Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-12-19
The Recent Battles on the Kappa
hammock

Inc ReCcht BaILieS on the Kappa
hammock
In the absence Of any more definite accounts
of the terrific " engagements which have oc-
Cured within the last few days between the
mighty hosts of the Federal and the Confede-
rate armies on the Rappahannork, and which
resulted so disastrously u to the former, we
publish elsewhere, to-day, a summary of the
PeYF intending in our next issue to give such
additional incidents of those fearful encounters
as will assist our readers in forming more
comprehensive as well as a more ineligible
idea of them. There had been some heavy
skrmishing, as well as several hotly commended
collisions, previous to last Saturday but /:
was reserved for that day to witness the heavi-
est battle of the war, attended by loss of life
that is acknowledged by all to have been Gun
paralleled in the history of this or any other
country" -compelli the Federal army to
evacuate its position on the Fredericksburg or
south side Of the Rappahannock and retire to
the north bank Of that river, removing in their
retreat, the several pontoon bridges which had
advance upon Fredericksburg, but which was
SO Unexpectedly converted into the "retro-
grade movement" Of Monday night and thus
effectually prevented, for the time-being, pur-
suit by the Confederates, had they contem-
plated any such enterprise.
We have no account of any fighting after
the Unprecedented battle of Saturday, which
seems strange, as it is not reasonable 10 sup
pose that the two armies would lay almost
within stones throw of each other all Of Sun
day and Monday without making some hos
tile demonstration. Nor have we any means
of arriving at the exact number of the killed
differences from the various published state
ments, as well as from the multitude Of rumors
which continue TO reach Washington from the
field of carnage. The little information con
tanned in the published accounts would seem
10 justify US in computing the number Of casu-
alties on the Federal side by tens of thousands,
whilst, from the same sources, we learn that
the position of the Coniderates was too much
protected bota III nature and art, TO expose
them 70 anyihisl lilse an equal amount of dan
-ffFas--~
sgce pc abeee We "a pc we have re-
ceiyed the iciowiag asspasen q the Philadel-
.pbi, EgG.Dy Jo4sags 81 Tuesday last;
WAsmxGros, = l6. 25 p A.-Bumsdt
has retsea,ed acrossthe Rappahannock, after
having sustained great loss. Our forces crossed
last night in the rain, the artillery crossing
first and the infantry with the wounded fol
lowing The retreat as regarded as meaning
defeat
The number Of killed and wounded on our
side is very large-probably 30, 600; while the
Rebels in their works were mparatively I'M
harmed Every thing is sad and gloomy here,
and all seem full apprehension for Che future
The recrossing of The Rappahannock is be-
lieyed to have been necessary to save our army
from annihilation or capitulation.
Our troops fought hravely, everything con-
sidered and the order to charge the enemy:
works is regarded by many here as suicidal
and rash in the extreme, causing useless sac
rifce of brave and true men.
Apprehensions are entertained here that the
Rebels will take advantage Of the denoralized
condition Of the Union army to push on to the
capitol, or Baltimore, or both.