Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-12-19
THE GREAT CONTEST IN VIRGINIA,

TIIE GREAT CONTEST IN VIRGINIA
We give our readers the gist Of the tele
graphic accounts Of the great military move
ments which have been transporting in vir
ginia during the past week:
HsAparARrERs OrrosrK rRHpsmcxsBuRol
..----a..a.-- .-...-..... Dec. n.-2 r. n, (
Herald special-Between and o'clocl
this morning, a pontoon train in charge o
the 18th and 10Th New York engineers under
command of Gen. Woodbury., proceeded t.
the river bank. where, with infantry sup
porting them, they attempted to throw tire.
bridges across the river. A dull haze OBJ
scCned the movement, SO that for time i
was not discovered by the rebel pickets.
The pontooniers had succeeded in partly
constructing the bridges, when the rebels sud
denly opened brisk and deadly fire Of mus
kerry from along the banks Of the river and
from the windows Of houses, compelling a
cessation Of work 'a
z Returning to the cover Of the surrounding
hills, our men again formed, and about six
o'clock the attempt was renewed, but the reb
sls had now been thoroughly aroused, and
with endorsements Of sharpshooters swarm.
i ed to the opposite banks and houses. Moth
/ ing daunted by the hot fire which they pour.
ed in on the temperance Of our troops, the
pontooncrs went CALAMITY to work, but in
vain. Showers of bullets enveloped them.
The planks and boats were riddled by every
volley. Once more they were compelled to
withdraw aud fall back to the cover Of the
ridge Of hills, running parallel with the riv-
er.
It was evident that the rebels determined
to use the houses of the city for defense,
contrary to an implied agreement in the cor.
rcspondence which recently passed by flag
oftruce. Orders were given to our artillery
men to open fire upon the city. According
~ Benjamin's, Edwards, Muhlenberg's and
other batteries of the 9th corps, together with
the batteries Of the corps to the right and
LETT OF the city, commenced almost Simuta.
taneously, and bombarded the city. The
fog was SO dense that it was impossible to
see but short distance beyond he edge of
the river. The houses, however, in which
the rebel sharpshooters had placed them
selves, were plainly visible, and to them the
hire for time ~as particularly directed The
effect was their partial demolition In a
short time after the first fire, they became
untcnable by the rebel rifemen, who retreat
ed to the rear of the town, where they took
shelter behind as yet unframed buildings.
BY o'clock the bombardment became
general, and from that time until o'clock,
the roar OF artillery was incessant The bat
teries OF the 9th rakcd the streets with shell,
sharphell and grape. Though the fog still
continued to obscure in measure, the re-
suits OF these discharges. the rebels with the
greatest stuboornness still kept within the
city, and at times parties Of them could be
seen going from one point to another, on
double quick. The carnage cannet but be
fearful amongst them, it was somewhat
singular that the rebel batteries did not re.
turn the lire OF our guns. Up to the pres
ent time they have not replied.
About 10 o'clock the engineers formed for
athlrd attempt to construct bridges; after
previous and Intellectual attempts on the par,
oil the engineers to cross, party Of eighty
men OF the 9Th Connecticut, under Captain
Marsh, volunteered to assist in this new en-
deavor to finish the bridge, and once more
the column, with this reinforcement, started
under direction Of Gen. Woodbury.. They
seized plankS, and carried out some dozer
to the end of the string Of boats, and placed
apart Of them there, and were then com
PEELED so retire undera very CALLING fire from
the rebel sharp shooters, who were secured
in rifle pits, below the range Of artillery
and within fifteen or twenty feet Of the river
The engineers suffered severely.
The movement having been thus inter
rupted, Whites party was ordered back t.
their original position.
At ii o'clock it was discovered that :
number Of the houses were on fire. Thu
flames which commenced in westerly par
Of the city, soon spread, and Fredericks
burg is now enveloped in fire and smoke
An enfilading fire has been opened on tn,
rebel rifle pits up the river. 1t has been sue
ccssful so far in driving the sharp shooter.
from the vicinity of the railroad depot
Our engineers are now constructing bridge!
across the river.
The rebels still maintain their ground op
posite the upper bridges.
Cavalry are now passing Summers head
quarters en- route to make charge across
the river at one of the fords.
i.-. AerrA CRxkr, mid night, Dec II.
Intelligence from the front to night, state.
that our forces have crossed the river and ar,
now in possession of Fredericksburg. Al
enfilading fire from our batteries on the RICH
succeeded in driving the rebels from the
rifle pits en- the rivers edge, thereby permit
ting ar easy and rapid erection of pantoor
bridges.
After occupying the river in front of tn,
city last night, We lost about 100 men Will
driving the rebels through the city The,
fired on our men as they advanced througl
the streets while secreted in and behind hous
es. Not much mercy was shown to thos
who were caught.
The troops commenced moving at an earl
hour, Major Genera: Summers grand division
leading the way over in front of the city, t
be followed by Major General Hooker's diyis
ion.
Gen. Franklin's division, which crosse
nearly three miles below the city, is nearl
over. .. ...
At quarter past nino the first gun wa
fired, the engagement lasting about half a
hour, the rebels not making a very spirite
reply.
1t is thought the troops will all be over q
noon.
Information received during the night an
this morning from deserters and prisoner.
shows that the rebels have two strong line
Of batteries in the rear of the city. the frs
one being one mile back, and the second on
mile from the first.
The whole army is in rapid motion, an