The following article is transcribed from the New York Times, dated 17 December 1862:
REBEL REPORTS FROM FREDERICKSBURGH.; The Events of Thursday Last. From the Examiner of Friday. FURTHER PARTICULARS, INCIDENTS, ETC. LATER ACCOUNTS.
From the Richmond Dispatch of Friday.
Early yesterday morning intelligence was received in this city that the ball had opened in earnest at Fredericksburgh, and that, from the fight, there was little room to doubt a general engagement would ensue. Throughout the day anxiety was evinced to hear from the conflict, and as usual, rumors of every variety were most industriously circulated. Passengers by the Fredericksburgh train last night report that the enemy attempted simultaneously to cross the Rappahannock at three different points -- the railroad bridge at the town, Knox's Mill, and Deep Run. The attempt was made about 5 o'clock A.M. At the two former places they were repulsed with great slaughter by our sharpshooters, who, from the defences of their rifle-pits, poured a galling fire into the ranks of the enemy, who fell back in confusion, after having sustained a heavy loss. Our loss is reported to be only five killed and seventy-five wounded. At Deep Run the enemy were more successful. Under the protection of their heavy batteries they succeeded in crossing -- in what force we were unable to ascertain. Our men fell back in good order. It is stated that our batteries completely sweep the plateau at this point, and that so far from having secured any advantage by the passage of the river, they have placed themselves in exactly the position our commanding General wishes them. Exasperated at their warm reception, the enemy wantonly shelled the town, killing a Mr. GROTZ, an old citizen, and mortally wounded his brother. The residences of Messrs. GEO. P. KING and ---- VAUGHAN were fired by the shells and totally destroyed. We understand that the troops composing the corns of Gen. LONGSTREET were mainly engaged in the fights of yesterday, and that nearly all the loss sustained was in that corps. The latest advices received are contained in a dispatch dated 6 o'clock, which states that a large force of the enemy had succeeded in effecting a crossing, and that it was expected that the fight would be renewed again this morning. At an early hour yesterday morning the important rumor was buzzed in the streets that the long expected action at Fredericksburgh had at last commenced, and that we were engaged with the enemy in force. The authorities were, as usual, both costive and dilatory in giving out anything to gratify public curiosity; and it was intimated at the War Department, with obvious propriety, that it would be advisable for the newspapers to await the official dispatches, and not plaster their bulletin boards with hasty and sensational reports. The following is an epitome of all the intelligence received at the War Department in the shape of official dispatches up to a late hour last night. The dispatches of Gen. LEE relate that the fight began at Fredericksburgh at 5 o'clock in the morning. At that hour the enemy attempted the passage of the Rappahannock at three different points by means of pontoon bridges. At two points they were repulsed. At the third it is presumed that they effected a passage, as the disparches stated that they had got under cover of their guns and could not be interrupted in their construction of a bridge. At last accounts, dated about noon, the fight was progressing on the southern side of the Rappahannock. It is understood that the point at which the enemy effected a passage of the Rappahannock was at Deep Run, about two miles below Fredericksburgh. The Yankees are said to have secured a landing there on a low cape, and our guns were in a position to sweep their ranks on their reaching the table land extending toward Fredericksburgh. The passenger train which reached here last evening left its station, three miles this side of Fredericksburgh, about 1 1/2 o'clock in the afternoon, and brought a number of persons who profess to have had close and minute observation of the morning's part of the action. The description of the carnage which we have from these sources are frightful. At one point we are said to have out the line of the enemy's pontoon bridges, and pouring in deadly showers of grape, to have filled the air with the legs, arms and disjointed members of the Yankees. When the fire was opened on our lines, several women and children were remaining within the limits of Fredericksburgh, and their consternation is said to have been most pitiful. We have, from different sources, the report that two women were certainly killed by the enemy's fire. We could not obtain the names of the unhappy victims. From the best information we can obtain it appears that LONGSTREET's Division was the portion of our force actively engaged yesterday. The rumor was circulated in the streets last night that the town had been fired by the incendiary shots of the enemy. The rumor up to a late hour had obtained no confirmation in anything received at the War Department. The general conclusions from what we learn up to the hour of writing are, that the enemy had effected a passage of the Rappahannock, probably in considerable force; that the action of yesterday was without any important fruits or prefatory to a more important action now impending; and that to-day will witness a large and important, but, perhaps, indecisive battle on the disputed lines of Fredericksburgh. As confirmatory of this prospect, an order was received last night at the Medical Purveyor's office, for all the ambulances and stretchers that could possibly be sent from this city. These are the gloomy indications of the work to-day. By through passengers who arrived here last night from Fredericksburgh, we learn that simultaneously with his attempt to throw his pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock, the enemy bombarded the town. The few inhabitants still remaining there began to leave immediately and make their way toward Hamilton Station on the railroad. A number of the houses in the town were struck, and two of them, Mr. JOHN C. KING's, near the depot, and a Mr. SCOTT's, were burned. One of the church steeples was also struck, and some say knocked down. The number of casualties to citizens are variously stated. Some accounts say that only one man, JACOB GROTZ, was killed, and another wounded. But persons, who were among the last to leave the town report that there were six citizens killed, among whom were Mr. J. GROTZ and his brother GEORGE, and a woman and her infant. Heavy cannonading and the occasional fire of skirmishers was heard at the depot from 5 o'clock A.M. until 11, when a perfect silence ensued all along the lines, and continued unbroken until 1 o'clock. P.M., the hour of the departure of the train for Richmond. Persons who came down on this train knew nothing of the movements going on except such as they obtained from the flying inhabitants of Fredericksburgh, who knew nothing more than that their town was being shelled over their heads, and that their safety depended on a hasty evacuation. The account, however, brought by them does not differ in the main from that obtained from more reliable sources. They say that at 5 o'clock A.M. [???] enemy attempted to throw across pontoon [???] at three points, the old railroad bridge about [???] entire of the town, and above and below Deep [???], a stream three miles lower down the Rappahannock; that at the first of these two points the bridge-builders were driven from their work by our sharpshooters, but that at the point below the creek mentioned, the ground being low and open for a considerable space on this side, his artillery, posted on the opposite heights, had dispersed our sharpshooters, and enabled his men to perfect the bridge. At last accounts our artillery had been brought into a position covering and completely commanding the open space upon which the enemy's troops would deploy in crossing.