, 1862-12-18

back snort distance during the day, returned
to their original position when night came,
go that VIC were unable to remove our dead.
Several attempts were made to remove the
bodies during the night, but the enemy opened
upon lis with their infantry and compelled us
to dsslst. All our wounded were removed,
however, and such Of the dead as were not
within musket range Of the rebels were
buried.
Among the wounded is Gen. Meaghcr, of
the Irish brigade, and Col. Nugent, Of the
G9th New York volunteers. The latter is said
to be badly injured, butwill probably recover.
large unmher Of the officers of Mea,her's
Eiied. led "''' "'NA'''' anu D'4'' u 'n'"
Inc ID and 5th army corps, under General
Hooker, formed The centre, and co-operated
with Summers column during the battle.
Gen. burnside was anxious that 4 movement
eao9za be n MADE 3e 1s as Sary possible aud &C
menced to more towards the enemy's earth
works. The men we're full of hope and con-
haent of success, and they filed out of the
city IN splendid order: SkImishing commen-
ced shortly after daylight, and in Short time
afterwards the rebel artillery commenced
playing upon US through the fog. The firing
was SO inaccurate, however, that our troops
paid but little attention to it, and kept press
ing on, regardless Of the death missiles which
were flying through the air. By and By our
artillery responded, and for hours most ter
Iltic IT cannonade was kept up on both sides.
The enemy's position was one Of exceeding
strength, and appeared to be inru1nerablc ID
our artillery, Notwithstanding our guns were
excellent1y handled. About noon the infantry,
Who had been waiting for the fog to clear Of,
advanced for the purpose Of storming the
ddnePse doef IS Position Ra4a On 3Ra the hill Conf,
steadily up to within musket shot Of
the batteries; but murderous fire from.
the rebel rifemen, added to the fury Of the
cannonade, compelled our men to fall back
with heavy loss. The attempt t6 carry the
rebel batteries was repeated again in the after
noon; and the attacking party, strongly rein
forced, started on the doub1e-qnicS )" but
the enemy, who Was also heartily reinforced,
proved too much for us. ALL along the, line
the battle ragged with unusual taeree1less, and
when night came it was hard to say who-were
the ylefors. OF the killed and wounded
there were probably as many Oh the side Of
the rebels as on ours No correct estimate
ca.s bc formed If tie loss in Rockers corps,
but it was prrttT heavy. The firing Of mus
ietry ceased at about ha1fpast five o'clock,
but the. rebels continued to cannonadc the
city until lung after dark. They evidently
Fredericksburg; but thus far they have been
unsuccessful.
TIE RESULT
Of the day fight proves conclusively enough
that the encnlv's position is one Of great
strength, and that it will require Il desperate
effort un 1i,e part Of Gen. Burnside to drive
him from lis stronghold Gen- Franklin ap-
hears to have been the only one who has e.
iectcd any Important result, and tomorrow
]le may succeed in turning Sto1iewall Jack
suns position on the AfassnponaX. Gen.
Burnside is confident Of success, and Is bnsily
engaged in making arrangements for a re-
1cEaf Of the batt1e Tomorrow. During the
Ia as IL ~
command, and much anxiety is created as to
his whereabouts. It supposed by many that
Hill has gone TO intercept Siyel, who is prob
ably On Lis way to Culpepper, and BY Others
that he may be working around in our rear.
In addition to the officers already lnen-
TONED :s being killed and wounded, I learn
tie following were among the unfortunate
ones:
Gcn. jackson, of the Pennsylvania Reserves
and Lieut.. Colonel Dickinson, eth United
States artillery, were both killed. Generals
Vinton, Kinsball, Caldwell and Campbell were
Jennings, of The 2Gth New York volunteers,
and Col. Sinclair, Of the Pennsylvania Re-
serves, are also among ihe wounded.
Ali the wounded are being properly cared
for, and to night the surgeons are inlefatiga-
bic III their efforts to relieve the sufferers.
Photographic Correspondence OF the Hsrall1
WAsnIseroS, Dec II, 1se2
The following details have been gathered
here this morning from The thousand ad one
runlors i'll circulation, and published i'll an
extra edition Of the STIR:
TIE BATTLE.
The fight WAS SO variable up to half pasi one
O'Clock Yesterday afternoon that it was 1ot
known which side had the advantage. This
state Of things continued until nearly night
fall, ihc anen.y, who left their intrenchinsnts
to meet us, making most tfcspcrat resistance.
At lalf-l.ast two O'Clock in the afternoon our
troops were rapidly crossing the river, and
by sunset, or little after, the busanee had got
over.
Erh1ER OF UNION TROOPS ENGAGED.
It's es1imoted thot 49, ,00c Of our glorious
work nf the day, trying to take the first ridge
back 81 the towis, On which tue rebels first
line Of works was situated Until late in tfe
day il seemed Impossible to do so; bat it is
reported That the perseverance and uuflinch-
ing cour:ssse Of The army Of the Potomac at
last prevailed Just before darkness put n
stor to tho day's hattIe success crowned their
efforts. Thus they took the whole ridge,
frc1n IN front Of the town down to franklin s
position, three miles below. They occupied
it all night, and ut ! o'clock this morning
were eagerly making preparations to renew
the fight. General Burnside remained On the
battle field all night, giving orders, looisine
to the position anti condition Of his forces
and encouraging them in view Of the work tt
bc performed.
THE Losses ON BorH SIDES.
We have conflicting accounts Of tho lossc:
Of the rebels. Where they fought behint
their works they are not believed to have los
AS heavily as we did, but where they left thei
works and advanced to meet us on fair as.e
ttl'!a{ t17as, tMy snJt7txt much more Eas'is a.
a7", thus those engaged. where the enemy
kept behind their for1itications estimate t1aej
fhsE at