Staunton Spectator

At five o'clock on Thursday morning last, the enemy, under the command of Burnside, at Fredericksburg, attempted to lay down pontoon bridges, on which to cross the Rappahannock, at three places. One at the site of this railroad bridge which spanned the river at the lower end of the town; another at the ford above the town, and between it and Falmouth, and the third below the mouth of Deep Run, which is about three miles below the city.

The attempts at the first names points were repulsed with considerable loss to the enemy, our sharpshooters and skirmishers co-operating with the artillery in the affair. At the lower point, the pontooniers were protected from the fire of our artillery by the river bluff, and the command of the position by the enemy's guns rendered sharpshooters unavailable. At this place, by six o'clock in the evening, the enemy commenced crossing.

At seven o'clock, it is supposed by the permission of Gen. Lee, the enemy crossed near the railroad bridge and took possession of Fredericksburg.

It is said that an entire company of our troops, on picket near the river, were surprised, and captured. Sharp skirmishing ensued in the streets of Fredericksburg, and about eight o'clock our forces relinguished [sic] [sic] the place to the enemy. During, or shortly after the skirmishing, the enemy fired the Post office and the Methodist church, Bank of Virginia and all the square was consumed. Citizens say there is scarcely a building in town that has not been struck with one or more shells. Of the several hundred citizens remaining in town, but three, women whose husbands had previously gone over to the enemy, remained, and claimed the protection of the Abolitionists.

On Friday there was considerable skirmishing and quite heavy artillery duelling [sic], but not general engagement.--It was well-known by the officers that an engagement would take place the next day, and Friday was spent in making arrangements for the bloody work. Saturday morning found our forces drawn up from opposite Fredericksburg to a distance of six miles eastward.--Longstreet's corps occupied the Highlands above, opposite, and for a mile below the town. Jackson's corps rested on Longstreet's right and extended away to the eastward, the extreme right under A. P. Hill crossing the railroad at Hamilton's crossing, and stretching into the valley towards the river.

At half-past eight, A. M., General Lee, attended by his staff, rode slowly along the front of four lines, from west to east, and halted in the valley a mile to the east of Hamilton's crossing, and half a mile in the rear of our batteries on the extreme right.

In a short time after this, the action was commenced by the artillery in the Stonewall Brigade. The artillery in the Stonewall Brigade. The artillery firing soon became general and terrific all along the line of battle. At noon the enemy advanced his infantry. As they pressed forward across the Valley, Stuart's horse artillery from our extreme right opened upon them a destructive enfilading fire of round shot. This fire, which annoyed them sorely, was kept up in spite of six batteries which were directed against the horse artillery as soon as it was unmasked. By one o'clock the Yankee columns had crossed the Valley and entered the woods south of the railroad. The batteries on both sides slackened their fire, and musketry at first scattering, but quickly increasing to a crash and roar, sounded thro' the woods. Dense volumes of smoke rose above the trees, and volley succeeded volley sometimes so rapidly as to blend into a prolonged and continuous roar. A. P. Hill's division sustained the first shock of battle.

The rest of Jackson's corps were in different lines of reserves. D. H. Hill's division was drawn up in J. L. Marye's field, under a long hill, in the rear of our line of battle.

Generals Hill and Early's troops drove the enemy from the woods and across the railroad in the direction of their pontoon bridges near Deep Run. Our men pursued them a mile and a half across the bottom land, and fell back only when they had gotten under the shelter of their batteries. Our troops then retired to the South side of the railroad. Again the enemy rallied and returned to renew the contest, but were again, about five o'clock P.M., driven back. All the batterries [sic] of Jackson's corps were at this time in full play, and in the approaching twilight the blaze of the guns and the quick flashes of the shells were more distinctly visible. The scene all along the valley was at once splendid and terrific.

The result of the fight on our right wing may be summed up briefly. We drove the enemy back, killing three to one, and at night held the ground occupied by the enemy's batteries in the morning. The enemy had 20,000 men engaged on this wing, while altogether, from first to last, we had not more than 10,000 in the line of fire.

Longstreet's victory was even more complete.

He drove the enemy into the streets of Fredericksburg, killing at least five to one. At dusk, the firing ceased simultaneously on both sides.

Brig. General Thomas R. R. Cobb, of Georgia, was killed by a shell on Saturday. Gen. [illegible] Gregg, of South Carolina, is reported severely wounded.--The Richmond Whig says: "We have heard various statements as to the losses on Saturday. It is believed that ours will not exceed 500 killed, and 2,500 wounded, while that of the enemy is far greater. It is currently reported that the Federal General Hooker is killed." We have heard it reported that the enemy's loss is from four to five times as great as ours.

The following despatch was received at the War Department at 9 o'clock, P. M., Saturday:

At 9 o'clock this morning, the enemy attacked our right wing, and as the fog [illegible] the battle ran along the line from [illegible] to left, until 6 P.M., the enemy [illegible] at all points--thanks be [illegible]. As usual, we have to mourn the loss of many brave men. I expect the battle will be resumed at daylight to-morrow morning.

R. E. LEE.

To General Cooper:
Gen. Hampton reports that he entered Dumfries and captured 20 wagons with stores, and took 50 prisoners, all of which he brought to the Rappahannock. Gen. Siegel is expected at Dumfries to-morrow.

R. E. LEE.

A communication in the last Rockingham Register, signed "Mary," and dated Staunton, December the 10th., contains the following complimentary notice of the military officers and their feminine admirers of this place:

There rides an officer in Roman-like pride and consequence, flashing with gold and crimson; he passes on in magnificence and self-adulation, carrying with him the maiden's heart and tearful petitions for his safety. Pshaw! he is in no danger, dashing about town, and the enemy off there, miles away. Foolish girls, dazzled by a glittering uniform! I regret to class myself among your species of God's creatures. Better go to the hospitals, and there, with your gentle and soothing influence, relieve the suffering invalid yearning for the delicate attentions and beloved presence of those far away. This would be more like the noble mission of woman than sighing after military monkeys parading before your doors, showing their find and elegant persons to advantage, thinking how captivating they look, and of the many hearts (not battles,) they have won, to boast of, and, you girls might fall from the window or over the balcony, in the effort to catch a last glimpse, and they would grieve by saying "what a pity she had no more sense!"

We call attention to the proclamation of Governor Letcher, published in another column, calling upon the civil authorities in every county and neighborhood to aid the military authorities in enforcing the conscript law in furnishing supplies for the army, and in securing slave labor for the public defence, and recommending increased vigilance in domestic and county police. We are gratified to see the State and Confederate authorities co-operating in such perfect harmony in the common defence. Virginia in this sets a noble example for the emulation of other States. Virginia is the flag-ship of the Confederate States. She has reason to be proud of her gallant sons, and her sons have equal reason to be proud of her.

I have been quite as fortunate as Horace Greely in discovering "intelligent contrabands," and must acknowledge that I have found one or two sensible mulattoes, and they tell me that if they get no better treatment at the North than what they now receive from Northern soldiers, they had a thousand times better remain with their masters. And it is now generally conceded by every candid man, that every negro sent North will be much worse off than here. All I have to say is, God help the poor helpless negroes. I detest slavery, but I am frank to confess that I do not believe the negroes, generally, are capable of getting a living without a master, and, if they are allowed North, they must just as much be under a master as here.