The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-12-18


Reports from the leit state that Franklins wing
has crossed tbs river below, under cover Of the
eunboats.
TRE CROSSING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK-A0 era.
hKAL BATTLE MnINRNr.
The followins are the brief Dispatches 0iyiuR m
account Of tho crosdns Of the Rappahannosk -
They are dated Friday morning 10 A. n and are
given with the following headings :-"Ths Army In
Rapid Aotion-Crossing the Experimentation
Troops Sleeping on their Arms-A General Battle
&C.:
After occupying the river front Of the city lat
while driving the rebels through the city. Tbev
nreo on our men % they advanced through the
streets, while sscreted In ard behind houses Not
m1cA mercy pas sAoson TO a1ess pAo ps,s csxsA-
bat at this hour it il lifting and paning away,
ouf troops commenced crossing at "A early hour,
ten. Summers grand division leadng The wayover
IN front Of the city to be followed By 0en Hook.
ers grand division. Gen. Trankins grand diyl.
sion which crossed three miles below the city Il
nearly over.
..At . quarter past O'Clock the arse nun ~,
urea Ths nrlng lastsd shout half - hour, the re-
tho troops viii be over the river 81 noon. Infor-
nation. received during the night and this morn.
Ing from deserers and prisoners show that the re-
bells have two strong lines of batteries In the rear
and the second q mile from the Afst
The whole army il In rapid motion and well con.
csntrated tn: troops are in ezcslisnt sptries ard
G.Iio1s @ to Be led eSatnss The e.ssys rorks
/: is believed will give battle Much VIII dspt Id
upon the result Of to-day. AU feel sa~Suine Of
snccsss.
Tee Lasest
A. q quarter past O'Clock the rebels opened
oil their guns posted On the 6rst range Of hills-
ho ma IN fsro- N<nA Aa>A
was filled with our troops Those guns which were
posted the Left of the ridge we're opened on the
large body Of troops which crossed on bhe two
lower bridges. and had formed in line of battle
and were moving obliqusly down the river front
ing the Masssponfx Although several of their
shells exploded over our troops, mono were In
tured. GeD Bayard's cavalry which crossed on
the lower bridge, had Eve uaen killed while en-
deavoring to aacsrtain the position Of tho enemy.
The troops which crossed below are sleeping On
their arms to night the advance being within three.
quarters Of q mile Of the NJ assapnnax creek, and
their left resting on the Rsppshannock.
Our guns posted on the bank on this side Of the
river sierced ;he enemys artillery after an action
of some half hours duration. This ended the hring
for the day.
The only damage done by the rebel shells thrown
Into tho town last night was to add just % much
to its destruction.
. Nearly every house In the city has been more or
less damaged by the cannonsding of the past two
days Several splendid residences have been com.
churches The fire seems to have bsen directed on
the most prominent edit sea
Ia several cases acts of warton destruction of
property were committed by our troops when they
ii ST entered the town. Property which could be
Of no use TO the enemy was destroyed In many
Of the houses the furniture all remained showing
that the occupants had LETT in haste.
Some of our troops, in tIsif impetuosity, mstook
the British Gag flying from the residence Of the
British Consul for 9 rebel fag and tore 1t down
This morning the owner came over tho river to re.
cover II, and II was returned to him.
The main body OF the srmy Is now over the
river, the balance being In position to cross ct
any time.
MORE EXPLOITS OF THE ALABAMA-sHE CAP
TUREs TWO MORE YANKEE vEssELs.-A WHOLE
SQUADRON AFTER HER.
The steamer "290'' (Alabama) has been causing
more destruction in the Yankee marine. She CAD.
tured the Levi starbuck, bound from New Bedford
for the Pacific. the I'd ult., and burned her. She
wss worth e2C0 600. Shortly after she basgsd the
Thomas b. Wsles, from Calcutta for Boston hsv.
Ing on board Nj. Fairchild the United States Con.
sui at Mauritius The folio wing Is . description Of
this capture by one Of the crew:
The pirate WAS observed shout 10 4. H.. some
ten miles TO the leeward, In chase Of schooner.
which escaped. The pirate then tackled ship and
chased The Wales II this time the pirate had the
Stars and Stripes fyinS, but when near enough to1
fire on the Wales, d ed gun and hoisted the Con.
federste cnlors When first seen she was supposed
to te an English mail steamer bound for the West
Indies
Tue Wales hove to, aud q boat was lowered
from the Alabama, containing feur seamen and two
officers. every one OF them armed with revolver
and cutlass. The two officers came on board and
asked for the captain who YVES pointed out by a
passenger. One of the officers then ordered the
Captaia get his papers and on board that ship
The LIST Lieutenan. of the Alabama came OF board
and took possession Of the ship and gave orders to
send the mainyard down, - the Alabamas was
broken snd 9 new one wanted.
The crew of the Wales were told they were to
90 en- board the Alabama, with only bag Of cloth.
irg, which was done, some of the crew hauling
down the mainyard, and others preparing to
leave
fowls bs killed. and demanded of tho steward that
all the fresh meat be transferred to the Alabama.
The omniverous Lieutenant also stole some sugar
and tea.
overheard and then hauled up on the Alabama
The crew of the Wales then went aboard, and ex.
ceptinx the Captain and Mr. Fairchild and family,
the American Consul at Mauritius, were put In
were decsntIy fed, but were only freed from irons
to wash themselves in the morning. They were
placed at no work.
The Wales was then set on fire by the LIST Lieu.
tore down the beEths, piled the broken fragments
on the table, and applied the match. As soon as
tie vessel was fairly On fire the Alabama sailed,
aud before she wss out Of sight the three masts
of the WaeS had fallen into the water and the hull
was a mass of flames.
That same night eleven Of the crew Of the ILL.,
fased vessel consented to become pirates and join
the Alabama force. Offers were made to others,
but they refused The men do not seomplain Of i'll
treatment on board the Alabama. The Consul, Ar.
Farchid the Captain of the Wales. and the ladies,
including the Captain and Consups wives, were al
well treated.
Capt Semmes was rarely seen. The officers on
the Alabama eeem to De rather ignorant OF nautt-
cal affairs but they say they have no fear Of Fede.
raj vessels The pirate crew ID almost entirely
composed Of Englishmen.
After these exploits the Alabama went to Marti.
niqus. where she was blockaded by the United
States steam frigate Can Jacinto. Her escape u
thus narrated by the New York papers:
The arst officer Of ths San Jacinto, 1t was said,
offered to the Captain to run into the harbor and
either run down or engage the Alabama bat the
latter refused. Thereupon the Lieutenant begged
CT the Captain to 60 On shore tsW hour: vasn he
tain refused to accade to his request.
The American brig Hampden, Of Bangor, Ne /,
was in pert when the Alabama arrived. Her Cap.
tain at once took boat for the san Jacinto, and
arranged with the navy Captain q signal 10 notify
him by the firing OF rocket whenever the Alaba.
ma was to move.
He followed out theso instructions, and was i'm.
mediasely arrested and his vefsel ssised by The
authorities Of Martinique, who nearly unani
mously sympsthised with the Southern Coafsds.
racy.
The San Jacint0 also kept two afmed boats ply.
lag about the harbor during the night 70 watch the
coming Of the Alabama In tho night the pirate
slided out Of port. and on the following moFninR
whom the San Jactdfps look out rsported, It, wAs
ascertained that the pirate was NON sefs$