White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1862-12-25

New YoRk. Dec. IT,
The morning papers arc fillsd with dc.
tailed accounts Of Saturdays fighting. Of
two extended naturs for telegraphing.
They contain no real news. but comprise
mainly incidents relating to the affair.
The Times gives the following account
of the withdrawal Of our troops from
fredericksburg. It says the movement
commenced at dark Monday night. All
the sick and wounded were removed du-
ring the day to hospital tents on this
side. SO .s''.,'s-s-,.z -1--z
Burnside inspected the position Of the
troops in the afternoon. and general ac-
tivity indicated another battle was immi-
nent. and the surgeons were ordered to be
in readiness to care for large number Of
additional wounded.
The withdrawal of our forces. however.
was determined on at. the council. al
though the corps commander regarded
the undertaking as q psrilous one; but il
successful would rescue the army from
another battle. which would accomplish
little except the destruction of human
lives. -,
The troops had received NO intimation
of retreat, and had laid down on their
arms for the night. when an order wsa
given to fall in. the troops supposed for .
night assault on the enemy's works. and
were not undeceived until they found
themselves on the pontoons crossing the
stream.
The bridges had been covered with
earth to deaden the sound of the artillery.
while the high wind and the darkness
prevented the rebels hearing or seeing the
movement.
Franklin's division moved ss soon as
it was dark; also Summers and Hook
er's from under the guns of the enemy.
Many officers and soldiers expressed
great regret. saying they preferred dying
in front of rebel batteries. Very few
wounded were left on the field. Two
brigades occupy the town as advanced
pickets. and our artillery on the higher
bank will cooperate in keeping possess
ion of the town.
Our navy guns opened on the rebel
batteries Tuesday morning. eliciting little
responae.
The Times's correspondent thus de-
scribes the rebel position that our troops
were expected to storm and take:
There is bare plateau Of third of q
mile. which the storming party will have
to cross.
In doing 50. they will be exposed to a
fire. FIRST Of the enemy's sharpshooters
posted behind stone wall running along
the base Of ridge; double rife pit on
the rise Of the crest; heavy batteries be-
hind strong field works that stud the top
of the hill; powerful infantry force now
lying concealed behind these; plunging
FIRE from batteries on the lower range; Of
double en6lding Gre from cannon to the
right Of them.
Seoastopol was not half 40 strong.
The Times's account of the battle
shows that Hooker's Grand Division was
on this side of the river until 4 O'Clock.
At four, Hooker. who hal not yet been
across the river, proceeded over. remark
ing to friend that he was going to put
this thing through.
In half an hour prodigious volleys Of
announced that Hooker, with |
the reserves, was engaged. This last
ssssulting column consisted of the divis-
ions Of Humphrey. Monk. Howard. Getty
and Sykes.
They had. however. hardly got fairly
engaged before the sun went down and
night closed around the combatants.
Why Burnside withdrew.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. II.
The Philadelphia Press publishes
dispatch from Burnside to Halleck, re-
ceiVed at 9 o'clock last night. Burnside
Iays:
Feeling fully convinced that the posi-
ion in front could not be carried, it was
! military necessity either to attack or
retreat. Rspulss would have bssu dis.
lstrous under tho circumstances, and the
,rmy was Withdrawn without loss to man
" property" yza
Tho Latest. r
HEADouARTERs Army OF THE PoronAc,
FALx6urH. Dec. 17.-Yesterday morn
ng the enemy seemed astonished to iind
70 safe on this side Of the river.
At about 8 o'clock the enemy advan-
ell their skirmishers along the entire
inc, establishing pickets near the river
,ank.
We had large number of dead on
vhst was regarded as neutral ground. and
be rebels were plainly seen robbing the
'odies. l.
At IL o'clock ladies were seen walking
n the streets Of Fredericksburg. On
fondsy franklin sent . flag Of truce
Dr. the exchange Of the dead which was
lone. s5&- a.
Yesterday Lee sent Gag to Burnside.
skiing him to detail men 70 bury bis
cad in front OF Summers division.
During the aag Of trucs, the rebel
}eneral Stuart: In, answer to question,
nd Banks bad gone South. but be did
OF know where. Ta'. gr
Our entire army is now encsmped on
10 ground previously occupied. The
rmy has been considerably reinforced.
The opinion Of military men is, If We
I'd taken the fint ridge Of the rebel
'orks. their opportunity for slaughteringI
would have been greater thaa previous
No troops in the world could withstand
,ch . concentrated ERE Of ordnance and !,
'uskstry. 80 mo 7H
FROM RRhDERICKsBURa. .