Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-12-19
THE SENTINEL.
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.

SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.
The subjoiqed summary of War News, for
the past week, we take from the Baltimore
GAZETTE:
FRlDAY, Dec 12-The news from General
Burnside's army is quite exciting. During the
night Of Wednesday the pontoons were carried
TO the river, and l43 pieces Of artillery placed
in position opposite Fredericksburg. At five
O'Clock yesterday morning the construction of
three bridges in front of the city was com
menced, and when about half completed, the
Contederates opened a murderous fire on the
infantry and workmen from the houses on the
bank Of the river. An hour later General
Burnside ordered all the guns to be opened on
the city, and heavy cannonade was continu-
ed up to the hour of closing the despatch. The
city was fired in several places and tits proba-
bic that it will eventually be mainly destroyed.
General Franklin constructed bridge three
miles below the city, on which his division
crossed, whilst directly opposite the town the
troops were all under arms and ready to cross
as soon as the bridges were finished. At noon
the Confederates again opened their fge on TIE
bridge builders. Up to that time the entire
Federal loss is set down at only fifty kiilee
wounded. 20 ,sfks.
y -x3sshGJlateSL ueSpatcneS Ir0in Gentrhf fi4fn~
sides army informs us that fredericksburg
has been captured, and is now occupied by the
Federal troops Athalfpast four o clock yes
terday, two bridges directly opposite the city
were finished, the Confederate sharpshooters
having been driven back, when the Federal
troops impediatey began to cross the Con-
lederates ,fetiring to their line Of works. A
party, who volunteered for the purpose, crossed
the river before the bridges were finished, lost
SONG men, but took lOl prisoners, who they
brought over TO this side of the river. The
destruction Of property was not so great as at
fist supposed, there being only between thirty
and forty houses destroyed, principally in the
business part Of the city.
There is some additional items of interest
concerning the recent severe battle in Arkan-
sas. Gen. Curtis telegraphs to Gen. Ilalleck
that the Federal loss in killed and wounded
amounts to one thousand, whilst the Confed-
crate loss is fully double that number Exten-
sive hospitals have been improvised at Fay
ettsyille for the sick and wounded The Con
federates are said to have muliled their wheels
and moved OFF in the night continuing their
retreat to Van Buren,, Arkansas. Col. McFar-
land, OF the 10th Iowa, was killed, and Col
Black, Of the 37th Illinois, and Major Thomas,
Of the 10th Iowa, together with large num-
Der of subalteTn officers, were wounded on the
A despatch from Nashville reports a sharp
fight five miles north Of Lavergne on Tuesday
Col. Stanley Matthews, commanding brigade
in Nancouver's division, consisting Of the DIST
Ohio and 35th Indiana regiments and the 2lst
Kentucky, with one gun of the It'll Indiana
battery, was attacked by Whecler's CouReder-
ate cavalry brigade, the l2lh Tennessee in
fantry, and full battery. The Confederates
were repulsed, but afterwards renewed theat-
tack when they were again driven back The
Federals had four or five killed and about
forty wounded and missing. The Confeder-
ate loss, as is usual, is reported to be very Sc
we're.
SATURDAY, Dec. l3.-The dispatches Of yes
terday indicate that the advance portions of
the Army of Gen. Burnside, having got pos
session of the city Of Fredericksburg on Thurs
day evening, as the result OF the hot contest
and bombardment of that day, the Federal
forces generally were moving across the Rap
pahannock yesterday. 1t is represented that
after occupying the river front on Thursday
night, the Federal forces lost about one hum
dred men in killed and wounded while driy-
ing the Coniederates through the city, the lat
ter firing from the houses rs the troops ad-
vanced along the streets. 1t isadded that not
much mercy was shown to thoso who were
caught. A despatch, dated at 10 o clock yes
nenced moving at an early hour Gen. Sum
ner's grand division leading the way in front
of the city, to be followed by Gen. Hooker s
grand division. General Franklin's grand
division crossed at point three miles below,
at which il was on the previous day during
the fight erecting bridge. There was some
firing yesterday morning, commencing at
quarter past o'clock, but it lasted for only
half an hour 1t is stated that the Couleder-
ates have two strong lines Of batteries in the
rear of the city, the first being about one mile
back, and the second about a mile from the
first. The Confederates have concentrated
their forces.
A later despatch from the headquarters Of
the Army of the Potomac, dated last evening,
states that alta quarter past o clock the Com
iederates opened all their guns from the irst
ridge Of hills bearing upon the city, which
was filled with Federal troops, while the guns
posted on the left of the ridge opened on the
large body of troops which had crossed on the
two lower bridges 1t is stated that though
several shells exploded over the troops none
were injured. There were FIVE Of Gen Bay
ards cavalry killed, however, while endeavor-
ing to ascertain the Confederate position after
crossing at the lower bridge
The Federal guns posted on the north bank
q the Rappahannock, it appears, silenced the
Confederate artillery, after an action of some
half hours duration. That ended the firing
for the day. The troops which crossed below
the town were resting on their arms last night,
the Contederates occupying the opposite side
OF the MassaponaX creek in force, The shells
thrown into the city by the C0flcderates are
said to have done no other damage than add
so much TO its destruction. Nearly every
house in the city has been more or less injured
by .he canuonading, aud ii is added that
wanton destruction of property was COM
mitted by the Federal troops when they first
entered the town. The main body of the
army was over the river last night, the balance
in position TO cross at any time, and the Con-
federates showing no signs Of evAcuating. So
a battle is expected Immediately to ensue.
Ii appears by the details Of the struggle in
constructing the bridges at Fredericksburg,
on Thursday, in the face Of the determined
FIRE of the Confederate infantry, that II was
about one hundred men Of the sth Connecticut
regiment who were selected to FIRST cross in
small boats and engage the Confederate sharp
shooters.
The news from Nashville indicates an i'm
mediate attack by the Conlederates under
Gen. Joe johnson upon that city ThesFed-
eral pickets were driven in on Tuesday morn
ing, at every point by the appearance of an
immense force in front under Generals Bragg,
Cheatham, Forrest and Morgan--J johnson COM
handing the whole. General Mitchell is IN
command at Nashville, and II is being rapidly
reinforced by order OF Gen. Rosecrans.
Advices from Helena state that Gen. Hovcy
came into collision with the Confederaies al