Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-25
Charles Fracis Adams. etc, etc.


From the Augusta Chronic e
Extract Of letter to gentleman in th city from
Friday last;
MY DEAR --: To the brigades Of Barksdals, Cobb,
kershaw and Semmes, composing part Of McLsyys'
vision, entrusted tn duty Of guarding he town
Of Fredericksburg, relieving each olher every two
days They did their duty vel When rot on pick ct
they Engaged in fOrtifyiug the b Ms back or the
city. Last night BsrIstales command was in -vyD
The msj0r gen raj commanding observing closely the
movements Of the en-rnv supposed that tbev ,y6,Ij
make IN attack the next ornnE
Ali precautions necessary TO prevent surprise were
I taken. The troops being cautioned notwithstanding
the exceeding dense g, detected the earliest move
ment Ct the enemy Two signal guns from Reads bat
terry aroused th lumberi~g troops Tbs enemy com
pletey enshrnu by the FOG, commenced 6uildirg z
the pOntOOn bridges in three Places. half mile dis
tant. The artillery were not allowed to use The
enemy concentrated the FIRE Of their numerous bate
res upon the spare around their ontoous from which
muskery could take effect The extent Of this fire YOU
may imagine They fired in four m1utes one hunGred
CONS at space The position Of their guns-almost
a complete semcirclo- enabled them, at short range
20 eucirce the distance which brave troops must
occupy prevent the ssfu building Of the bridge
Barksdale awaited until they had half way completed
I the bridge and the troops had advanced upon this
Then he directed Col Fizsr 10 open fire; thrice they
were driven back with great loss On our lef above
the city, the troops Of R H. Anderson most gaaDfIv
repulsed them and prevented their landing az thst
point Thus foiled they removed their batteries half
mile below he city, 10 a point opposite Howisoa
creek, and concentrated upon this point thoir FIRE On
our side almost unbr0ksn level plain Of two
miles with nothing to protect men But here they
again tOlled by the 18TH Mississippi, Col
10th Georgia Col Bryan, and 18th South Carolina all
under Col. Dessausure But the extremely exposed
situation caused US to suffer to greater extent here
than elsewhere batteries never replied 70 the
continuous eannonadug Of the enemy for the Of
reasons exhibiting, in my opiniou the wisdom Of Cen
Lee who with Gen. LOngstreet, had early joined Gen
McLaws
The enemy thus bafied vented their fire upon the
doomed city, and with their shell At short range very
set fire to it in many places; many Of the women
aud children had been driven by the extreme severe
weather 10 return. You can imagine their suffering
have not the heart TO relate The particulars The Old
hero Barksdae extinguished many houses; but much
damage has been done. About two O'Clock the enemy
removed 10 the north end Of the town many batteries-
least fifty gunsaud concentrated the fire upon our
circle. Could human courage sustain suehf The uu-
daunted Mssssippans held their grouud amid the burst
ing shells burning houses and crumbling ruins af brick
and mortar vOllsy after voey they poured upon their
foemen advancing upon two bridges The enemy crossed
over the bridges and in numerous boats Their dead
could be distinguished amid the hOrrd din Barksdale
Withdrew his noble band Of Ms sippans from the river
TO the third in the There he awaited until
their cIOwdng should be compelled by numbers
18th amp 2lst he drove the enemy across the river
Night to his relief and under the darkness Gen
Cobb with his brigade Of Georgans crossed the plain
and the heroic defenders OF the Virginia Virksburg
did men fight gallanty, and have learned that
when General Barksdale that night sought the of
his immediate commander he received his thanks and
congratulations Tomorrow will come - the
held sacred and the remains Of the gallant Mississp
plans who fell in this conflict should around the
tomb of MARY, the mother Of Washington" worthy
| brothers Of the rebel ehiefa Cobb has been vHsI-
lived But the sacrifice of life would Justify the
ends to be obtained When the enemy cross then
their trials The wide plain which extends from
the river to our hills viii be strewn with their dead