Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-24

Letter from Fredericksburu,

From the Augusta Chronic
Extract of letter to gentleman in tbs city from
an officer who WA in the fight al Fred rieksburg, on
Friday last:
MY DEAR: To the brigades Of Barkadale Cobb,
Kershsw and Semmes, composing part Of McLaws
visieu entrusted the duty Of guarding be town
Of Fredericksburg, relieving each other every two
days. They did their duty well When Of on picket
they were engaged in fortifying the lis back o. the
city. Last night BarSsdsle's command was in wn.
The major gen RAJ commanding observing closely the
movements OF the enemy, suppOsed that they would
make ths'r attack the next orniuR.
ALI precautions necessary 10 prevent surprise were
taken. The troops being cautioned, Notwithstanding
the exceeding dense &, detected the earliest msve-
ment Cf the enemy Two signal guns from Reads bat
terry aroused the slumberirg troops Ths enemy com
pletsly en.hrou 'et by the fog. commenced building
the pontoOn bridges in three aces half mile dis
tant. The artillery we were not allowed to he
enemy concentrated the fire Of their bate
lies upon the space around their OntOOnE from which
musketry could take effect The extent Of this fire you
may imagine. They fired In four minutes hundred
gsns spaes. The position Of their guns-almCst
a complete semtercle-erabled them, at short range,
20 encrcle the distance which brave troops rust
occupy to prevent the suce ssu building of the bridge
Barksdale awaited until they had half way completed
the bridge. and the troops had advanced upon this
Then he directed Col Fiz-r TO open fire; thrice they
were driven back with great loss. On left above
the city, the troops Of r. II. Anderson most gailany
rspusod them and prevented their landing at that
point Thus fOied, they removed their batteries half
a mile below the city, 10 point opposite HowisoR
creek aud concentrated upon this point their fire. On
side was an almost unbrOken level plain Of two
miles with nothing to protect But here they
we're again foied By the 18th Mississippi Col Luce;
18th Georgia Col Bryan, and 18th South Carolina sl
under Col DessaHsure. But the extremely exposed
situation caused to suffer to greater extent here
than elsewhere batteries never replied to the
continuous caunOnadng Of the enemy for the best Of
reasons exhibiting in my opniou the wisdom Of Gen.
Lee who, with Zen. Long'treet had early joined Gen.
McLaws.
The enemy thus bafTied vented their IRE upon the
doomed city, and with their shell at short range very
set iro to il IN many places many Of the women
and children had been driven by the extreme severe
weather to return. You can imagine their suffering
have not the heart 10 relate the particulars The old
hero Barksdale eXtnguished many houses; but much
damage has been done. About two O'Clock the enemy
least fifty guns-Hnd concentrated the fire upon
circle. Could human courage sustain suchi The
daunted Mssissppisns held their ground amid the burst
ing shells burning houses and crumblug ruins Of brick
aud mortar; volley after voley they poured upon their
foemen advancing upon two bridges The enemy creased
the bridges and in numerous boats Their dead
hoated almost in The shrieks Of the wounded
could ae distinguished amid the hOrrd din. BRrksdale
withdrew his noble band Of Missippans from the river
street to the third in the There he awaited until
their cIowding should be compelled by numbers
to advance. They did raying around him the 18th,
18th amp 2st, be drove the enemy the river.
Night came his relief and under the darkness Gen.
Cobb, with bis brigade Of Georgans crossed the plain,
and the heroic defenders OF the Virginia Vicksburg
sought their camp to prepare for the morrow. Never
did fight more galantly, and have learned that
when General Barsdae that night sought the tent Of
his immediate commander, he received his thanks and
congratulations Tomorrow will come the
doomed city may be in ashes but those ashes should be
held sacred and the remains Of the gallant Mssissip
plans who fell in this conflict should rest around the
tomb Of Mary, the mother Of Washington, as worthy
brothers of the rebel cheftan. Cobb has been with
drawn from the city In his parents were married ana
lived. But the sacrifice Of life would not justify the
ends to be obtained When the enemy cross then com
mence their trials The wide plain which extends from
the river to our hills will be strewn with their dead