Later from the North.
the "bombardment and capture of Fredericksburg."
the Rappahannock crossed, but the great battle not yet heard from.
We are indebted to the courtesy of
Maj. Norris, C. S. Signal Corps, for a copy of the Baltimore
American of Saturday, the 13th inst. The
Yankees had not, of course, heard of their great defeat on that day, and were in expectation of an overwhelming victory.
We give below a connected account of the fighting as far as they had heard from it. A dispatch from
Washington says official information had been received there that the
French Government ‘"has no idea of prosecuting any further its proposition for an armistice and mediation."’ In the
West there is nothing important.--
Gen. Grant's army was at
Oxford, Miss.
Lincoln had sentenced thirty-nine of the
Minnesota Indians to be hang on Friday, the 19th inst.
Before the battle — the Preparations.
A dispatch, dated the morning of the 11th inst., from before
Fredericksburg, gives some of the movements before the shelling of the town and the subsequent battle:
For some days
Franklin's grand division has been manœuvering on our left, threatening to cross at Point Conway, seventeen miles below, to
draw a portion of Lee's army in that direction, which he has succeeded in doing.
Though appearing to push his troops there, the bulk of them remained but two or three miles from here, and with
Lee's forces thus weakened in our front, a simultaneous crossing of the whole army may take place to day. A sun of April shone through a soft haze yesterday on the lingering snow, the air was ominously still, and numberless incidents betokened action.
Those batteries not yet placed moved quietly to their bivouacks on the hillsides along the river, ready to take positions on the summit when required — Earthworks yet unfinished were completed, and aids from grand divisions were incessantly moving to and from headquarters.
Doubleday's division of calm young veterans passed by here with faces unconscious of peril; and
Burnside, in a short jacket, moved tranquilly in and out of his tent, with his hands in his pockets, as a man who had made all his dispositions,
whose mind was easy, and who was confident of the results. Many orders indicative of action had been postponed till yesterday evening, in order to preserve secrecy, and at this hour it is impossible to ascertain whether they have yet been given, or what positions the different army corps will take.
There was a constant movement of troops through last night, and coming hours will reveal their locality.
The whole army has received cooked rations for three days and sixty rounds of cartridges.
There is a general satisfaction on every face at the prospect of a move, and spirits grow redundant.
Ample arrangements have been made for the reception of the wounded men in the coming fight.
Two hospital tends, each accommodating twenty men, have been allowed to every regiment, and, in addition to these, the division hospitals have a sufficient number of tents to furnish two more to each regiment.
Good fires and covering will be provided for hospital inmates, and no suffering from cold will be endured.
Last evening at dusk the curious slate colored pontoon boats, looking at a distance like whales, laid waiting upon their wagons in the valleys near the river, with horses harnessed ready for speedy employment.
It was thought they would be laid across at 3 o'clock this morning and that part of the army would speedily follow and engage such troops as might hasten from their encampments to meet them.
I can give you no later information than one A. M. A large portion of the army is under orders to move at daylight.
The moon is bright.
Many a brave fellow is now taking his last living sleep.
The bombardment and capture of Fredericksburg — Details of the battle.
Under this head is given a dispatch dated ‘"Opposite
Fredericksburg, Dec. 11, 3 P. M."’
Between 4 and 5 o'clock this morning the pontoon train in charge of the 17th and 50th New York Engineers, under command of
Gen. Woodbury, proceeded to the river bank, where, with infantry supports, an attempt was made to throw three bridges across the river--one at the point where the railroad bridge formerly crossed, and two more opposite the city, but nearer
Falmouth.
A dull haze so obscured the movement that for a time it was not discovered by the rebel pickets.
The pontooniers had succeeded in partially constructing the bridges when the rebels suddenly opened a very brisk and deadly fire of musketry from along the banks of the river and the windows of the houses, compelling a cessation of the work.
Some of our men were shot midway of the stream, and falling overboard floated down the river.
Returning to the cover of the surrounding hills, the men were again formed, and about 6 o'clock the attempt to bridge the river was renewed, but the rebels had now been thoroughly aroused to a sense of what was going forward, and with reinforcements of sharpshooters swarmed the opposite banks and houses.
Nothing daunted at the hot fire they poured in at the appearance of our troops, the pontooniers went gallantly to work — but in vain.
A storm of bullets enveloped them.
The air was alive with the leaden messengers of death.--The planks and boats were riddled by every volley.
Once more they were compelled to retire, and they fell back to the ridge of hills running parallel with the river.
As it was evident that the rebels were determined to use the houses of the city for defence, contrary to an implied agreement in the correspondence which recently passed by flag of truce, our artillerymen were ordered to fire upon the city.
Accordingly,
Benjamin's,
Edwards's,
Muhlenberg's, and other batteries of the 9th corps, together with the batteries of the 9th corps, together with the batteries to the right and left of the city, commenced an almost simultaneous bombardment.
The fog was so dense that it was impossible to see but a short distance beyond the edge of the river.
The houses, however, in which the rebel sharpshooters had ensconced themselves were plainly visible, and to them for a time the fire was particularly directed.
The effect was their partial demolition in a short time.
After the first fire they became untenable by the rebel riflemen, who retreated to the rear of the town, where they took shelter behind the, as yet, unharmed buildings.
By 7 o'clock, the bombardment had become general, and from that time until 1 o'clock the roar of artillery was incessant.
From the vicinity of the
Lacy house, a brick building overlooking the centre of the city, the batteries of the 9th corps raked the streets with shell, shrapnel, and grape.
Though the fog still continued to obscure, in a measure, the results of these discharges, yet the walls could be heard tumbling and the timbers crashing.
The rebels, with the greatest stubbornness, still kept within the city, and at times parties of them could be seen going from one point to another on the double-quick.
The carnage cannot but be fearful amongst them.
It is somewhat singular that the rebel batteries did not return the fire of our guns.
Up to the present time they have not opened in response.
About 10 o'clock the engineers were formed for a third attempt to construct the bridge.
The 8th Connecticut, under
Col. Ward, was lying at this time near the river bank, in support of one of our batteries.
After the previous ineffectual attempts on the part of the engineers to cross, a party of 80 men from the regiment under
Capt. Marsh volunteered to assist in this new endeavor to finish laying the bridge, and once more the column with this reinforcement started down to the river.
Under the direction of
Gen. Woodbury they seized the planks and carried out some dozen to the end of the string of boats, placed a part of them, and were then compelled to retire under a very galling fire from the rebel sharpshooters who were ensconced securely in rifle pits below the range of the artillery, and within 15 or 20 feet of the river's edge.
Two of the 8th Connecticut were wounded in this attempt, and the engineers suffered severely.
The movement having been thus interrupted, the whole party were ordered back to their original position.
At 11 o'clock it was discovered that one of the houses was on fire.
The flames which commenced in the westerly part of the city, soon spread, and
Fredericksburg is now enveloped in fire and smoke.
An enflinding fire has been opened on the rebel rifle pits from our batteries up the river, and has been successful so far in driving the sharpshooters from the vicinity of the railroad depot.
The engineers are now constructing the bridge without interruption, supported by the 89th New York,
Col. Fairchild.
The rebels still maintain their ground opposite the upper bridges.
The cavalry are now passing
Gen. Sampson's headquarters, to make a charge across the river at one of the fords above.
Reports from the left state that
Franklin's wing has crossed the river below, under cover of the gunboats.
The crossing of the Rappahannock — a General battle Imminent.
The following are the brief dispatches giving an account of the crossing of the
Rappahannock. --They are dated Friday morning, 10 A. M, and are given with the following headings: --‘"The Army in Rapid Motion — Crossing the
Rappahannock — Our Troops Sleeping on their Arms — A General Battle Imminent,"’ &c.:
After occupying the river front of the city last night, we lost about 100 men killed and wounded, while driving the rebels through the city.
They fired on our men as they advanced through the streets, while secreted in and behind houses.
Not much mercy was shown to those who were caught.--This morning a dense fog hid everything from view, but at this hour it is lifting and passing away.
Our troops commenced crossing at an early hour,
Gen. Sumner's grand division leading the way over in front of the city, to be followed by
Gen. Hooker's grand division.
Gen. Franklin's grand division which crossed three miles below the city is nearly over.
At a quarter past 9 o'clock the first gun was fired.
The firing lasted about half an hour, the rebels not making a very spirited reply.
It is thought the troops will be over the river by noon.
Information, received during the night and this morning from deserters and prisoners, show that the rebels have two strong lines of batteries in the rear of the city.
The first one being one mile back; and the second a mile from the first.
The whole army is in rapid motion and well concentrated.
The troops are in excellent spirits, and anxious to be led against the enemy's works.
The enemy have concentrated their forces, and it is believed will give battle.
Much will depend upon the result of to-day.
All feel sanguine of success.
The latest.
At a quarter past 2 o'clock the rebels opened all their guns posted on the first range of hills.--Their main fire was directed upon the city, which was filled with our troops.
Those guns which were posted on the left of the ridge were opened on the large body of troops which crossed on the two lower bridges, and had formed in line of battle and were moving obliquely down the river fronting the
Massaponax.
Although several of their shells exploded over our troops, none were injured.
Gen. Bayard's cavalry, which crossed on the lower bridge, had five men killed while endeavoring to ascertain the position of the enemy.
The troops which crossed below are sleeping on their arms to-night, the advance being within three-quarters of a mile of the
Massaponax creek, and their left resting on the
Rappahannock.
Our guns posted on the bank on this side of the river silenced the enemy's artillery after an action of some half hour's duration.
This ended the firing for the day.
The only damage done by the rebel shells thrown into the town last night was to add just so much to its destruction.
Nearly every house in the city has been more or less damaged by the cannonading of the past two days. Several splendid residences have been completely riddled.
The same may also be said of the churches.
The fire seems to have been directed on the most prominent edifices.
In several cases acts of wanton destruction of property were committed by our troops when they first entered the town.
Property which could be of no use to the enemy was destroyed.
In many of the houses the furniture all remained, showing that the occupants had left in haste.
Some of our troops, in their impetuosity, mistook the
British flag flying from the residence of the
British Consul for a rebel flag, and tore it down.--This morning the owner came over the river to recover it, and it was returned to him.
The main body of the army is now over the river, the balance being in a position to cross at any time.
More exploits of the Alabama — she Captures two more Yankee vessels — a whole squadron after her.
The steamer ‘"290"’ (
Alabama) has been causing more destruction in the
Yankee marine.
She captured the
Levi Starbuck, bound from New Bedford for the
Pacific, on the 2d ult., and burned her. She was worth $200,000. Shortly after she bagged the
Thomas B. Wales, from
Calcutta for
Boston, having on board
Mr. Fairchild, the United States Consul at Mauritius.
The following is a description of this capture by one of the crew:
The pirate was observed about 10 A. M., some ten miles to the leeward, in chase of a schooner, which escaped.
The pirate then tacked ship and chased the
Wales.
At this time the pirate had the Stars and Stripes flying, but when near enough to fire on the
Wales, fired a gun and hoisted the
Confederate colors.
When first seen she was supposed to be an English mail steamer bound for the
West Indies.
The
Wales hove to, and a boat was lowered from the
Alabama, containing four seamen and two officers, every one of them armed with a revolver and cutlass.
The two officers came on board and asked for the captain, who was pointed out by a passenger.
One of the officers then ordered the
Captain to get his papers and go on board that ship, which was done, and soon returned without them.
The
1st Lieutenant of the
Alabama came on board and took possession of the ship, and gave orders to send the main yard down, as the
Alabama's was broken and a new one wanted.
The crew of the
Wales were told they were to go on board the
Alabama, with only a bag of clothing, which was done, some of the crew hauling down the main yard, and others preparing to leave.
The
Lieutenant then ordered that the pigs and fowls be killed, and demanded of the steward that all the fresh meat be transferred to the
Alabama.
The omnivorous
Lieutenant also stole some sugar and tea.
The main yard was down by this time and launched overboard and then hauled up on the
Alabama. --The crew of the
Wales then went aboard, and, excepting the
Captain and
Mr. Fairchild and family, the
American Consul at
Mauritius, were put in irons and imprisoned in the fire- room.
The men were decently fed, but were only freed from irons to wash themselves in the morning.
They were placed at no work.
The
Wales was then set on fire by the
1st Lieutenant of the
Alabama, who went into the cabin, tore down the berths, piled the broken fragments on the table, and applied the match.
As soon as the vessel was fairly on fire the
Alabama sailed, and before she was out of sight the three masts of the
Wales had fallen into the water and the hull was a mass of flames.
That same night eleven of the crew of the ill-fated vessel consented to become pirates and join the
Alabama force.
Offers were made to others, but they refused.
The men do not complain of ill-treatment on board the
Alabama.
The Consul,
Mr. Fairchild, the
Captain of the
Wales, and the ladies, including the
Captain and
Consul's wives, were all well treated.
Capt. Semmes was rarely seen.
The officers on the
Alabama seem to be rather ignorant of nautical affairs, but they say they have no fear of Federal vessels.
The pirate crew is almost entirely composed of Englishmen.
After these exploits the
Alabama went to
Martinique, where she was blockaded by the
United States steam frigate
San Jacinto.
Her escape is thus narrated by the New York papers:
The first officer of the
San Jacinto, it was said, offered to the
Captain to run into the harbor, and either run down or engage the
Alabama, but the latter refused.
Thereupon the
Lieutenant begged of the
Captain to go on shore a few hours, when he would do so on his own responsibility, but the
Captain refused to accede to his request.
The American brig
Hampden, of
Bangor, Me, was in port when the
Alabama arrived.
Her
Captain at once took a boat for the
San Jacinto, and arranged with the navy
Captain a signal to notify him by the firing of a rocket whenever the
Alabama was to move.
He followed out these instructions, and was immediately arrested and his vessel seized by the authorities of
Martinique, who nearly unanimously sympathized with the Southern Confederacy.
The
San Jacinto also kept two armed boats plying about the harbor during the night to watch the coming of the
Alabama.
In the night the pirate glided out of port, and on the following morning when the
San Jacinto's look out reported, it was ascertained that the pirate was
The escape of the
Alabama is explained by
Capt. Goodall, of the
Alice, by the fact that the harbor of
Martinique is a large bay, about three miles wide, with high mountainous shores.
He also says that a cloud is always overhanging the harbor, and at times the sea washes way up to the city.
No one vessel can at any time blockade such a harbor.
He represents the
Alabama as sailing almost entirely under canvas, and making thirteen cents per hour at that.
She had but two days coal on board, and had gone into
Martinique to receive a cargo, which had arrived at that port for her on an English brig.
The brig also had on board two large
Armstrong 100 pounders.
At the time of the departure of the
Alabama the brig took her departure also.
Capt. Goodale, with the schooner, went to
St. Thomas, and the crew of the
Levi Steinbuck and
T. B. Wales had arrived there in a French schooner, having been chartered to convey them from
Martinique.
The
Captain also states that a gentleman went into the
American Consul's office at
St. Thomas and said that his brother-in-law had the
Alabama into the harbor of
St. Johns, a few miles above, and she was there then, sealing and taking in her heavy guns.
News was sent to the
San Jacinto, and she was immediately to depart in search of her.
It is asserted by several of the crew of the
Wales that the escape of the
Alabama from
Martinique was protected by a French man of war, which would allow no shots to be on account of the possible damage that might be done to the town.
They say also that the pirate was furnished with a pilot by the
French authorities, and the vessel was supposed to have been piloted out by a channel unknown to the
San Jacinto, during the night of the 18th November.
It is not worth while to conceal the fact that a whole fleet of steamers are after the
Alabama — The
Vanderbilt sailed yesterday from the Lights direct to
Fayal, and runs a fair chance of falling in with the pirate on the way. is supposed to meet there two U. S. steamers, detached from a foreign squadron, and the three will then take a foreign cruise.
At the
Brooklyn Navy-Yard there are two splendid regular navy steam frigates and one ten knot steamer, all of which will be off in a few days.
At
Boston, another fine steamer is ready to leave.
One left
Philadelphia on Thursday, and another started from
Portsmouth, N. H, on Monday, and five have taken their departure from this and other ports within a few days.
Of all, only one, the
Stettin a prize steamer, is fast enough to catch the
Alabama.
Miscellaneous.
A correspondent of the Boston
Journal states that
Franklin's division was under orders to make a rapid flank movement on Friday last, and to fall on one of the flanks of the rebel army stretched along the
Rappahannock.
A storm of rain and snow came on, making the roads so nearly impassable that instead of marching sixteen miles, as was intended, the division made but nine miles the first day, and the movement had to be abandoned.
The Tennessee regiments around
Louisville left there on Monday last.
B. F. Flanders, a native of
New Hampshire, and
Michael Hahu, a German, have been elected to Congress under
Butler's rule in New Orleans.
Four thousand exchanged soldiers at
Camp Parole, near
Annapolis, have been ordered to join their regiments immediately.
General McNell, the
Missouri murderer, is in
St. Louis.
He declares that Altisman is dead, and is to write a letter to
Lincoln explaining his ‘"retaliation"’ for his death.
The Ways and Means Committee of the United States Congress is positively stated in the
Northern papers to be opposed to the issue of any more ‘"greenbacks."’
The mother of
Cardinal Antonelli is just dead, at the age of 90.
Attempts are being made to get
Lincoln to veto the bill admitting
Western Virginia as one of the
United States.
Hon. S. S. Cox, of
Ohio, gave a dinner to
Gen. McClellan at
Willard's, in
Washington, on Friday.
The young
Napoleon toasted
Burnside, wishing him all success.
In New York, on Friday, gold was 131@132, and
Virginia 6's 60.
