Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-12-25
...... . ~ "a LEE ...-
General-in-C Chief.
SPECIAL DESPATCH TO RICHMOND.

/
cupied the battle held this morning. Our loss
Is varlously stated--probably not more than
500 killed and $500 wounded, The body of
Gen. Tom Cobb was brought down this even
ing. The enemy's loss Is reported immense.
A thousand lay dead liz one field. General
Hooker, Union, is reported killed. '
GEN. LEES REPORT OF THE EVACUATION.
/ Headquarters near Fredericksburg,
| Dec l6, 1862.
AS far as can be ascertained this stormy
morning. the enemy has disappeared in our
immediate front, and has recrossed the Kappa
hammock. presume he is meditating pass
age at some other point.
| Signed, r. e. LEE,
| General Commanding.
GEN. LEES OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
| e- Fg.g BATTLE 4s4 esamaas
| The following official report of Gen. Lee
was received in this order on yesterday:
| stl Headquarters, Northern Virginia,
saR o.egrio Dec. IL, 1862.
To the Hon. Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.
li Sir: On the night of the 10th inst the enc
my commenced to throw three bridges over the
Rappahannneck, above Fredericksburg, and
the third about mile and quarter below,
near the mouth of Deep Run. The plain on
| which fredericksburg stands is so completely
commanded by the hills of Stafford in posses
| sion of the enemy, that no efectual opposition
| could be offered TO the construction of the
bridges or the passage of the rivcr without ex-
posing our troops ~ tho destructive ai0 Of l.o
murderous batteries. Positions were, therefore,
| selected to oppose his advance after crossing.
The narrowness Of the Rappahannock, its
winding course and deep bed, afforded oppor-
tunity for the construction of bridges at points
| beyond the reach Of our artillery, and the
ho nks had to be watched by skirmishers.
w. Ia, FER sheltering themselves behind the
houses bro,,,s back the working parties of the
enemy at the b~idges opposite the city, but at
the lowest pont Of crossing, where no shelter
could be had, our ss.1arpshooters We're them
selves driven of, and the completion OF the
bridges was effected about noon on 'ae LIN.
On the afternoon of that day the ensmy,s
batteries opened upon the city, and by dark
had 10 demolished the houses on the river bank
.s "a deprive our skirmishers of shelter, and
nd, c,ayer of his guns he effected lodge
msnt in the town. The troops which had llJ s"
calamity held the position in the CIR" unaor
the severe cannonade during The . r,.;st;no
the advance of the enemy :, $50 , ar''. n,ars
withdrawn during the AZ Wy ss Iln ~, 49,
m,hn with aonal t.. - nignts as were also those
w. !, ,ho Iowro ,nacity, had maintained their
posi- s a. ,n ., Nv est bridge.
| o Inv over of darknets and OF dense log
on sn' 18th, large force passed the river and
W. * position on the right bank, protected oy
their heavy guns on the left. The morning Of
. the 9th, his arrangements for attack being
: completed, about 9 o'clock, the movement
. vailed by q fog, he advanced boldly in force
f against our right wing. Gen. Jackson's corp:
occupied the right of our line, which rested OF
the railroad; Gen. Longstreet's the left, ex
9 tending along the heights to the Rappahan
1t mock, above Fredercksburgh; Gen. Stuart
/ with two brigades Of cavalry, was posted Oh
the extreme plain on our extreme right. A
20 soon as the advance of the enemy was discov
TT cred through the fog, Gen. Stuart, with hi
re accustomed promptness, moved up a section
:. his horse artillery, which opened with effee
y upon his flank, and drew upon the gallaf
5 Pelham heavy fire, which he sustained IN
IN finchingly for about two hours. %
~ In the meantime the enemy was iercely Ell
- countered by Gen. A. P. Hill's Division, form
I'd ing Gen. Jackson's right, aud after an obst
er nate combat repulsed During this attacl
T. which was protracted and holly contested, tv
:, of Gen. Hills brigadiers were driven bac
L. upon our second line. Gen. Early, with part
", his division, being ordered to his supper
ssh drove the enemy back from the point of WOO
,es he had seized, and pursued him into the pla
his until arrested by his artillery. The right
,h- the enemy's column extended beyond Hill
!, front, encountered the right of Gen. Hood,
: Lcngstreet's corps. The enemy took posse
81. sion of small copse in front of Hood, b
in were quickly dispossessed and repulsed wi
oe- loss. 40
IL During the attack on our right, the enen
~ was crossing troops over his bridges at Ere
lad ericksburgh and massing them IN front
A Longstreat's line Soon after his repulse
tbo our right, he commenced a series of attacks
our left with view of obtaining possession
the heights overlooking the town. These
mi; peated attacks were repulsed in gallant st,
IA by the Washington Artillery, under Col w
ont ton, and portion of McI.aw's Division, VIII
~, occupied these heights. The last assault v
~, made after dark, when Col. Alexander's
. 20 tai on had relieved the Washington Artille
H. whose ammunition had been exhausted, q
' nor ended the contest for the day. The enc
'o was supported in his attacks by the fire
-f
=. Of the river, as we'll as by his numerous hes
Csc batteries on the Stafford Heights
NOM Our loss during the operations since
,sh movements of the enemy began amounts
''n about 1900 killed and wounded. Among
former, regret to report the death Of the I
riotic soldier and statesman, Brig. Gen. TT
oil r. r. Cobb, who fell upon our left; among
ged latter, that brave soldier and accomplish
gentleman, Brig. Gen. Maxoy Gregg, who
co very seriously, and, it is feared, mort;
ors wounded during the attack on our right
G he The enemy to-day has been apparently
30 gagged in caring for his wounded and bury
his dead.
&C His troops are visible in their first post
s.ou, in line of battle, but, with the exception
ash some desultory cannonading and firing betw
ono skirmishers, he has not attempted to renew
,,o.,, attack. About FIVE hundred and fifty pri:
- ers were taken during the engagement, but
80 full extent of his loss is unknown. | have
mon honor to be, very respectfully,
st1sS -r.u ~ Your obedient servant,