The Placer herald., 1863-12-05
THE PLACER HERALD.
AUBURN, DECEMBER 5. 1863.
EASTERN NEWS.

wv 'tt'o uIoIe duuItlOHai news. Meade S
army, in advancing south from the Rapilan,
found Lee we'll posted with his forces on
the banks Of Mile Run. tributary Of the
Rapidan, and about midway between Orange
Court House. and fredericksburg. When
Lee noticed the Federal forces advancing.
the telegraph says:
He threw his forces down to head us off.
In the morning (Nov. 27th,) the Third and
Sixth Corps advanced on the Wesley road,
moving parallel with the rebel position. This
road was supposed to lead out to the turn
pike east of Robinson's tavern, but instead.
it ran into the road leading to Racoon Ford.
The head of the Third Corps-Price's Div-
sion-fell in with the enemy at the junction
OF this road at noon of Friday, (27th,) heavy
diminishing ensued. The enemy was de
teTmined to resist our advance. General
French, commanding the corps, massed other
divisions which were close at hand and
ordered Prince to advance This brought
on severe action, the enemy showing a
large force Of infantry. The woods were so
dense that it was impossible to work the
artillery. Only one battery was engaged on
our side, and two guns on the rebel side
The Third Division, Gen. Carr, deployed in
the tbicket to the left Of Prince. Immediately
the engagement became general. lasting
until dark, when the rebels withdrew, leaving
their dead and wounded on the field. The
roar Of musketry during this brief battle was
never exceeded in any conflict VIII ch history
records. The enemy opposed us with Early's
entire corps, and one division of Hills corps
His total force is estimated at thirty thou
sand. One brigade only, (Blair's) of the
Second Division and two of the Third be-
came engaged. The latter, with two of his
brigades (Egan's and Collis,) was slightly
engaged, also Ekmer's, of the Sixth Corps.
In supporting distance in the rear was
Smiths brigade of The Third Corps. Lees
troops were moved dawn under tremen'
dous fire and broke in considerable confusion
Gen. Birney advanced Egan's brigade into
their position, who held their ground with
the Third and Fifth Michigan, Twentieth
Indiana Fourth New York, and the Fourth
Regiment of Berlan's Sharrshooters-
The enemy made two fierce charges on
General Keefer's brigade, and were repulsed
both times handsomely. Morris drove the
enemy from an entrenched position, charg-
ing across the opening and up the hill The
enemy's position behind breastworks on the
edge of the woods was carried most hands
somey. The rebels attempted to retake it,
but were repulsed by the same brigade
(Seelys) Battery K, Fourth United States
was charged upon by the rebels, but The
guns, charged with canister, moved the as
coilaptc 1nup faorfn1I,, nd
pulsed on both occasions by the battery
alone, with tremendous Slaughter Every
brigade but Smiths did nobly, contendins
against superior numbers. Smith subse
quently rallied his men and did good work
Our losses were surprisingly light consider
ing the length of the action and the fierceness
Of the attack The total is two hundred
and fifty killed, five hundred wounded and
two or three hundred missing. The latter
were mostly slightly wounded-men who
strayed away in search of hospitals. The
Third Corps bivouacked on the battle field
The ambulance trains arrived after the ter
minaton of the battle, and were engaged
all night in picking up the wounded Owing
to the scarcity of ambulances, they were
unable to gather any of the rebel wounded
OpWdIus vi lOuT uunuTeu-
Here the dispatch was abruptly broken
of.
We are further informed by the telegraph,
that the campaign in Virginia has ended
for the winter. Mead has fallen back to,
and will probably rest his army at Freder'
icksburg, which will be made the base OF
operations. The Union thinks this will end
his career as commander of the army Of the
Potomac. "Shouldn't wonder"
The telegraph reports affairs at Chatta'
nooga, as follows:
On the lst of December, Generals Hook.
er and Palmer evacuated RinSgold public
after burning the mills, buildcing and bridg
es. Our cavalry reconnaissance twenty
three miles to the southwark disclosed nc
enemy; but they were found in force at Tun
mel Hill, seven miles from Dalton The rail
road from Ringgold to Chickamauga Station
was destroyed byHooker.
A correspondent of the Nashville Union
under date of November 26th, says: Bragg
commenced the fight at Missionary Ridge
with forty thousand men, His loss in killed
wounded and prisoners, is not less thar
eleven thousand, while ours will not exceed
thirty-fve hundred, including about two
hundred who were taken prisoners.
The Richmond Wing OF the 3Oth of No
A dispatch from Burnside, dated Wednes
day, Nov. 25th, says: The enemy to day
moved up three brigades and attacked one
of our brigades south of the river, thret
miles from Knoxville. After hard figh
the foe were repulsed, with the loss Of l5C
killed. The position wos then strengthened
Although the enemy were moving down will
large force with the evident intention of re
newing the attack, Burnside believed the po
sition could be held
The Washington Star publishes dispatcl
dated Cumberland Gap, Nov. 3Oth: Capt
Byrne repused WheeIer's tttack at Kingston
on Wednesday, the 25:h Wheeler the
retired toward Knoxville.