Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-13
Ohio 6tatesmran
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MORNING REPORT.
Further About the BOmbardment OF
Fredericksburg-Our Troops Occupy
the Nkav

Further About the BOmbardment OF
Fredericksburg-Our Troops Occupy
the City.
rom headquarters, opposite Fredericksburg,
Dec. llth, 3P. M, says: Between four and q We
O'CLOCK this morning the pontoon train In
charge OF the l7th and 50th New York EnRin-
eers, under command Of Gen. Woodbury., pro-
ceeded to the river bank, where, with infantry
support, an attempt was made to throw three
bridges across the river. dull haze 40 OBJ
ecured the movement that for time 1t Yves not
discovered by the rebel piekets. The pontoon-
iers had succeeded In partially constructing the
bridges when the rebels suddenly opened O
brisk and deadly fire of musketry from along
the banks OF the river and windows Of houses,
compelling cessation Of work. q"
Returning to the cover of surrounding hills, our
men again formed, and about six O'Clock the
attempt was renewed, but the rebels had now
been thoroughly aroused, and with reinforce.
menus OF aharpshooten swarmed the opposite
banks aud houses.
Nothing daunted by the hot FIRE which they
poured in at the temperance Of our troops,
the pontooniers went gallantly to work, but In
vain. A storm of bullets enveloped them, and
planks and boats were Tiddled by every volley.
Once more they were compelled to withdraw,
and fall back to the cover of ridge of hills
running parallel with the river.
lt was evident the rebels were determined to
use the houses of the city for defense, con-
trary to an implied agreement In the CORES
poDdence which recently passed by flag Of
truce.
| orders were given to our artillefymen to open
fire upon the city. Accordingly, BeDjamin's
Edwardss, Muhlenberg's and other,batteries of
the 9th corps, together with batteries of the
corps to the right and left of the city, COM
menced an almost simultaneous bombardment.
The fog was SO dense that IL was impossible TO
see but short distance beyond the edge Of
the river. The houses, however, In which rebel
sharpshooters had encased themselves, were
plainly visible, and to them our FIRE was for q
time particularly directed. The effect was theiI
partial demolition in short time. After the
first tire they became untensntable by the rebe
rihemen, who Petreated to the rear OF the town
where they took shelter behind as yet unharmed
buildings.
| By O'Clock bombsrdment became general
and from that time until o'clock the roar Of
artillery was incessant. The batteries OF The
9th raked the streets with she'll, echrapnel anG
grape, though the fog still continued to obscur,
in measure the results OF these discharges
The rebels, with the greatest stubbornness
still kept within the city, and at times parte,
OF them could be seen going from one point tt
another on double.quick. The carnage cannO
but be fearful amongst them.
II was somewhat singular the rebel batteries
did not return the fire of our guns. Up to th,
present time, they have not opened
About ten O'Clock the Engineers formed fol
o third attempt to construct the bridges. Aftel
the previous Intellectual attempts on the part o
/, the Engineers to cross, party of eighty mel
: OF the 9th Connections, under Captain Marsh
volunteered to assist In the new endeavor 10 fin
ieh the bridges, and once more the column will
this reinforcement started. Under direction o
Gen. woodbury., they seized pIanks and carried
out some dozen to the end Of the string o
boats, placed q part of them, and were theI
compelled to return under very CALLING frt
from ieDei snsFpsnooters, who were ensconset
securely in rife pits below the range of our ar
tillery, and within fifteen or twenty feet of th,
river edge. The Engineers suffered severely.
| The movement having been thus interrupted
the whole party were ordered back to thei
original position. .- 80
AT III O'Clock it was discovered one of th,
houses was on fire. The flames, which com
menced IN westerly part of the city, sool
> spread, and fredericksburg ia now envelopet
, In fire and smoke.
! An enhlading fire has been opened upon th
rebel rifle pits up the river. Ii has been sue
cessful 80 far IN driving the sharpshoOters frou
the vicinity OF the railroad depot.
: Inc engineers are now constructing bridge
across the river. The rebels still maintain thei
ground opposite the upper bridges. Cavalr
are now passing Summers headquarters en- rout
: 10 make charge across the river at one of th
fords. ..
| AQUA CREEK, Midnight, Dec. Il.-Intell
genee from the front tonight states that ou
foFcbs have crossed the river and are now i
possession of Fredericksburg. The enfladin
Q tre from our batteries on the right succeede
in driving the rebels from their rife pits on th
rivers edge, thereby permitting an easy an
rapid construction of pontoon bridges.
!. LATEST.
New YoRK, Dec. ia special dispatc
from. Washington to the Philadelphia Pres
dated yesterday, states: Private dispatche
received tonight from Fredericksburg, saw III
: greater part Of Franklin's division crosse
safely, throwing out pickets to those of Hoob
er's, at Fredericksburg. Our pickets are ad
vancing toward the lenemy's operations. Th
city 10 on fire, but il Is thought most Of th
buildings will be saved.
The enemy were skirmishing all day with ou
advance, but are gradually falling back.
Our losses are insignificant, as far as know
Gen. Parke telegraphs: "Ws are In full DO.
session OF Fredericksburg tonight. Our troop
are crossing rapidly. The whole army will
ovor aud ready to engage the enemy to-mol