Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-12-22
AR NEWSl
'ia the Richmond Examiner, Monday Dec. is.
he Passage OF the Rappahannock.
HAMILToN's CRoss,
December u, s o'clock, P. NJ.

the crossing Of the Rsppahannock at Fred
erIeksburg, which | hasten to transmit
During the early part Of Wednesday night
the enemys wagons were busiy engaged
hauling pcntoon bridges to the banks of,he
river, their rumbling being the only sound
heard in the deserted streets of the i'll IA
ted old town.
At four o'clock on Thursday morning.
the l7th Mississippi regiment, BsrksdaIe's
Brigade, being on picket within the town,
were ordered to the bluff overlooking the
site of the old railroad bridge. The moon
was brilliant, and by its light our men
could distinguish the enemy's forces work
ing like beavers on poutoon bridge stretch
ing from toe Stafford bank towards the
foot Of the bluff. In the course Of An
hour the bridge had been stretched to
within sixty yards of the southern shore.
The work was going bravely on, and the
bridge as far as completed was thickly Gov
cred with men, when, at FIVE o'clock, A.
N the two companies of the 18th, who
were lying on the extreme verge of the
bluff, were ordered to fire. The order was
deliberately given and executed. At the
crack of our rifles the bridge-bnilders
scampered for the shore, leaving their dead
and woSnded thickly strewn upon the
bridge. In few moments they returned
and bore them off. Immediately there
was opened upon the bluff terrific fire of
shell, grape and musketry, which was kept
mp with little lntermssion until Ave o'clock,
when our troops retired. Twice again. at
intervals of half an hour, the enemy re
newed the attempt to complete the BRIDGE.
LLt was ii each 'i4.ss@sses .+stssssaOa-srFslll-
heavy loss. In every caae the yankees ran
out to the end of the bridge, but, on re-
ceiving our fire, retired with equal nimble-
ness. After the third rep0lse of the enc
nv, the whole of Barksdale's Brigade was
ordered to the support of the 18th regi-
ment, and were put into position, some in
rear of the bluff and others higher up and
lower down the stream. At this juncture
tho onemy's fire from cannon and small
arms became so tremendous aud over
whelming that our force was only preserv-
ed from destruction by lying fiat on their
faces. In every instance in which q man
ventured to raise his. head from the earth
he was instantly ridded by bullets or torn
to pieces by grapeshot. 1t must be borne
in mind that the position occupied by our
men was swept by the eneny's batteries
and sharp shooters not two hundred yards
distant on the opposite heights. Notwith
standing the precautions taken, the casual
ties among our troops were numerous ane
severe.
. Lieutenant Miller, of company K, It'll
regiment was killed, aud Lieutenant Prc'
had his leg shattered. Lieutenant Clay
ton, from the same regiment, had an arm
broken.
A shell knocked down a tall chimney OF
the bluff, which, falling amongst our me-
laying beneath it, wounded twenty eight c
them. Other casualties too numerous t.
mention occurred. 1t is estimated tina
whilst our men were under this terrific fir
their loss in killed and wounded was a
least one hundred aud fifty. Towards fv
o'clock, P NJ, three rousing cheers frou
the river bank beneath the bluff announc
ed that the enemy had completed th
bridge, and that his troops had effected
landing on the southern bank. About tn
time the order for a retreat was receive
bv cur men. The regiments of the brig
ade fell back by different streets, firing,
they rsatreated, upon the enemy, who clos
" followed them. The brigade rendea
yoused at the market house and faced tt
enemy. A sharp skirmish ensued, but o.
| troops, acting under orders, again fell ba(
and left the town in possession OF the el
emy. During the evacuation twenty
thirty of our men, not hearing the ord
to retire, we're taken prisoners. 1t Is sa
that two regiments sent to cover the r
treat of the brigade fed disgracefully VII
opened on by the eeemy's cannon fro
beyond the river. As / am not fully ga
isfcd of the truth of this story | shall n
give the names of these regiments. ID
IN ring the occurrence of the incidents ha
related, the town was fred as l inform
Won in my last, aud several citizens wh
FROM one cause and another, still linger
IN their dwellings, were killed. The cl
keus. several hundred in number, who b
returned to the town under the 'delusl
that it would not be attacked, left 1t DUR
the day, single or.iu families, and sou2
for refuge aud safety in the country II
are nov scattered about, some IN cso'
and some in the open air.
This morning ! met two Wome' Cd
.rr