The Portland daily press., 1862-12-16
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
EVENING PAPERS.

The evening papers yesterday contained no
later telegraphic Intelligence from Fredercks-
burg, and, in fact, not so late intelligence as
we gave yesterday morning. The telegraphic
reports were accounts of the battle on Friday
and Saturday, sent to the New York papers of
Monday by special correspondents. These
reports do not vary from the dispatches we
have before published, though more particular
in the details. The correspondent Of the New
York Herald speaking of the battle of Satur-
day gives the following account of General
Frankln's attack:
Stonewall Jackson occupied the right wing,
Longstreet the centre, Gen. Lee and Stuart
the left, while Gen. A. p. Hills corps acted as
the reserve.
Lees reason for occupying the left was be-
cause he could be on his guard against Sigel,
who threatened to outfank him by way of
Culpepper
The entire rebel force was estimated at
100000 men, and occupied a front of not less
than 20 miles, The troops were tor the most
part veterans who had fought through the pc
ninsua campaign, while the officers were the
abest the South could produce.
The disposition of the Union forces occupied
the whole Of Friday night and Saturday morn
ing, and Gen. Burnside was anxious to com
mence the attack at as early an hour as possi-
Bile. Saturday morning came with dense
fog; however, the disposition of the Union
forces had been made, and Gen. Burnside de-
termined to commence operations, fog or no
fog. On the left Franklin moved his column,
consisting of the 1st and 9th corps, Just before
sunrise.
Skirmishing commenced a few minutes after
daylight on the extreme left. A rebel battery
opened on our troops, and the 9th New York
State Militia regiment was ordered to charge
and take the cannon at the point of the bayo-
net. The order was obeyed with alacrity, but
| after fierce struggle they were compelled to
| fail back.
! At this critical moment Gen. Tyler came to
their aid with brigade. Assisted by Tyler's
brigade, another attempt was made to storm
the rebel batteries, but without success. :.
The fight now became general on the e.
treme left, and another desperate effort was
made to capture the rebel battery by General
Tyler's brigade, but the fire of the rebels was
SO withering in its effect our brave fellows
were unable to gain any advantage.
By noon, the whole of Frankn's corps en-
gagged the enemy, and desperate effort was
made to turn the enemys position and drove
him beyond the creek. Gen. Franklin COM
manded the movement in person. The rebels
maintained possession of some small hills, but
| gradually fell back.
| iie diteTuOou tue tTeDtls Cdiile 10 u
stand, and for time assumed the offensive,
but were bravely met and repulsed with heavy
loss. 1t was at this time that some 800 oil
Hills command fell into our hands.
The enemy contested every foot of ground,
and it was only by the hardest kind of fight
ing that he would be compelled to change his
| position.
The obstinacy with which the rebels held
possession o. their ground rendered General
Franklins task very difficult one. He had
to cope with Stonewall Jackson. but tie Union
commander was not discouraged.
He had driven the enemy back several rods
and old Stonewall met his match this time and
at sundown Franklin had succeeded in driving
the enemy nearly mile, and his troops occu-
pied the field during the remainder of the
night. The movement on the left was a com.
plete success.