From Fredericksburg.
[from our Own Correspondent.]At 7½ this morning the roar of artillery from above, apparently at or behind Banks's ford, was echoed from batteries on the river near Hamilton's Crossing. Before going to the latter point and listening to "the music of its roar" on both sides of me, let me give you yesterday's news. I learned that the heavy cannonading yesterday afternoon occurred about 7 miles above Fredericksburg on the Plank road. There was little fighting beyond skirmishing, the enemy keeping close in the woods. The results I may gather this morning. The fighting Wednesday I hear was done mainly by the 5th and 6th Louisiana, and the 13th Georgia. It was Lt. Col. Henley, of the 6th, who was taken prisoner, with 87 of his regiment killed, wounded and missing.
They attacked the enemy near Pratt's house. The 5th Louisiana held the river road opposite Bernard's. An officer told me he thought there were 7,000 Yankees on this side on the bank of the river, who are making earthworks, and had two cannon at least across. On Thursday some half dozen of the 9th Louisiana were killed by the premature explosion of one of our own shells.
A wounded soldier who left the fight early yesterday afternoon tells me that Anderson's division engaged the enemy and drove them back. A prisoner told him only one corps had come over. I hear since that four are on this side. The enemy were easily driven back at first, but being reinforced by a division of regulars, they fought better, but were driven three miles. Rhodes's men reinforced Anderson's. It was not a general fight. The woods are extensive and there is little cleared land. It occurred near a wooden church, where the river road enters the Plank road, about seven miles above Fredericksburg. The enemy seem disposed to come in behind Marye's hill this time.
10½ A. M.--Gen. Early opened on the Yankee batteries on this side and across the river.--The artillery duel was severe for some time. One artillery man on our side, a Virginian, had his leg shot off, and three others were wounded. The enemy first moved down the river. After the heavy fire above had continued some time, the enemy turned and moved large forces at double-quick up the river and withdrew nearly all their pickets, leaving one only in 40 yards. Before that they were thick and close almost as in line of battle. From above I hear Lee drove the enemy five miles. Wilcox's brigade left Banks's ford and were sent out as skirmishers, but could not catch up with the Yankees, who were demoralized and retreated rapidly beyond Decker's, two miles below Chancellorsville. At midnight they returned to Banks's ford, where the enemy had appeared to be preparing to cross on pontoon bridges. The Yankees crossed at United States ford by permission, I suppose. Two brigades, Featherstone's and another, retired on their approach. A German Major came over at the wrong place and got caught. The citizens past whose houses the enemy retreated, said they were much demoralized. Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee are about, taking prisoners, &c. If Hood and Longstreet come up in the rear few Yankees will recross. Several valuable deserters swam the river last night at Fredericksburg. Barksdale's men received them.--Their names I did not hear. They were three mules and a horse.
11 A. M.--A courier, just arrived, reports that Jackson has got between the Yankees and the river. Lee and Jackson were both on the field all night. About 100 prisoners were at headquarters last night. Jackson's old division was on the right and Anderson's on the left. Yankee double-quicking on the other side of the river can't save those on this.
12½ P. M.--Col. Harris, of the 12th Mississippi, was slightly wounded late last evening in the thigh near the plank road; he goes down on the cars to-day. He and a Lieutenant were the only wounded in his regiment. The casualties are reported very few. Two hundred and fifty prisoners were taken in a squad. A report from Fredericksburg, still unoccupied and not fired on, says the enemy crossed last night at Sanford's ford, one mile above Burk's ford, and got into the fight near Deeber's yesterday evening, and were driven back to the river. This morning three brigades, and four batteries yesterday evening, passed up opposite Fredericksburg. The force opposite Fredericksburg is apparently much reduced.
12½ P. M.--Mahone lost about 100 killed; one Captain and one Lieutenant of the 61st regiment wounded; Adjutant of the 41st and a Lieutenant wounded, one Captain of the 41st killed and another wounded; Capt. Castle, of the 61st, lost a leg, and Adjutant Butt was wounded below the knee.
