The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-20
The Bombardment Of Frederiekes-
burg by the Rebels.

our forces, was subjected 10 q second |
bombardment by the rebels on the 18th |
inst The correspondent Of the New
York Times writes;
'GeD, Summers corps, the Right
Grand Division, were across, and occu-
pied the town one division took poss-
ession the Grst night and the remainder
of the column passed across the upper
bridges in the morning. They filed the
whole length Of Caroline or Main street
TO the lines of the Railroad, and by de-
grees extended their front TO Commerce
street and the streets running up from
the river, until the body Of the town was
filed up They remained under cover Of
the houses The streets running nearly
north and south, being parallel TO the
line OF the enemies batteries behind
the town
The enemy's pickets stubbornly occu-
pied the outskirts Of the town, aud fu-
silade between them and our own adj
vance pickles was kept up during the
day. The remainder Of Franklin's coli
umn crossed their two pontOon bridges
during The forenoon, two miles below the
center of the town. Their passage, as
well ~ that Of General SumDer's corps,
was disputed by occasional, but not very
persistent firing from the rebel batteries,
which are chiefly to the south aud rear Of
the town, so as TO command the line OF
the railroad, aud also the Bowling Green.
hortly after three p NJ, Hookers col
umn began to move down the river, as il
with the design of crossing on the
bridges below, where Franklin crossed.
Up to late hour, however, they had not
gone over. II is believed they passed the
river during the night
This change in the line was no doubt
occasioned by the extraordinary activity
displayed by the rebel batteries south
east of the town.
At216 p. NJ, the whole semi circle Of
batteries IN that direction opened fire
upon the pontoon bridges, and upon the
lower part of the town, W here our troops
were quartered. Their other batteries,
north Of the plankrOad, and toward Fall
mouth, simultaneously poured in their
contribution upon the upper crossing,
and that part Of the town lying ~ front
of it.
Five separate batteries below, working
ten or twelve guns, and four above, with
eight or ten, kept up fire of shot and
shell until near sundowD. Many of their
shells fell short, but some took effect in
tho town and near the river. What dam
age they did to the troops | could not
learn at that late hour.
Several shells burst near the Lacey
House, and one close by the north end of
the building while | was getting the
names of tie wounded lying in that
place. One man, a few minutes after
wards, was brought in with his arm ter
ribly shattered by piece of she'll a
considerable body of cavalry and infan-
try were partially sheltered behind these
buildings, which are of brick. 1t being
used M a hospital, and occupied by the
rebels in common with the Union wound.
cd soldiers, is a guarantee q that il viii
be respected Its position being only
little TO the left of the crossing, anc
nearly in line of ono of the main rebe
batteries, probably Eccounts for thes,
shells bursting go near it,.
If estimates which / have heard b,
correct, We have an aggregate Of oyel
sixty thousand men more than the csti-
mated strength Of the rebel army. Our
artillery figures up over five hundred
guns. Considering the difficulties Of th,
situation the completion OF six pontooI
bridges, and the crossing Of such al
army in twenty four hours, is worthy o
all military achievement The events o
the last two days have increased th,
enthusiasm of The whole army toward it,
commander, and strengthened coniidenc,
in the generals leading the grand diVi
sions. With town and river behind W
must eight there is no backing out.
THE TowN--ITs CONDITION.
Our shot and shell have riddled a grea
many of the houses in town; AMI mos
of the churches from foundation 4
steeple, have been accidentally" per
forated by the storm of missiles whicl
were eent into the town. As monument
and representatives of priesthood an
people thoroughly baptized in treason
thew deserved no exemption from th
common doom, but, being larger thai
other buildings, and very prominently i
the range of our fire, they naturally re
. ceiyed :heir full share of the iron storm
The clock in the steeplo Of the Episcopa
church was untouched, and continues {
toll off the evening hours, for the benefi
of the Union forces in the town.
In spite of prompt and general effort
10 guard the houses from Intrusion an
pillage, by the establishment of guards
a GOOD many residences have suttere
more or less spoliation. Household ar
tioles, such as cooking utensils an
crockery, pickles, sweelmeats and Hitch
es of bacon, were observed among tn
troops, as passed through the diferen
streets. The latter, taken from the me'
houses of the first families, no doul
were generally transixed in the ends
bayonets, and carried in triumph o
their shoulders.
There has been, as yet, no general pi
laying of the town, aud il will not
permitted. The principle stores ha'
each strong guard to protect the sma