, 1862-12-25
THE BATTLE OF EREDER.
ICKSBURG.
A Graphic Rebel Accos''1t.

A Graphic Rebel Accos''1t.
lSpecial Correspondence Of 7asamono haau1lef-l
B.rrr,- FIELD, Dec. "a, 186s'
Tbs morning Teh o4a{bnnq the 1apa
scsnn ca Int I,ss-rays were for an hour or two
5ntarcenftI by some ashen clouds slowly
dIif1i1s overhead. Everything was still as on
AM mild December morning. Scarcely a
orcath of air waited the falling leaves or
stirred the fringes Of the pine. The fog and
smoke thoroughly mingled through the night,
and shrouded hill and plain in grayish, dim
cloud -
As this began to rise, about eight o'clock,
The roar Of the enemy'a artillery woke the
great battle Hastealng to the front I OBJ
famed view Of the battle field:
Nothing hut pale clouds Of smoke s1rug-
Cling up through the undeTgFoWth and forests
On the hills to the right indicate the presence
THE BATTLE.
Now the fog has lifted, revealing the dark
and heavy columns Of the enemy moving down
the opposite bank Of the river. Far Down,
near the lower part Of the valley, they are seen
debouching. Whole fields are cleaning with
bayonets. They continue to pour out upon
the plain in q stream which seems to come
from IN ine1haustible fountain. The mead
ows are black with them, tens Of thousands
in solid columns. We can only vaguely con
lecture at this distance the number. Old
soldiers think there are &C, 1000. Where are
our men? a solitary battery Of four guns,
commanded by Captain Carter Braxton, is to
ms's battery Of twenty-five guns opens upon
II, but it makes no reply. Other batteries
direct their shots towards it; but it has eVi-
IDENTIFY made up its mina not to be hurried
The enemy, now formed i'll three heavy col
umlE, advances to attack onr right; on they
go 1T double quick towards the woods, ma
ling the Garth shake under their tread, with
colors flying and arms g}istcning in the sun
light. Where arc OUT men? 4 long sheet of
fame from the skirt Of woods at the foot Of
TIC hills, a cloud Of smoke, a roar and rattle
Of r1usketry, tell their Whercabonts. The
advaEced column haits, delivers llasty fire.
4 continuous stream Of fugitiycs from the
front scour actoss the fields rearwards; some
arc halted and formed il squads, hut can
! neyer be forced again to 60 to the h9nt, ex-
cept al the point Of the bayonet Tie smoke
now mostly shuts tie eombatants from the
yiew of the distant spectator. There is
breaking Of ranks among the enemy, rallying
and rer:llsing, but Of no avail. They calinot
stand the .nnrderous fire. They give it up IFS
lad job. Meanwhile the battery in the field
fBraSton:s) has opened after long enduranccs,
<LAA -1 Liz 10tulEEl 4l<Aat5 lL6 1AE
goodness and precision with which it is han
died wins the admiration Of all observers.
I ne manner of its action will be noticed here
after in complimentary terms, III official re-
ports Other batteries did their work nob1y,
hut they, with other particulars of the en-
where each can have Justice done in al OK
tended account
TIE sToRM1NG OF THE I'LL.
The Yankees commenced The stormine Of
the hill at half past eleven o'clock q H., with
SIX brigades, and we're repulsed four times,
with Immense slaughter. They were moved
down hy hundreds. Two hundred and fifty
only one regiment; The firing vas Kept up
lnccssantly until 3 o'clock Col. Waiton's
b;t1ery held The heishts, pouring mur1crous
lire into tie advancing columns. The batter
les on the various hills nobly assisted the bat
tery on the nights, keeping up a continual
Of the enemy in a terrible manner
The battery Of Capt. Miles G. Macon, of
Richmond, covered itself with glory. The
IRE was opened on the storming regiments by
thls battery: b. The railroad gap at one time
vas hlled With Yankees, when well directed
saot from the battery exploded in the midst,
killing about fifty Of The 1lirclings. Captain
Macon's battery was hotly engaged on the
ith, Eth and 18th, and won the admiration
OF all the commanding officers by the cool
ness and precision exhibited by the men in
handling their guns. Astonishing to saw, not
man Of thIs company was killed or wounded
tne rife piece Of Capt. Ewbank's battery,
near tue centre, has been engaged. On Satur-
Day afternoon it played upon the Yankee brig
front Of Bernard's. This portion Of the bat
terry has been nnaar q heavy fiie for th1eo ifays
past, but has fortunately suffered no loss,
The remainder Of Capt Ewbank's guns are SO
disposed that they will perform efficient ser
when ra3sQ6 I'M cTr
1.ect to chronicle a brilliant achievement on
the part Of this gallant command
Late IN the afternoon comes the magnificent
tharge Of u regiment Of Hood division across
the plain, routing IF brigade from the line
OF the rallroad, and while under the concen-
trated Ere Of i battalion Of artillery, driving
the enemy from the skirt Of woods before
mentioned, caFturin. forty-one prisoners,
representing six regiments, and on tic whole
covering themselves with inefaceable glory.
TIE EXTENT oF OUR VICTORY
AS the mist rises from the fight, and the
clouds clear away from Inc battle, The extent
Of our victory, and 'he Yankee defeat, begins
ericksburg say that the Yankees admit a great
defeat, and a loss during the whole engage
1nent. bcginningat the passage of the river,
and ending with Saturdays great fight, Of
5000. It is also said, upon what regard as
trustworthy authority, that the Yankee. Off
"
day. but that the men we're demoralized and
could not be gotten up to The mark. Some of
their prisoners, likewise, confirm the report
that bayonets and sharpshooters were used in
forcing up the men to the terrible work Of
Saturday; and they. further say tlat
they were threatened with the fire Of
their own batteries should they falter.
think it cannot be questioned that whisky
rations were freely supplied the Yankees pre-
vlous to going into action. But ill this was
to no purpose. The Yankees had cssayed
task which 10 army ever 1narshaled or that
ever will be organized, could have accom-
plished. To have driven our men from their
position and to have takcn it. Was a work
compared with which the storming of Glib
ralsar would be aschi}d's play. To appreciate
Suffice it to say, that We had |t Stonewalls' at
both cnds of the line-Jaekson on the right
and the stone fence On the left, at Fredericks-
burg. No other man than Burnside would
have attempted so difficult or so foolhardy IN
adventure.
Truly mayit be said that the Yankees slain
in battle have been Is *'hutchered to make Il
Lincoln holiday" They have failed here most
most sisnally. They may try the Port Royal
route; il they do they will find the same char.
acicr Of obstacles there rs here; the sumo ad-
vantages ia our side, Of brave spirits to op-
pose them, and choice positions in which our
men can arrange to dispute their march The
results are glorious. Lee, Jackson and Long
street, as we'll rs the gallant men under their
commands, deserve our neyerccasinE thanks.
TIE YANKEE WOUNDED
At the summit, today, ranged side by side
with our men, were the Yankee wounded, re-
cclrlng the same care and enjoying like Kind
treatment with our unfortunate defenders.
Surely any one but men dead to honor and
lost to all principle and sentiment would ap-
rreclate this. B1t upon q Yankee such acts
Of kindness make no impression. Indeed, it
isa shining light in the darkness, d bright
rage in our history. that We can hereafter
proudly point to Us illustrating our character,
tome and Christianity Tint when our peo-
plc We're driven from their homes, which were
| Ehellcd over their heads, and their abandoned
| property vas destroyed amid wild riot and
| Hn]ustlfablc license, they who were the vic
Tins Of their injustice, could forget their
1 wrongs and injuries, and bear the cup Of coId
| water and the wine Of 1lourisllmcnt@ to their
| enemies.
| TIE DEsTrc71oS OF PROPERTY.
| The wanton destruction Of property in
lown can neither be imagined nor described.
1ied 50 many demons from pcrdition been
unclaimed and commissioned to wrcak ven
Eeanee, the ll-fatcd city could not have fared
worse. All that vas edible has been lleroured
by the 1ungry Yankees, whilst clothing has
been stolen from almost every house, the fur
llture recklcssly destroyed or thrown into
the streets, beds ripped open, pictures disGg-
urcd aud destroyed, plenos Tuthlessly robbed
ofthc keys. Indeed, every concciyably injury
that deyilish malice or thieying lust could ii
cent, vas fesorted to during the memorable