The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-26
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 26 1867.

strongly fortified position at Fredericks-
burg.
In front Of this spm-circle is our posi-
ton, our line being parallel with the Rap
pahannocl. We occupy, Us it were, the
stage OF the amphitheatre, while the enc
my has the auditorium. Every available
position or the hills is fortified by the ar
tillery in earthWOrks, overlooking. COM
manding, and, in many eases, onfiiading.
the open plain below, over which run the
railroad and the Bowling Green turnpike.
Our plan of attack was to make Il sud-
den onslaught upon each flank, with a view
OF turning one OF the other; which done,
to overwhelm and pierce their centre. The
enemy, however, endeavored 10 anticipate
Our movements by advancing and attack
ing our left al 9 \. ". This was ,JacIlson's
move, out he was most handsomely foiied
by Franklin, with REYNOLDS corps, who had
the extreme left. 70 make thi; attack
Jackson had crossed the Ma@saponax from
the south side.
REBEL. PRAISE OF OUR TROOPS.
The H4r"'}'& correspondent says:
I have convcrsed with q good many
during the day. They all accord to cur
men splendid bravery in attacking them in
their strongholds.
1t was murder to fire on such brave
men," remarked one, describing the gallant
manner in which onr troops advanced upon
them. ''We waited till your men got close
up, and fired. Hundreds fell, but they
closed ranks and came on We fired again,
and again hundreds fell Again they closed
ranks and came on. We were behind a
protecting earthwork, and your balls whis-
tied harmlessly over US. We were taken
prisoners before we knew it,
'You have greatly the odds in this fight"
] IObserved, alluding to the time they had
had tor preparation, the formidable nature
OF their Notifications and batteries, and
the embarrassing river in our rear
"That's so, and we know it, was his
reply; ''but for all that we prefer peace to
fighting and murder
SUNDAY FOLLOWING THE BATTLE.
The Tribuae's letter, dated Sunday.
says:
The Sabbath has been occupied with the
duties suited to the day. A few reports of
cannon have broken it's sacred quiet, and
the skirmishers have occasionally disturbed
the solemnity of the day with discharges
of musketry. But chiefly the time has
been occupied with the last sad offices of
respect to the dead and the labors of love
to the suffering and the dying We have
spent the day amid scenes the most soften
ing and sorrowful, gathering the names of
hoe -ho In bal
groaning and sighing with their wounds
many of them in the agonies of death.
We have witnessed the patient fortitude
of many, who with their wounds still un-
cared for, have spent the night upon the
ground in the open air; we have been ia
miliar with the pale faces and exhausted
countenances of those who have suffered
amputation of limbs; we have seen brave
men writhing under the tortures of the
scalpel and the saw, and all the saddening
and frightful spectacles which the hospitals
present upon the day after battle Such
scenes, which we would have gladly avoid
ed, have been constantly before us, as we
have stopped to hear from the sufferers
their names, THAR regiments and their
wounds.
The hospitals, we are glad to report, are
far better organized than we have ever
known them before. The new system of
details recently introduced by DR.. Later
man, Burnside's Medical Director, have
brought into the army an important and
gratifying reformation. Certain skillful
surgeons are selected for operations, 9TH
ers for the other various duties of the SER
vice. The general air of seriousness and
care which has been exhibited contrasts
with what we have previous observed
The best possible attention is giAen to the
wounded at all of the hospitals which we
have visited to-day.
IMPREGNABILrrY OF THE REBEL POSITION.
The Times thus alludes to the rebel po-
sition:
Regarded as position of defence, that
which the rebel leaders have taken up on
the Rappahannock, and which we have
been pleased to assail in the manner indi-
Gated and with the result known, none
could possibly be more magnificent or more
nearly impregnable. With fifty thousand
men they should easily hold it against three
times that number of assailants And in
wv" oiioJ aPpoai Ho'oA W nave employed
more than about that number. Every time
We poured forward fresh men, they had
ready reinforcements to match. From
prisoners taken, learn that on the right,
commanded by jackson, half of the force
only (and chiefly the division of A. p.
Hill, and Early's brigade) was engaged. 1
take it that they had along the line of the
Rappahannock about one hundred thou
sand men, and that fifty thousand more or
less were actually engaged in the contest,
The Confederate leaders have acted with
their usual wilyness in this whole matter.
They did well to let us into Fredericks-
burg, firing but half dozen guns, when
they could have brought hundred to bear
upon US. The city itself was the veriest