the first ono being QUE mile
back, and the second mile from the first
The whole army is in rapid motion, md well
concentrated.
At2t O'Clock the rebels opened all their guns
posted on the first ridge of his, their main fire
being directed upon the city of Fredericksburg,
which was hlled with our troops.
4 The guns which were posted 0u the left Of the
ridge were opened on large body Of troops that
had crossed on the two lower bridges and formed