Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-12-26

7 900 men. To night, two days after the
battle, but 1900 men had reported to him.
How many Of this number wer taken pris-
cners il is almost impossible to tell But his
dead and wounded present fearful list as
you have already learned by the thousands
of names sent over the wires tonight
Gen. Hancock, who engaged the enemy la
Ter in the day and fought upon nearly the
same ground lost but little less Than Gen.
French. With a division quite as large,
he is not able to call together tonight more
than 1000 men and il is doubtful whether
he has that number. Gen. Howard, who
was ordered to the support of Gen. Han
CO II, and went into battle but aaehorf lime
before dark lost but 1000, and nov has in
his division 5000 men who are fit TO 60
into action.
The entire loss, therefore, in the corps
Of Gen. Couch, consisting of the divisions
of Gems. Howard, French, and Hancock
and which, on the morning of the battle,
contained forty regiments, old and new,
amounting to at least 10000 men is about
10000. / think the official reports will not
vary from this estimate more than 500,
above or below the number.
The losses IN Gen. Reynolds's corps Of
Franklin's Grand Division. which were at
first supposed to be but 1900, are tonight
considered by some of Gen. Frankliq's staff
officers nearly 1000.
The same correspondent wiring Dec.
l7th says:
Yesterday morning, when daylight ap-
peared, the enemy seemed to be, as they no
doubt were, perfectly as,onished that our
army had succeeded in returning to this
side of the Rappahannock River.
We returned without losing a single man
or gun in the reteograde movement.
A few solliers who had struggled off
made their appearance on the river bank,
after the pontoon bridges had been removed
but they were subsequently, brought over
safely in small boats.
A few privates who were guarding house
inhabited by private family, were not, dur
ing the night, aware of our recrosslng the
river. but in the morning becoming aware
of this fact they safely swan over.
The pickets of the contending armies be
ing separated by only few yards, rendere'
ii necessary that everything on our from
should be conducted with the utmost eau
ton.
4 The pickets on our outposts we're una
ware of the movement we were maxim
until just before daylight, when an Office
went to each individual man, and in lo'
tone of voice ordered him to fall back.
After they got sufficiently far away to
out of danger they were ordered to quicke
their pace, and reach the bridges as quick
as possible.
About o'clock yesterday morning, Il
enemy advanced their skirmishers alon
their entire line, and by noon had estal
lished their pickets near the bank of Il
river.
We had large number of dead on WIN
was regarded as "neutral ground and {
soon as it was known our forces had evacl
ated the city, the soldiers oil the enem
commenced robbing the lifeless bodie
This was plainly seen through feld-ga
as well as indistinctly with the naked eye
About 10 or III o'clock ladies very nea
lv dressed were seen walking about II
streets of Fredericksburg. They had doub
less been concealed in their houses durir
the lime the city was occupied by our troop
and doubtless ayailed themselves of the fir
opportunity to make their reappearance a
ter our retreat.
On Monday, the pickets of the conten
ING armies, fronting the left wing. mutual
agreed upon an q armistice among ther
selves, and freely intermingled with ea'
other, exchanging their dead friends al
+, comrades who lay on neutral ground"
During this time, General of our arm
rode by and put an end to these procee
: ings. The result was that both parties il
mediately commenced firing, when MI
!. of our men were killed. After the Gsner
had left, the friendly demonstrations of O.
/, pickets were renewed, and butternut al
, blue uniforms freely mingled.
! About this time Gen. Franklin dispatc
= ed flag of truce, which the enemy imm
). diaiely recognized, and the exchange
d dead bodies was resumed, and continu
ir until completed.
If Yesterday Gen. Lee sent flag of tru
e to Gen. Burnside, asking him to detail m
d to bury his dead in front of Gen. SumaeI
5. Grand Division.
a This was done, the wounded, with {
exception of those whom the enemy Q
ID tanned, have all been brought TO this 81
e, of the Rappahannock, and as rapidly
a. possible are being sent to Washington.
le The severity of the battle may be
IN ferred from the fac; that while Butierfie
le was engaged but half an hour he lost nei
In liz three thousand men,