December 13.—To-day the battle of Fredericksburgh, Va., was fought, between the Union army of the Potomac, under the command of Major General Burnside, and the rebel forces, under General Lee. The battle was fiercely and stubbornly contested on both sides, and resulted in the repulse of the Unionists.—(Docs. 25, 68.)
—Jefferson Davis reviewed the rebel forces, under General Bragg, at Murfreesboro, Tenn.— John N. Cocke and company, of Portsmouth, Va., having refused to pay their debts to Northern citizens, on the ground that a law of the rebel Congress had released them from all obligations to Northern creditors, General Viele issued a proclamation informing them that their excuse was not valid, and that they must pay or a sufficient amount of their property would be seized and sold.—Two regiments of Union infantry, and one company of cavalry, surprised a band of rebels, at Tuscumbia, Ala., completely routing them, and capturing seventy prisoners, their horses and baggage. The National loss was four killed and fourteen wounded.
—Governor Johnson, of Tennessee, this day issued an order assessing certain individuals in the city of Nashville, in various amounts, to be paid in five monthly instalments, “in behalf of the many helpless widows, wives, and children in the city of Nashville, who have been reduced to poverty and wretchedness in consequence of their husbands, sons, and fathers having been forced into the armies of this unholy and nefarious rebellion.”
—The Michigan Twenty-sixth infantry, Colonel J. S. Farrar, numbering nine hundred and three men, this day left Jackson, Mich., for the seat of war in Virginia.—A fight took place at South-West Creek, N. C, between a detachment of the expeditionary forces, under General Foster, and a body of rebel troops, in which the latter were routed with the loss of a number of prisoners, a six-pounder gun, caisson, etc.—(Doc. 73.)
—A fleet of small boats, under the command of Captain Murray, left Newbern, N. C, to attack the rebel works on the river at Kinston; but owing to the lowness of the water, only one boat— under Colonel Manchester, marine artillery—was brought into action, and the works being found too strong, she was obliged to retire.—(Doc. 73.)
