The New York herald., 1862-12-15


The terrific battle Of Saturday on the Rappahan-
mock was not renewed yesterday, as anticipated.
The day was bright and cheerful. The FOG which
obscured the scene of operations for the past two
days was dispersed. Heavy artillery firing took
place in front of tho divisions Of Generals Hooker.
Sumner, and Franklin, from daylight until late in
the forenoon, but no general action occurred up to
the latest accounts last night. The rebels were
observed to be strengthening their works. and it
was ascertained by inspection through powerful
glass that there six distinct lines Of works be-
hind the city. Whether some Of these are rifed
redoubts simply, or have the double capacity Of
ahording protection 70 light infantry and having
embrazures for light field guns, could not be dis
covered. The appearance of the works would
lead. however, to the latter belief.
Our dead, who were killed in front OF the enc
my's works. still remain where they fell When
attempting their removal on Saturday night the
rebels would open fire with infantry; but the
wounded have all been removed from the field,
add all the dead obtained have been since buried.
There were forty thousand OF our troops en-
gagged in the battle on Saturday. What force the
rebels brought agains, them it is impossible just
now to determine, but from the desperate nature
of the resistance offered il is not improbable thst
they fully equalled il they did not outnumber, our
forces. II will be seen by the extracts, which we
give in another column, reproduced from the
HERALD Of March last, what the rebels thought at
that time Of the line OF defence they now occupy
on the Rappahannock. They calculated that,
should our army be met and defeated there, its
annihilation wascertan.
The detailed description OF the operations OK
Thursday and Friday, and the terrific battle Of
Saturday, by our correspondents in the field,
which we give to-day will no doubt, be read with
intense interest. II comprises full and complete
pccount OF all the memorable transactions delinea.
ted by eye witnesses Of oil they portray. We give
o map Of the field OF battle showing the lines Of
ntssck and defence OF both armies, list Of the
KILLED and wounded, and sketches Of many Of the
prominent officers who were killed or wounded in
the action Of Saturday. The loss both sides, a.
Tar as can be ascsrtaiped. was about equal. The
enemy. while fighting behind their defences, pro
badly suffered less than our troops; but when the
5orces met in the open field the rebel loss is re
ported to be for greater than ours.
II may be proper to state that the intelligence
which we give to-day comes over the telegraph
wires without sny supervision on the part Of the
Novcrnment. the lines being thrown open TO the
hress aud the public on this occasion. Therefore
si in the hurry OF collecting news and forwarding
b. BY newspaper correspondents any errors should
Ioccutr the government il pot responsible therefor
The statement which appears in Washington
Eouinal that portion Of our army took possession
Iof and occupied at mghtCsll on saturday the enc
hnys first line Of deiences, lying along ridge ex
kending three miles below the town, has receiyes
lno confirmation, and is probably only ono Of tb,
many vague rumors afoa,
Notwithstanding the report that General Burn
eide stated that he had men enough to accomplish
Ms purpose large bodies Of troops were pushed
s,rws,d from Washington 70 reinforce him ,es,cr
DAY - t,sj he viii hc IN = -afc condition ~ carr,