New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-15
The Operations on Friday-strnnge Conduct
Of the RebeIs-Gialiantry Of Gen. How.
ards Division.

From our Special Correspondent.
BE,DouAR1ERs RIGHT GRAND DIVISION
OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG Dec 2-9 2. IA. }
This day passed away, as presumed, without any
collision with the enemy beyond lively exchange
Of shots between three Of our batteries and two Of
the enemys on the opposite side Of the river at irreg.
uar intervals in the morning and afternoon. With
daybreak the various corps commenced forming on the
crests OF the ravines in which they had bivouacked
during the night, and sunrise revealed the entire
Army of the Potomac, with the exception OF How
ards division of COUGHS corps, which bad crossed
the evening BEFORE covering in all It's mightiness 81
numbers and armament, the nights along the river
for distance Of three miles. About a. m. the in
fanry and artillery began moving on the roads lead
ing to the different bridges, and continued crossing
without interruption until dark.
In the afternoon the Rebel batteries opened With
shot and she'll or tie upper bridges but did not in-
pede the passage across nor do any damage. Early
in the morning Towards division, which had
biyouacked in the streets Of Fredericksburg, running
parallel with and 10 tue river, witt srroug pfckeu
for some distance on the cross Streets moved three
blocks further ont to make forke forces to
The entire Right Grand Division consisting of COUGHS
and Wilcox's corps was over by P. M, and formed
in the streets by divisions In columns of three
brieades each. OF Hookers Center Grand Division,
acting as reserve, only one brigade had crossed on
the upper bridges at dark. The two corps OF it Will
support the commands OF Sumner and Franklin.
Frankn's Lett Graud Division had effected Ito
passage early in the afternoon. After crossing, it
moved in two bodies down and of the river for
about mile, clearing the country of Rebel outposts
H..
going into bivouac after reaching the positions
assigned them without being seriously troubled by
the enemy. Franklins right touches on Summers
left and after the reserve under Hooker shall have
got across tomorrow morning. the army will DO
ready for attack. That it will bring battle OF
GRAND proportions, and the mos, desperate and de-
cisiye character seems certain. Il is now ascer-
tanned that the force Of the enemy diverted to Port
ROYAL WAS Jackson's. Gen. Burnside believes thae
IL reioned the main body in the course OF last night
Onr Generals seem still at a loss ss to the inten-
tions of the enemy. The strangeness OF thelr con-
duct gives rise 10 all kinds Of surmses. Even to.
dav they played upon us with only Blk pieces. To-
morrow will probably reveal the real character OF
their game.
The whole Of Fredericksburg was pillaged by our
b sOldles5 tins AhV' 'SN~'~"
punder, including large quantity OF tobacco ana
LIQUORS. Under the effect of the latter, many ex-
cesses were committed.
The conduct of Gen. Towards division to-day,
and especially of Col. Halls brigade crossing the
river aud holding the heads Of the bridges, Is the
sui eet of universal praise in the army. The en-
counter last evening of Col. Halls four regiments
ah Michigan, 10th aud Goth Massachusetts, aud 59th
New.York-with the Rebel garrison, consisting OF
Gen. Barksdales brigade Of four Mississippi and
one Florida regiment, turns out to have been
desperate street fight, resulting in loss OF over
two hundred killed and wounded 10 us The s9tn
New-York also had a skirmish after crossing at the
middle bridge, and met with some loss Of lie anq
limb. Some Of Gen. Towards men captured very
large Rebel mail from and for Richmond which
was Immediately sent to Gen. Burnside. sueJo'ned
is list of casualties in Towards division IN the
assault Of last evening.