The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-12-25
The Great Battle at Frederick sburs---
Gen. Lees Official Report.
II A ~, =, of No.,bo,r V;ro;p;o 1

The Great Battle at fredericksburg
Gen. Lees Official Report.
Headquarters Army Of Northern Vireinia,|
December IA, 1862.
The Honorable Secretary of War:
SIR-On the night Of the lOtbinstant the
enemy commenced to throw three bridges
over the Rappahannock-tw at Fredericks-
burg and the third about mile and quar-
ter below, near the mouth of the Deep Run.
The plain on which Fredericksburg stands
is so completely commanded by the hills of
Stafford, in possession of the enemy, that no
effectual opposition could be offered to the
construction of the bridges or the passage o!
the river without exposing our troops to the
destructive fire Of his numerous batteries
Positions were therefore selected to oppose
his advance after crossing. The narrowness
of the Rappahannock, its winding course
and deep bed, afforded opportunity for tho
construction of bridges at points beyond the
reach Of our artillery, and the banks had TO
be watched by skirmishers. The latter.
sh elterng themselves behind the houses,
drove back the working parties of the enc
nv at the bridges opposite the city; but at
the lowest point of crossing, where no shell
ter could be had, our sharp shooters were
themselves driven of, and the completion
of the bridge was effected about noon on the
11th.
! In the afternoon of that day the enemy's
batteries opened upon the city, and by dark
had so demolished the houses on the river
bank as to deprive our skirmishers OF shell
ter, and under cover of his guns, he effected
Judgment in the town. The troops which
had so CALAMITY held their position In the
city under the severe cannonaie during the
day, resisting the advance OF the enemy at
every step, were withdrawn during the night,
I. III al ta,,o oft
had maintained their post at the lowest
bridge.
Under cover Of darkness and dense fog,
on the 18th, large force passed the river,
and took position on the right bank, protect
ed by their heavy guns on the left.
On the morning of the 18th, his arrange
nIents for attack being completed, about 9
O'Clock, the movement yelled by a fog, he
advanced boldly in large force against our
right wing. General Jackson's corps occu-
pied the right of our line, which rested on
the railroad; General Longstreet's the left,
extending along the nights to the Kappa
! hammock, above Fredericksburg; General
Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry, was
, posted in the extensive plain on our extreme
right. As soon as the advance of the enc
my was discovered through the fog. General
Stuart, with his accustomed promptness
moved up a section of his horse artillery
which opened with effect upon his flank, and
drew upon the gallant Pelham heavy fire
which he sustained unflnchingly for about
two hours.
; In the IAN time the enemy iercely
encountered by General A. P. Hill's divi-
sion, forming Gen. J ackson's right, and after
an obstinate combat repulsed. During this
attack, which was protracted and hotly con
, tested, two of General Hills brigades were
HrIy hapy
Early, with part of his division being order
ed TO his support, drove the enemy back
from the point Of woods he had seized, and
pursued h m into the plain until arrested by
= his artillery.
The right of the enemy's column, extend
ing beyond Hills front, encountered the
right of General Hood, of Longstreets corps
j The enemy took possessi on of a small copst
in front of Hood, but were quickly d;spos-
sessed and repulsed with loss.
During the attack on our right the enemy
was crossing troops oyer his bridges at Fred
ericksburg, and massing them in front o.
Longstreet's line. Soon after his repulse on
our right he comm enced a series of attacks
on our left, with a view Of obtaining posses
sion of the nights imme diately overlooking
the town. These repeated attacks were re-
pulsed in gallant style by the Washington
Artillery, under Colonel w alton, and por-
ton of McLaw's division, which occupied
these nights.
The last assault was made after dark
when Colonel Alexander's battelion had re-
lieved the Washington Artillery, whose am
o munition had been exhausted, and ended the
contest for the day.
The eLemy was supported in his attacks
by the fire of strong batteries Of artillery OF
3 the right bank of the river, as well as by TIT
S the mum erous heavy batteries on the Stat
ford flights.
Our loss during the operations, since The
movements of the enemy began. amounts tC
about eighteen hundred killed and wounded
j Among the former, l regret to report the
death of the patriotic soldier and statesman
Brigadier General Thomas r. r. Cobb, who
fell upon our left; and among the latter, thai
brave soldier and accomplished gentleman
Brigadier General Nj. Gregg, who was very
| seriously, and. it is feared, m ortally wound
ed. during the attack on our right.
The enemy to-day has been apparent
burying his dead. His troops are visible in
their first position in line of battle, but with
the exception of some desultory cannonad
ing and firing between skrmshers, he ha.
not.attempted to renew the attack.
About five hundred and fifty prisoners
were taken during the engagement, but the
full extent of his loss is unknown.
L have tie honor to be, very respectfully
your obedient servant, K. K. LEE,
General in Command.
t How THEY WERE CLoTHED.-A gentleman