Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-12-24
TIE War News,
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE OF
FEEDEEICKSB RG.
THE BATTLE OF SATURDAY.

next move wa, to drive the rebels from
their stronghOlds in The rear Of ne city.
The lines OF the rebels, which extended
in the form Of semi. circle from Port Roy
a to point about six miles above rTed-
ericlsGdfE, were strongly fortified and
pru,rcied 10y arrange 81 high hills Stoncs
wall jackson occupied the rlght Wiug,eX'
repd,ng from Port Royal 10 Guiuney's
S,auou Ga station ca the Richmond and
Fredericksburg Rdlroad) Gen. Long,
street the GENRE, extending TO the tele,
g:uph road, and Generals Lee and Stuart
the left, west Of MassnpouoX creek, while
Gen. A. P. Hi'Ps corps acted MS reserve
Ices reason FOR Occupying the left Was
because he could be on his guard HCains.
Sirel. who threatened TO ou,Hlnk him vs.
way of Cnlpeppcr. The entire rebel force
vas esiimtteG NJ go 600 men aud o"cd-
ped airor,t of not less than tRen,y m:lcs
The r0ups were FOR tie most Iart vete-
runs-who-had fought through all the uo'
upsular cawpaign, while tie officers we've
tLcabicst that the South could produce,
1t was uU mean enemy we had TO contend
wiki, ! assure you.
The disposition Of ,he Union forces &C
cupied the whole of Friday nigh! and Sat.
nrday morning, and As General Burnside
was anxious to commence tho attack at
is early an hour Is possible there was
not much chance Tor the troops TO resi-
themselves. A few stragglers, 1t il true,
upnagad to sneak away ytor the purpose Of
pillagiug but the great mass of the sold E.
iers were constantly under arms. Gen
burnside was in the city all night, person
ally pecti1g s'he troops and directing
their movements. II was arranged that
General Franklin's corps should cross the
river two miles bdlOw The city, with the
view OF turning the enemy's position on
MaSsapOuax creek, while Hooker would
engage the rebels nearer the centre, aud
Sumner would turn their right. BY this
arrangement it will be seen that Franklin
wss opposed to Sionewa4l Jackson, while
Hooker and Sumner attacked the ceutre
and left Of the rebels under Longstreet
and Lee.
The eventful morning came and with
it dense log, which obscured the move
ments Of the enemy. The balloon was
sent up ust before daylight, bpt in conse-
queucc of the fog no observation could bc
had. However, the disposition cf the u,
Mon tOrces had been made, and General
Burnside determined to commence oper
aions, fog or no fog.
THE LIFT.
Franklin moved hs column. consisting
Of the First and Sixth corps, just before
,unrise his right resting on The outskirts
of the city, his centre advanced mile or
so from the river, and his left resting on
the Rappahaunock about three miles be-
low. Sklrmisbing commenced few min
utes after daylight on the extreme left
4 rebel battery opened on our troops, ard
the fire became So annoying thet the Ninth
regiment New York State Militia were
ordered to charge aud take the cannon at
the point of the bnyonet. The order was
obeycd with alacrity, but after n fierce
struggle the charging party were compel
led 10 fall back. At This critical moment
General Tyler, perccNiug the disorder
into which tie Ninth New York were
thrown, came to their all with brigade.
The Ninth were quickly rallied, aud, rs,
ti.ted by Tylcrs brigade. another attempt
was made to storm tIe rebel batteries, but
without success. The fsht now became
general on The extreme left, and another
desperate effort was made 10 capture the
rebel battery by General Tyl.r's brigade ;
but tho fire Of the rebels vas % witherlng
IN rS eirCt that our brave fellows were
unable Ia gain any advantage. Zach
charge tnRued tie ranks At fearful .ale,
and the chance Of capturing that mnch
coveted bate y appeared no better than
at FIRST. Ry ne0u the whole ot Frauklln's
corps wa, engaged with the enemy, and a
deSpcrair ctIugt was made 90 turn the en-
emy's position on tie MaSsapnuax and
drive nm beyond the creek. Gen. Frank.
lin commanded the movement in person
and handled bis troops Uith remarkable
Judgment The rahpiS maintained pos
session ol some small hills with theirus
Stuhhbornness, but gradually fell back rs
the Uuicn troops eVlgced dissemination
t. 90 Coward. During ;hc afternoon the
rebels came 20 n stand, Ard ior time as
sumedrthc offensive cut rs they advan-
ced 10 meet US choy were brsv"ly met and
repuisel with heavy loss. 1t was at this
time tnot some three hundred of Hill's
command Ietl into our hands and were
conducted 10 the rear as prisoners, Still
the enemy contested every foot of tho
Croand and Il was only 10y dinl of The
hardest KIND Of fighting tina, he could be
conpeie. change his position.
1t was during the heat OF this enrare,
ment that the gallant Bayard was mortal.
ly wounded. lie was converting witt,
Gen franklin, when a cannon bali slruc,
him in the hip and threw him clean out
OF the saddle. Poor Bayard, he never
dreamL ofdanger in the thckest of the
battle, and meyer lost his courage, ever
when his leg was amputated, The sur,
geons say that he cannot survive many
days, and that the operation they have
performed can only prolong his agony Q
short while. But am depressing from
main facts
The obstinacy with which the rebel,
held possession of their ground rendered
General Franklin's task a very difficult
one indeed. lie had TO cope with Stone
vail Jackson and the veterans of Cedar
Mountain Bull run and Antie tam troops