Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-12-16
ERON fREUERIGHSRURG

FROM URG.
Especial Correspondence OF Richmond 'Enqurer.')
CAMr NEAR FREDEkICEsBukG.}
December H. 1852.
We ure here near the great line Of battle, and viii
briefly rerslulate Whist have und heard Tie
enemy attempted the passage Of the AppuhanmOck by
laying down their pontoons nt o'clock Of Thursday
morning. They were permitted To sct their bridges
half finished boture fired upon them. Abnut
dawn however, the l7tl unl 18th Mississippi, rurt
Of Barsdales Brigade opened fire upon tlsen, killing
and wounding lurge number. These regiments Wen
arued with Springfield rifles, aud tvr II while drore
the poutn0nirra from their work. Then 1t was
that The Yankees ur,nsi upon the turwu with shot.
shall ai grape to the destruction nj te nu~r- hIn!
the terrur OF IL. plnir icEen and nJing inlaLI-
tauta two.lhir. Of which wera women but d"lng ill.,
tie or no harm Ia tie gallant band Of Mhsssirais
who were there 10 tisput. their enlrance. The Ering
upon the town wss not responded 10 by batteries.
And here tie magnificent spectacle MAS witnessed Of
the Yankees firing Tor tuur mortal hours upon the town
Of Fredericksburg with batteries placed close together
over space OF nearly two miles, nnl ranged in thnr
tier,. As the result Vi their hcniii7l work. The lwo
squaies Oh tue North a,!e Of Main stret which .rs
situated the Virgins Bank and tue Post Oiice were
entirely destruyedthc rnsmy throwing what il called
Liquid ilp" Tie sight is Represented by those VIII" wit.
messed it of surprising yet terrible grnndelr.-
The inhabitants whU were cAught inside tell of
many hairhteath escapes. In une instanre Is we'll
known servant nun, named James ltons had his hat
knocked otl and his hair snged. In another INSTANCE
twenty .seybn shells went through frame house in
which we've some eight perSols without killing any Vi
them. Suiue who sought shelter from the SHELLS in
their cellars compelled 10 vacate because oi lhe
houses catching on fire over their heads.
The hOIss long tho residence OF Mary, the
mother Of Washington, was slIred. und nearly dr.,
stroypd. The old serving man, ChAs. Pryor, who
sought skaer in its cellsr said Master, thosr devils
picked the house for the irine cuetenl just ad uiu
Ing is uulurr In addition v dIsastfs PIE viousy
ported, Mrs. Bodc' WAS wUunL.I. solnu lew delei-
| mined spirits still remain
Your correspondent has, been within mile Of the
town AMI has just cOnversed with ctzrI from tho
! extreme edge Of the town, wlelr the turnpike ana
telegraph roads fork. Our pckets extend 10 u.is
! point Tho Yankees hold the Town. and have tlrlr
pickes us far al tie run which flows just helu1
| tue town.
| In the Town they are holding high carnival break.
ing destroying and puuderiug ali that lies ia their
Ii il reported thst they have sacked and burned lie
elegant dwelling Of J. Warren Slaughter, better 6mu"n
Tie dseda ot gallantry performed by uur nien thus
| lar challenge our admiration, hld ansule us thai
when tho great struggle CONES every man will fear
le,sly do lis duty. The srmy Ia in tne health al
errelent spirits only three sick wee reported on th
iIs OF Of tho largest brig Of the Amy YES
terday.
a Georgian, on picket in town on Thursday light,
killed one and brought out six prisourra- II
OF them thus caught iwere drunk; and it Is sAL!
that ratloln vi whiskey BE inaly suppilei Tue
| Z, Ia Il hat tirut lrya a.l,
which acruss, had To he forced at the point vi
| tile bayUnet,
The lighting yesterday wss mainly artillery duelling
ACROSS the river and picket fighting. The artliiery
engaged being the Washington artillery OF Ne~ Or
leans and Capt. Co0pers Stafford company. Tie
| lighting between the pickes was mostly hear the
fair grounds in Fredericksburg. Benarl's Hats nud
the town were pretty full of Yankees yesterday
| ing.
near the wharf recently built up % part Of the Hazel
Hill tract has been seriously injured Our burnt
| Hazel Ruu bridgv on Thursday night,
The Yankees are trying tO force citizens wb" remain
to 20 scross the tIver.,
Yankees lave as many IS five pontoon 'brldgss,-
Three just opposite the town aud two just below IT,.
The gallant Missssippsils under Barksdan kept back
| tue poniouners for nearly "a hours notwithstanding
their exposure during The entire tnn 10 shot and shell
The 6ring began tilr part ui he ensIny about
this morning, and they have h. III up tho shelilng
| very constantly ever since
i at this hour =. NJ, the indir .Inna Of general
engagement are multiplying troops III every
drcclioR are hurylng forward to e field. The bat
| tie may commence this evening. Tomorrow, how.
| ever must certainly result In & neral engagement
| We thong ut II would have taken place to-day.
legTet 10 inform you Of tie DEATH by the bunting u
SHE'LL OF Captain James Elicit Ct your city, in com
mslid Of the Cleusiaw battery. lie WAS engaged nt
the time of his death in conversation with Cnltalh
| Pcgram.
Private john Wheeler of the Crerl-haw battery,
wounded; al,u, Private Dale "ud ;crgt. Ball, u! Pc.
| graIts battery.
! The fighting will evidently he the right wing and In
the vi.nlty OF HAlnon's Heights, where the rlslling
has been going all day. The Yankees are making for
the raillosd. Burnside has very heavy turcc 1t is
reported that the enemy have eru three times repnscd
this morning. unly Our artillery thus tar hnys heel
cugnged
. TIE REFUGEES.
|. The amount Of suffering inflicted on the non-roi-
batants OF fredericksburg by LIE unlsilclpcd tne, ~
heRrrendng. The picture which Hents the eye At
every farm house, chiI and hH.-iugltires from
burning homes aud desoarci lcu,th,nncs clustered
in melancholy groups in the houses and about the
yards watching the clouds lowering the std city
and listening " tile steady rar ol The artillery whose
every yulley adds 10 II rAdy terrible Of dss-
tr,:Liun- enough i.,; Lnu stUutest heart, hnd
finin the che CAL out curses on lh- luih
In0us AilthDrs OF ..Ic inisery TGe continued III
a.;tIDn CT the "i.J gave assurance to Il number uf
families VIII ID for many werka been suffering with.
nnnt had pussed and within the past few days they
returned to the city. They were startled from ;helr
dream OF security BY the kissing shell through e bed
chamber lie ltlng ol grape ID the street and the solid
shot uptLng with Inurd:rous crash its way through
roof and fioor, even Of Churches, and pow ing up
he very homes OF thsir IN the churyd yards.
The shrrks OF with their infants iu their arms,
snatched haslly from peaceful sleep, they rau III
frantic smazemr nt AID terror through the streets, %As
euuughD arpall any bul Iankre's haat Some
soug III refuge their cears but the blaZng ,aiiers
sIld stesming umbers overhead druve them again
info the stlent- How any ESCAPED r problem whuse
solution must come within the catalogue Of Miracles.
There rumors of wonsu and children having been
killed pershing amid tha flames, but amid the con
fusion OF conflicting reports We cun affirm nothing
definite.
Some are said to Ire in tue town yet, unable TO &c,
away Whs their fate will bc il uistter OF Sad
lecture.
Between the present terminus of the railroad and
Hamiltons crossing shout two mlss, We encouptefet