Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-01

We take the following statement of facts pertaining
to the late battle at Fredericksburg from the Richmond
Dispatch
lustead, however OF annoying our readers further
with Burnse direct lies aud suppressons of the truth
We viii seate certain facts, detailed to by gentle
man who was in the battle of Saturday. small pro-
portion OF army Only engaged, not more than
$4,000 men at f,rthest Burnside rates bis own force
engaged At DO coo 1t certainly double that figure
Burnside writes that he lost but 900 General
Amstead of the Confederate service took the pecau-
ton TO count the dead bodies left on the field by the
aDkees, and they were rather more than $500. This
was on Tuesday after the Yankees had employed two
whole days ia burvng At the lowest calculation, then,
we must have killed at least 5000 of their meu, and
this nny be what Burnside when be says bis loss
was 5000 The wounded after battle, usually stand
TO the dead IL the proportion Of five to that 25
600 OF the Yankees must have been wounded and their
whole less, exclusive of 300 prisoners, must have
been 80 900 men. Any person who saw the field of
battle and Fredericksburg after the retreat would read
~ credit this estimate.
At the place where Gen. Cobb Wa. killed within
the enclosure OF stone fence, regiment of brigade
was posted 1t assaulted by q whole brigade OF
Irishmsn who behaved with the most determined brave
ry, and were repeatedly led 10 the assault Oay four
of this meDt-exc elusive of Gen. Cobb himsel-were
killed. and they killed more than five hundred OF their
enemy, whose bodies were lett on the field. In Fred
ericksburg Of the Streets the Yankees dog
trench, and left beside it five hundred dead bodies piled
up. Our informant had no doubt that they intended
to make breast wotk of these bodies, as they had
placed them the edge of the ditch and covered them
with dirt, as if they had been logs. All about the
streets in every direction, dead bodies of the Yankees
lying in piles o. two, three and high as dczen
10 the porch of Mayor Slaughers house there
less than five dead Yapkefs. The night of the battle
tie dry grass in portion of 1.-The field took re, and
many of the Yankees wounded were burned. The ex-
poson of their cartridge boxes the fire reached them
and the shrieks Of the sufferers. heard all night
long by pckets who had it not in their power to
relieve the sufferers.
That the Yankees greatly adverse to the fight,
and that they could be brought to engage in it with
great difficulty is absolutely certain. section of the
lst Howi'zofs tRichmond) was placed upon an emf.
hence which commanded foil view of the whole Yam
kee army Before the cannonade began on their part
they OF course all busy looking at the advancing
enemy. They distinctly large bodies of men march
ing behind the advancing columns with fixed bayonets
evidently forcing them into battle. Ga more than
occasion they the officers fire their own nlen,
and repeatedly they them riding after and
deavoring 10 bring them up Little idea had of the
tremendous defeat had inflicted on the enemy.
The battles of the have hitherto been fought in
the woods The battle IF Fredericksburg, like Euro
pean battles, was fought in clear space which might
be taken in at single glance 1t formed the grandes
panorama witnessed on this continent. 1t con-
tnued after nghtal, and the long line Of FIRE vsi
bic for miles around 1t one of the most sublime
sights it ia possible to conceive.