The New York herald., 1862-12-14
70 our battery and In the city now and thn crack
cd the rifles OF the skrmishers


cd the rifles Of the skirmshers.
Arriving at General Summers headquarters halt WA
made 70 wait for the lifting or the fog. Regiments
cavalry, batteries and brgades, crowded on thu
slopes facing the city, and from the camps behind
steady tide Of troops sweed forward TO be lost in IN
Of humanity that swayed to and fro on tho nil
sides About the Phillips House brilliant throng
officers waited and watched for the expected engage
ment. Correspondents sought here and thero for tn
latest news and orderies galoped from point 70 point
with Instructions while the generals discussed our owr
and the enemy's plans. Burnside, Sumner, Hooker
Sturgis Stoneman, Sckles ana Pleasanton, and other
generals, there while lesser lights swarmed on the
porch and crowded down TO fhe line Of waiting ordees
CAME ON.
Stil the fog hung low between and the enemy and
nothing could be learned Of operations the other side
was evident that the rebels had been reinforced and
were only waiting for All the city with troops before
their batteries should open Occasionally the cannonad
ing would break out quite spirited but nothing could
be seen through the veil OF mist the resus.were nsgnh-
can't and after the expenditure of forty nifty rounds
ammunition the guns would cease.
About two O'Clock the fog disappeared, revealing
Der Of batteries in position along the ridges beyond the
city and every indication Of the existence Of largely in
creased rebel force General Sckles' division moved
down towards the city, preceded by the Sixth cavalry
band, whose music had envened the morning hours Of
waiting at the Phillips House, and all eyos turned to the
distant hills anxiously watching the enemy
Scarcely had the column reached the bridge before
the rebels opened upon with shell, some striking and
exploding within few feet Of the troops, who imme.
datey took shelter In the neghboring ravine and under
the hill Our batteries responded, artillery duel en-
sued for half hour and then all again grew quiet with
the usual result-nobody hurt.
Thus the day occupied, our artillery now and then
shaking the city with its roar with frequent lus Of most
impressive silence to be first broken, perhaps by the
short nervous cheers Of the regiments came
down to cross
The enemy have r their display Of artillery
since noon, and batteries have been playing upon
quite brsky for two hours. No has yet been in
ured most Of their shells falling Short Our siege guns
and twenty Founders have evidently disconnected the
rebel artillery, and rendered them extremely cautious
about vanturire within fange. '''
CLOSE OF THE DAY.
Tonight everything is quiet. At long intervals gun
heard but these only random Shots and every
preparing for good nights rest and lively day TO.
morrow.
Fredericksburg occupied upon this side by inan
try artillery and upon the other side by the enemy
Occasionally shots are exchanged in the suburbs but
little attention s paid 70 them The town has suffered
much less than was supposed. Over nine thousand
rounds solid shot and shell have been poured into it,
yet less than oneha the buildings are injured. About
twenty FIVE houses have been burned, and equal num-
Der demolished but the moet Of them that struck
at all only pierced through and through Some have
dozen holes through them, small, round smoothly
cut apertures bored nicely though done anger
where the SHOT struck tmbers the buildings badly
shattered but generally the shot plunged through
from house to house, leaving only number Of dimnu
tive holes TO mark track The brick houses however,
were less Fortunate and are battered terribly. The
principal points OF suffering at the end Of the bridge,
where the rebel sharpshooors concealed Here the
ennadng fire Of batteries literally tore the houses
shreds Hugo patches Of weather boarding are torn
or chmneys prossrate walls dashed 70 piscss,
the earth ploughed and followed out BY the rchocnetng
of round shot, masonry pitted by MIME balls az in
shs convalesoens stages Of geological smallpox Tables
beds chairs dshes and all the paraphernaa Of domestic
economy, in some Of the buildings, are knocked
into p and reduced TO kndng wood Of most convenient
sze Solid shot lie about the Streets are picked up IN
the cellars and are imbedded In walls every hand.
The churches suffered very lttle and with small outlay
perfectly repaired Most Of the houses consumed
private residences and Of unprstending appear
many Of the arstocracy having located themselves In
the portion Of the exposed 70 fre. Quite num-
Der Of the inhabitants remain though hurt in
the bombardmeut far heard from The females
Of course terribly alarmed and very anxious to
cape 70 this But very few negroes seen nearly
every one having been carried South by the rebels.