The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-12-20
The BOmba rdment Of Fredericksburg.
From the Philadelphia Press.

Az 'hree CLOCK on thursday morning
the H. h, the two upper pontoon bridges,
in the center and towards the east end of
the ely were commenced but the al
tempt was frusra;ed, after they were
carried halfway across, by an incessant
fire Of rebel sharpshoo ,ers from cellar
windows, houses and walls, along the
banks. Four companies from the ba;-
tallion of engineer regulars divided this
du'y be:wcon them, assis ed by the a0h
and Is h New York engineers. At the
upper bridge the pom on layers were
supported by the Sc h and Goth New
York Regimen, who fired from the shore
upon the rebel riflemcn. Cap ain Per-
kins, of the 5O,h New York engineers,
was here sho. in he neck and killed, and
Cap ain Macdonald was wounded in The
arm, together wi h Cap ain Braisnerd,
wounded in The thigh.
The Fiftlc b lost one IN every ten men.
Lieu. Col. Bull, of the Sky sixth New
York, was shot n.or;ally through the
bowels. AS he lay groaning in the hos
pital, he quietly told me that his wound
was moral, and that the surgeons said
he could no: live for,y-eight hours. AS
foretasc Of his dcs my, Capt. John
2. Dodge, of his regiment lay dead by
his side. The la ter was wounded by
he prenla ure bursting in the al, Of one
of our own shells. His second lleu.ca-
an, James LOW yer, was struck in the
knee by ball. Afer several incGec-
,ual attempts, recourse was had to can
nonadng the cry with the objcc, of shell
ling out the rebel sharpshoo,ers. This
was painful task, but apparently ncces-
sary, and furious play of artillery took
place till noon, when il temporarily ceas-
ed, This occurred chiefly on our par,
the rebels replying but seldom. In the
meantime, General Franklin sent word
at eleven o'clock that he had finished
two bridges, a mile and a half below,
and requested permission TO cross vi b
his grand division. This was denied
him, lest jackson, who laid near, accor-
ding 10 report, might suddenly attack
him before the main body had crossed
and could come to Ills relief.
/ The city had now taken fire in several
places, and although the shelling was
renewed at three o'clock vii added
fury, a plan was soon carried into oper-
alton which secured the capture of the
place without waiting for demolition
General Hunt, chief of artillery, con-
ceived the plan of sending several pom
toon boat-loads Of men across the river,
who were to chase the sharpshoeters
from their hiding places, while the
bridge was being laid. Burnside ac-
guessed. After the severe experience
of the engineers, the enterprise seemed
hazardous, but volunteers from the 7th
Michigan and 10Th Massachusetts of
General Danna's brigade, were called
for, who readily offered themselves.
One hundred and fifty men Of the former
regiment were detailed for the advance,
led by the dauntles Col! Baxter, their
commander, who stood boldly at the bow
Of the first boat, amid storm of bull
let's, and was severely wounded iu the
shoulder. With him were Capt Oscar
II. Williams, and Lieutenants Hender-
son and Frank Emory, who escaped un-
harmed. This took place at half past
three. The boys gayly jumped on shore,
and ran up the bank amid the cheers of
their comrades behind.
FREDERICKSBURG.
"