The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-23 00:00:00

BANKRUPTS.

The following are the only bankrupts of commercial im-
portance in the Gazette :
Solomon Marks, printseller, Minories
David French, corn merchant, Chatham
CPietyplar
John White, baker, Bermondsey
Henrywilli
aWilliam
Allen, Abbey, engraver,shoemak eSkinner-street,
,
Montague Dyer, commercial clerk, Bromptun
James Hawker, builder, Marylebone
Moses Cook, joiner, Dronfield, Derbyshire
John Tay ton, farmer, Coventry
Charles Tat em, Gilder, Wolverhampton
James Chapman, engineer, Cambridge
Samuel Frost, miller, Crossing, Essex
Edward Tomkins, coal dealer, Diglis, Worcester
Thomas Ilill, fishmonger, Sw insea
Charles Edward Gardner, saddler, Paignton, Devon
Ma thew Groves, Innkeeper, Middlesborough
James Tranter, beerhouse keeper, Sheffield
Thomas Huds n, ironmonger, Wakefield
SCOTCH BANKRUPTS,
Geo. Patterson, cowfeeder, Arbroath
• lessee of the Lunatic Asytu,
lAtioebxearntdDer. PTrryodttee,rstailwibrrioek, eir, Ferry-Port-on-Craig
_m
Gilmore Ruse, near Edinburgh
James Smith, bookseller, Aberdeen

Course of the Exchange—Yesterday.

-
Short. 11 151 11 16
11 171 11 18
Amsterdam
...... 3months.
11 17f 11 18
Ditto
2.5 50
E 2255 4455 25 50
13 7 13 3
fili3 BA
ru55e15............
att StlUdCign: h:i ******************************************* Short. 25 20 25 25
Paris **********
** 3 Months. 25 45 25 50
25 60
Marseilles tl._ ine.. ......
114
11 35
11 35
35t
pi
Trieste
Dicateennisrnttektsabfoour:te. Ohn. . .at".; ********* --:::: 2115111935131500
Berlin
Nladrid
Cadiz
-- Leghorn,,,, -- 49 494
25 47i 25 54
GMilan - 25 47i 25 52i
Nenoa
Paples .
Malermo ............ 25 50 25 55
essina ............ 25 50 25 55
Lisbon
521 521
.............. Oporto .............. —52 i
17 9
Foreign Gold in Bars (Standard), per oz £3
Mexican Dollars .......... -
0
0 5 0
li
Silver in Bars (Standard) ....
0 0 0
South American Doubloons

anc:dcueuxteoufsivthee
TETE DRAWING Room.—The Court Journal
aprtiacwleinogn of Saturday,
t the present.a.;
tions, dautantes, des.cri tioonosmof
Room
even of the
tinnlons3eanedndaenntesop
fullest Court end aristocratic news, the Independent
.Tourna
always contains the n oat amusing and complete resume of
the week's events, and a vast amount of original news and
information interesting to the upper classes of society in
general. The sporting article is acknowledged to be
and
the
best which sppears in any paper, being
most analytical
R d dressed to the practical question. Price sd. ; stamped, 6d.
LOST AND SATED. By the Hon. Mrs. Norton.
—The Times, in its review of Mrs. Norton's new
work says :—" `Lost and Saved' will be read with eago r
interest by those who love a touching story.
to
ot
hisear vigor-
ous
powers
ow novel. The author has trusted to her knowledge of
society to describe three or four leading types, which, if
they are not actually portraits, are, at least, very intimate
stulies. And, independently of this, in the wrongsand
sorrows me wh•
of her heroine she has conceived a c tell en.
lies our gentler sympathies and gives scope
of painting the tenderer emotions."

RETREAT OF GEN. HOOKER
SOUTHAMPTON, Friday.
The North German Lloyd screw steamship New
York, Capt. G. Wenke, with mails of the oth inst.,
has arrived off Cowes, and gone on to Bremen. She
brings 58 passengers for this port Eind Havre, and
177 for Bremen ; on freight 66,400 dols. for Eng-
land, 10,000 dols. for France, and 16,600 dols. for
Bremen. She has had heavy winds and swell from
the east throughout the passage.
The New York, Times of the Bth says :—" Our
intelligence this morning puts beyond doubt the
fact that Gen. Hooker's army has again retired to
the north side of the Rappahannock. From various
sources we collect the following facts in regard to
the movement. There was no fighting on Tuesday
of any consequence, and the rumours to that effect
were founded on a misapprehension. The sharp-
shooters were quite active, and the artillery opened
occasionally ; but the results were unimportant.
The enemy had evidently massed his army on our
right. About five o'clock in the morning it com-
menced raining. The water fell in torrents over an
hour, deluging the roads, tearing up the corduroys,
sweeping away bridges, and threatening the de-
struction of the pontoons. The river rose with
great rapidity, and soon overflowed the ends of the
pontoons, rendering 'crossing impracticable. The
upper pontoon was taken up and used in lengthen-
ing out the others, and, after several hours of very
hard labour, the bridges were once more ready. It
was soon evident that Gen. Hooker, seeing his po-
sition was rendered temporarily untenable by the
storm, had determined to cross over again to this
side of the Rappahannock. On Tuesday the order
was 'given to retreat. New roads were cut, the
trains and reserve artillery were sent back, and the
evacuation was commenced. Pine boughs were
spread upon the pontoons to prevent the noise of
crossing, and at 10 o'clock on Tuesday night
the troops commenced falling back. The First
Corps (Coach's) was the first to cross. The
Fifth (Meade's) Corps remained in the intrench-
ments, to cover the retreat. The Sixth Corps
also reccosseci the United States Ford, and are
marching back to Falmouth. At 3o'clock on Wed-
nesday morning waggon and mule trains and the
artillery had all passed, and the infantry was cross-
ing on two bridges at United States Ford. Couch's
corps was in the advance. The retreat was covered
by the Fifth (Meade's) Corps. By dark the waggons,
extra caissons, pack mules, &c., were at Falmouth.
The wounded were hastily removed from the hospi.
tals and sent to Washington, leaving nothing on
our side except our infantry and artillery. After
fighting the severe battle of Sunday morning, Gen.
Hooker continued to strengthen his lines, throwing
up double lines of rifle pits, and constructing abattis
along the entire line of his camp. The enemy con-
tinued to make demonstrations along the works,
driving in the pickets, and delivering volleys of
musketry at men most exposed. Sedgwick, at
Fredericksburg, was overwhelmed by numbers,and
pressed hard on the front and rear, and was hardly
able to make good his escape near Bank's Ford.
Fredericksburg and the heights above have been re-
occupied by the enemy. Sedg wick has lost in killed
and wounded about 5,000 men. His artillery and
trains were safely brought over on Monday night.
Richmond pspers of the sth state that Stoneman's
cavalry had completely severed all Lee's communi
cations with Richmond, and that the only reports o
the fighting were received there from mounted mes

sengers. These journals also state that General
Peck's forces were pressing after the rebel forces,
which had abandoned the siege of Suffolk, and that
Keyes's corps at Yorktown was also moving. Re-
ports are said to have been received in Washington
that, after cutting the railroad lines leading into
Richmond, Stoneman deployed his forces along the
road leading from Lee's army to Gordonsville. It
was also said that troops were arriving at the
latter point, en route to Lee's army, but
that they came from Lynchburg, and not
from Richmond. The most intelligent esti-
mates place our losses during this brief cam-
paign at not more than 15,000. The rebel army is
thought to have lost at least one-third more, as they
charged upon our batteries in masses and were fear-
fully slaughtered by our artillery."
_The following semi-official statement is from the

Washington National Intelrfjencer of the Bth :
" Official information received last evening at the
War Department authorizes us to state that Gen.
Hooker, after waiting in vain near Chancellorsville
on Tuesday last for a renewal of the battle by the
enemy, recrossed the Rappahannock on the evening
of that day, influenced by prudential motives,
springing, doubtless, in part, from the great and
sudden rise of the Virginia rivers, in consequence of
the recent heavy rains. We do not learn that Gen.
Hooker was apprised, before making this retrogade
movement, of the success which is alleged to have
attended the operations of Gen. Stoneman in break-
ing the enemy's communications with Richmond.
If this fact had been known to him (assuming it to
be a fact), it may be doubted whether Gen. Hooker
would have deemed it necessary to take a step which
must tend to deprive him of some, at least, of the
advantages resulting from Gen. Stoneman's co-ope-

rative expedition. Am' ng events which have not
transpired officially, but of which there are rumours
having the appearance of truth, it may be stated
that Gen. Sedgwick, in endeavouring, on Monday
last, with the greater part of his command, to effect
a junction with Gen. Hooker's army near Chancel-
loraville, encountered the enemy in force, and met
with a serious reverse, the particulars of which are
not yet known."

Governor Curtin, at Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania,
had received the following despatch from the Secre-
tary of War

46 To THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.
" Washington, May 8.
" The President and the General-in-Chief have
just returned from the Army of the Potomac.
" The principal operations of General Hooker
failed, but there has been no serious disaster to the
organisation and efficiency of the army.

" It is now occupying its former position on the
Rappahannock, having recrossed tte river without
any loss in the movement.
"Not more than one-third of General Hooker's
force was engaged.
" General Stoneman's operations have been a
brilliant success. Part of his force advanced to
-within two miles of Richmond, and the enemy's
communications have been cut in every direction.
" The Army of the Potomac will speedily resume
°ffensive operations.
"EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War."
The following was received at the headquarters
of the army on the afternoon of the Bth

" Yorktown, Virginia, May 7.
" Col. Kilpatrick, with his regiment, the Harris
Light Cavalry, and the rest of the 12th Illinois, has
just arrived at Glocester Point, opposite this post.
,c They burnt the bridges over the ChickahominY,
destroyed three large trains of provisions in the rear
of Lee's army, drove in the rebel pickets to within
two miles of Richmond, and have lost only one
lieutenant and 30 men, having captured and paroled
over 300 prisoners.

"Among the prisoners was an aide of General
Winder, who was captured with his escort far
within the intrenchments outside of Richmond.
" This cavalry have marched nearly 200 miles
since the 3d of May. They were inside of the for-
tifications of Richmond on the 4th, burnt all the
stores at Aylett's Station, on the Mattapony on the
sth ; destroyed all the ferries over the Pamunky
and Muttapony, and a large dspot of commis-
sary stores near and above Rappahannock, mad
came in here in good condition.
They deserve great credit for what they have
done, It is one of the finest features of the war.

" RUFUS KING,
"Brigadier-General Commanding this Post.
" To Minor-General Halleck."
Some additional particulars are given in the sub-
joined despatches from Washington :
" Washington, Thursday, May 7.
" It is ascertained from the front that the army
of the Potomac has arrived, with all its material, at
their old camps at Falmouth.
" The demonstration of General Hooker has

" Our entire loss in killed, wounded, and missing
does not exceed 10,000. The enemy's loss must
have been double of this—honourably to the army,
but lamentably for the country, the greatest pro-
portion of them in killed and wounded.
" Our loss of prisoners does not exceed 1,700.
We have received 2,450 prisoners of the enemy.
" We lost eight guns, and took the same number
of pieces from the enemy.
"The relinquishment of the position was made
simply because it afforded no field for the man ceuvr-
ing of the army, and not from any reverse or injury
sustained by it. The General and the entire army
are in excellent heart, and are ready for a new
movement. We shall probably not know where
this is to be made till after it has been commenced.
"Richmond papers show that Stoneman's corps
went within two miles of Richmond, and effected
many captures and a great destruction of property.
At least a part of all this gallant force has reached
Glocester in Keyes's command, opposite to York-
town, on the York River. There can now be no
impropriety in saying that the President and Major
General Halleck visited Gen. Hooker and the army
yesterday, and returned to the city to-night. At
nearly one this morning information was received
that Gen. Stoneman has safely arrived at Rappa-
hannock Station with the remainder of his force.
He has cut the railroad connections of the enemy in
all directions, and thus won a noble distinction."
" Washington, Wednesday, May 6.
" The news that Hooker and his army had re-
crossed the Rappahannock flashed through Wash-
ington about five o'clock this afternoon. The
pression produced by it was profound. Men's
minds were cast down from the congratulatory
cheerfulness with which all had for three days dis-
cussed the events which succeeded the brilliant pas
sages of the Rappahannock and the Rapidan. The
fact that our army had recrossed was all-sufficient.
Scarcely any interest was excited by the details
attempted here and there of the restoration of head-
quarters at Falmouth—of the intrenchments thrown
up in the rain—of this measure for security, or that
measure. It made men thoughtful beyond any-
thing I have ever seen in Washington. And yet
what is the fact ? The immense downfall of rain
had swollen the Rappahannock so deep and so rapid
as to endanger the existence of Hooker's bridges.
One statement is that the water rose seven feet in
24 hours.
" A council of war is said to have unanimously
agreed that the army should be transferred to the
other bank of the river in case of the loss of the
bridges and it was accordingly transferred. The ar-
tillery crossed at 3 o'clock this morning. The in-
fantry followed.
" All who have come from Fredericksburg and
from the upper fords to-day unite in unstinted praise
of the heroic fighting done by Sickles's and Sedg-
wick's corps. Birney's, Berry's, and Whipple's divi-
sions—particularly Birney's—covering themselves
with glory. The sad losses we have sustained fe

principally on these brave organisations. The large
captures made were mostly made by Sickles's regi-
ments. Experienced witnesses of the panoramic con-
test at Fredericksburg agree in their estimate that
Sedgwick's 15,000 fought at least twice the number
of the rebels.

" The losses at Chancellorsville and Fredericks-
burg are about even on each side. The number of
killed and wounded are about even, and of prisoners
captured, and of guns lost and taken, and justice
requires me to say that the fighting of the two
armies was equal. Each walked right up to the
muzzles of the others guns."
" Washington, Thursday, May 7.
The Evening Star says—

" Gen. Hooker, it is understood, estimates his

losses in the late battles at about 10,000, all told,
killed, wounded, and missing ; also that he brought
all his material away safely from his late position,
and that while we were so unfortunate as to lose
some artillery, we have taken at least as many
pieces as we have lost."

The special correspondent of the New York 7 inzes
gives the following account of the two battles fought
on the 4th—

" MOVEMENTS ON THE LEFT.

"Falmouth, Virginia, Tuesday, May 5.
" Yesterday two terrible battles were fought by
,he 6th corps (Gen. Sed wick), resulting in fearful

carnage on both sides. Owing to the sudden appear-
ance of the enemy in rear, I was unable to complete
my account of Sunday's operations, and will now
go back and refer briefly to them. After the charge
of the flying division on the Washington Artillery
portions of Howe's charged up the hill further to
the right, under a most galling fire, capturing four
guns. They were taken by Mills's brigade and the
Vermont -, which suffered the most. One brass
12-pounder was charged and taken by the 33d
New York (Colonel Taylor), which afterwards,
together with the 77th New York, pushed on after
the fleeing rebels, who, getting under the protec-
tion of woods, returned a hot fire. They stood,
however, but a short time, and then fled. The
earthworks were stormed, 12 guns captured, and
the stars and stripes planted.

"The various divisions of the corps (6th, General
Sedgwick's) moved rapidly forward up the Gordons-
ville turnpike to the distance of four miles, skir-
mishing all the way, where they found the enemy
in force, when another battle ensued, in which
Brooks's, Newton's, and the flying division were
engaged—the first suffering severely. The rebels
were in a wood, and as we advanced to it opened a
galling fire. Russell's brigade, composed of the
95th and 117th Pennsylvania and 121st New York,
made a charge, and suffered severely, the 95th being
almost annihilated. While the battle was pro-
gressing the enemy suddenly commenced firing on
our left to the rear,and Brooks'sdivision was obliged
to change front, The battle lasted till dark, with-
out any decisive results being obtained on either
side. During the night the woods took fire, and it
is feared that many of the wounded on both sides
perished in the flames. Monday morning the rebels
suddenly made their appearance on the hills to the
left of Fredericksburg, and coming down rapidly oc-
cupied the city, thus getting in the rear of the corps.
Your correspondent happened to be in a farm-house
at the point where they descended to the plain, and
you can judge of his astonishment on looking out
of the window to see this large force advancing in
the field in front of the house. Most of the supply
trains, ambulaoces, mules, and soldiers :n the vicinity
were taken. A fleet horse saved me from capture.
A serious blunder was perpetrated in pushing our
forces on so rapidiy without ascertaining whether or
not taere were any rebels on the woody heights to
the left of the city. One whole corps came down, and
forming in line of battle, immediately marched after
of retreat lay by Brooks s
tFord,he c crapvse.
miles 'The
aolinol
r Generaliver of s edthge
ck
was signalled from Iwaye .this
con-
dition of affairs, and immediately turning about
the
sside
city.
of the
the
formed a line of battle facing this way, holding the
rebels in check, and working down toward the ford.
The lines of battle remained in this condition until
about the middle of the day, when the rebels attacked
us, a nd were gallantly repulsed, Howe's division cap-
turing 300 prisoners. The rebel reinforcements had
fought none, while our troops had been fighting
et
iomomreemi orut
nwliecasasst
foiennaeraeetdt previoushteank thatthes,s F
Ford,
corpsr Td ueasndcdoa
could
that
night. itgnthho tet.
wholeForma
kea
lni
of it must be captured. But by
n'oon a "
ense. x. °An,
ewa
na s made, and Gen. Sedg wick sent for su .
time the wounded in Fredericksburg p
taken across the pontoons to this side, allw neref hbeing
being got away on the sudden appearance otftere
enemy on the outskirts above. The doctors, supP os
ing, of course, that the enemy would come down
and
take them, made all the arrangements for being
taken prisoners ; but for some reason, either through
fear of our forces above or siege guns on this side of
the river, the enemy did not advance into the town.
The positions of the respective armies were then as
follows :—Our main force on the north, then the
main force of the enemy, the sixth corps below, corps
of rebels still lower, and our heavy guns on this side,

"An officer from Banks' Ford this morning in-
forms me that the 2d Corps, together with 20 pieces
of artillery, crossed over the pontoons at Banks'
Ford early this morning, and covered the retreat of
the 6th Corps, as it came back over this side of the
Rappahannock. But the artillery firing which is
now going on in the rear of Fredericksburg inclines
me to doubt the statement, and believe that the
corps is still on the other side, trying to fight its
way to the river. Last evening the rebels opened
artillery on the bridges, and damaged one of them
considerably, but it was repaired by our engineers.
One bridge cannot, I think, be reached by their
guns. Our artillery on this side kept up a rapid
fire on the rebel guns during the night. The am-
bulances have been bringing in the wounded
all night. It is reported that Gen. Sickles has been
killed on the extreme right.
" Wednesday Morning, May 6.
" The 6th Army Corps succeeded in cutting its
way through the enemy, reaching this side of the
river yesterday morning. The rebels made hercu-
lean efforts to surround it, but were foiled in their
endeavours. They succeeded in getting on three
sides of the force, and then opened a battery on the
bridge which served for a retreat. How it got sway
in so good a condition is a great mystery to all of
us. Yet the corps suffered severely, having been sub-
jected to the ordeal of four heavy battles within 36
hours, fighting the last two against overwhelming
odds, and when hope of escape seemed wellnigh
gone. Prior to this disaster, the 6th Corps was the
finest in the Army of the Potomac. During these
seven days' battles, it has done the work on the left
from the very first, constructing throe of the bridges,
doing all the skirmishing, storming the Federicks-
burg heights, and rushing on to the support of the
right. Who is reponsible for this successful flank-
ing of the force, lam unable to say. One thing is
true, however. After taking the heights, the corps
pushed rapidly on up the river, regardless of heavy
firing from guns planted in the wood crest at the
left of the city, and as we moved on in our rear the
road from this crest was unguardedly left open, and
when the overwhelming force of the enemy appeared
there was not a corporal's guard, in comparison, to
resist them.

" Up to this time everything was working admi-
rably. We were both in the front and rear of the
enemy, and had we been content to rest on the
Fredericksburg Heights, without ',pushing on, we
should have had the rebels in a tight place. All
this advantage is now lost. The Heights have been
recovered, and operations suspended by us on the
left. The history of Sunday, Monday, and Tues-
day would furnish volumes of incidents. The
wounded in Fredericksburg, medical stores, &c.,
were saved by some one organising the stragglers
in the streets into a picket line facing the Heights
taken possession of, thereby causing the enemy to
think we had a considerable force both in the city
and on this side, which was far from the case. Dr.
Foot, of the 82d
-Pennsylvania, left a wounded man
he was dressing, snatched a musket, and rallied
several of the men.

" These pickets, or skirmishers, kept up a fire on
the rebels until all our wounded and stores were got
across the river.

" The remains of Captain Strong, sth Wisconsin ;
Capt. Knickerbocker, 43d New York ; Capt. Robin-
son, 61st Pennsylvania ; Lieut. Cooms, 43d New
York, were interred in the yard of G. H. Rowe;
and Sergeant Hinman, of the 65th New York, toge-
ther with several others of Newton's division, in
Robert T. Hunter's division,
" The bridges opposite the city were taken up at
daybreak yesterday. The last soldier to leave the
city was Alex. Camel, of the 23d Pennsylvania,who
delaying, or being left until after the bridges were
taken up, stripped off his clothes, and pushing them
on a boat before him swam across.

" The 16th and 21st New York have suffered very
severely ; in fact, both the Ist and 2d brigades of
Gen. Brook's division are badly cut up. The 62d
New York has lost very heavily, both in officers and
men. Had our forces not been so outnumbered by
those of the enemy, we should have administered a
terrible punishment to them when they attacked
and drove us towards the river, since we had the ad-
vantage of position, being on higher ground. We
had such a long line, however, to defend that the
various regiments had to be shifted from point to
point to resist fresh attacks of the enemy. We cap-
tured a large number of prisoners, though compelled
to leave most of our wounded on the field. Nearly
one whole brigade, consisting of one general, 20
captains, 39 lieutenants, and 2,000 privates which
charged upon us, were, I am informed, ensnared
into cur lines and taken prisoners. I trust the in-
formation may not prove untrue. We certainly
killed the colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major of
the 7th Louisiana, and the lieutenant-colonel
and major of the sth Louisiana. There is no question
as to our having mowed the rebels down by whole
regiments when they charged upon our batteries.
They lay in hopes on the battle field. Not a gun was
taken,though so manycharges upon them were made.
The corps retired in good order across the river, sav •
ing their camp equipage, mule trains, &c., with the
exception of a few which were gobbled up in the mo-
mentary panic which ensued when the enemy made
their appearance in our rear above Fredericksburg.
The road was fil ed with ambulances (which bad
the wounded all night to the city
battle-field of Sunday evening), pack
mfbreouemlne s conveying
hoanenvde
viehicles. Apart of them fled back to
the city, and a part on to the force
beyond. While
y
storming the Heights a shell from one of our siege
guns planted on this side of the river exploded a
rebel caisson behind the redoubts, and killed 16
horses. The shell struck the first two in line be-
hind the caisson, after exploding it, and hurled the
rear,
14 others down the steep precipice in the
rear, into
the deep yawning
chasm beneath. They presented
a hideous eight as t
they
dying,
g
"Colonel Taylor, of the 33d New York, reported
Mondaya y at
evening,
then
ing bottom,isu ndheaardmaendd.
Lient,-Colonel Corning Was
killed in the fight of
wounded in the arm.

" Hancock's division was under a cross fire from
three directions, and was the last to leave that por-
tion of the field. Gen. Hancock had his horse shot
under him, as did his aide, Lieut. Mitchell, and his
orderly, Daniel O'Rourk, Gill New York Cavalry.
Two of his orderlies were wounded.
" Gen. Couch had his horse shot under him, was
slightly wounded, and his cicthes were twice struck.
" To-day all the Generals ire praising the gallan-
try of Col. Miles, of the Glst New York, who be-
haved so gallantly and waS wounded so severely
yesterday. He is said to be one of best officers and
bravest soldiers in the army. He had command of
several regiments upon the lines near the Chancel-
lor House, and with his skirmishers repulsed seve-
ral strong attacks without their being able to reach
his line of battle. If he shodd live he will certainly
be promoted. Every officer whom I have heard
speak of the matter has spoken with great enthu-
siasm of the colonel's conduct, and expressed a wish
that he may live to wear the honours he has so
justly earned.

" I was very sorry to learn that Gen. Whipple,
while sitting in his tent, was severely wounded to-
day by a chance ball from a rebel sharpshooter.
Our Generals, with a bravery entirely unparalleled
hitherto in the history of this war, have had their
headquarters, day and night, in the advance, among
their troops, and in every instance withi❑ reach of
shot and shell. This has done much to inspire the
troops with confidence, but in Gen. Whipple's case
has resulted disastrously to himself.
" This afternoon there was another dash upon our
lines near Hooker's headquarters, but a few rounds
of canister made them glad to take French leave.
"Battery K, 4th United States artillery, did most
excellent service at the battle. It lost 48 men,
killed and wounded. Sergeant Marrion had three
horses shot under him in a few minutes. The bat-
tery having suffered so severely in men and horses
has gone to the rear to recuperate. Captain F. W.
Seeley, commanding, says that in three days he can
be ready for service again, and is anxious to go to
the front as soon as possible.

" We have heard guns in the dircction of Sedg-
wick this afernoon."

CONFEDERATE ACCOUNTS.
The following is General Lee's official despatch to
President Davis :

" Milford, May 3.
" Yesterday general Jackson penetrated to the rear of
the enemy, and drove him from all his positions from the
Wilderness to within one mile of Chancellorsville.
" fie was engaged at the same time in front by two of
Longstreet's divisions.

" Many prisoners were taken, and the enemy's loss in
killed and wounded is large.
" This morning the battle was renewed.

"He was dislodged from all his positions around Chancel-
lorsville, and driven back towards the Rappahannock, over
which he is now retreating.

" We have again to thank Almighty God for a great
victory.

" I regret to state that General Paxton was killed,
General Jackson severely and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill
slightly wounded. _ _

gi R. E. LEE, General Commancling,"

GENERAL STONEMAN'S GREAT RAID.
(From the Richmond Dispatch of the 4th.)
The city yesterday was in a high state of excite-
ment, which was caused by a number of reports of a
Yankee raid made on a scale which has heretofore
been unapproached by them. In the afternoon seve-
ral thousand persons were congregated at the depot
of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad,
anxiously awaiting the news expected to arrive by
the train. The train, however, was destined not to
arrive. Yesterday the Yankees entered Co-
lumbia, Fluvanna county, Virginia, and destroyed
the canal banks there. At 7 o'clock yesterday
evening a force of Federals was within eight miles
of Farmville, with the intention of destroying
the high bridge on the Southside Railroad. In
the morning the Federals entered Ashland with
a largo force of cavalry and artillery, and, it is
stated, burnt the town, which consists of an
hotel and some 20 or 30 cottages. In the evening
they were reported to be at a station on the Rich-
mond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, eight
miles distant from the city. This report is supposed
to be correct, though nothing was heard of them
afterwards. It is more likely that after the raid at
Ashland they turned their attention to the Central
Railroad, which last night, at 9 o'clock, had been
torn up near Peck's, about eix miles from the city.
The party performing this feat is evidently on its
way down the peninsula, to secure a safe retreat
within their lines. On their way they will meet
General Wise's command, and may be overpowered
by it and captured, When the raid on Ashland
was consummated our ambulance train, with 198
sick and 69 wounded, was captured, end it is stated
that the cars were burnt after the prisoners were
paroled. A gentleman who arrived here last night
states that a body of Yankees, numbering 15,000
(an exaggeration, doubtless), were at Deitrick's
Store, in Goochland county, yesterday, and were
taking all the horses and negroes to be found in the
neighbourhood. The city has now troops enough
within its limits to defend it from any raid of the
nature above described, and enough, we hope, to
catch the raid makers. Last night, on the public
square, several regiments of citizens were formed,
in accordance with the general desire to have a hand
in protecting Richmond against the invaders should
they attempt to come to the city.
(From the
Richmond Whig of the sth.)
We have some further accounts of the raid of the

Yankee cavalry upon the Fredericksburg Railroad
at Ashland. The engineer of the ambulance train
which was captured discovered smoke ahead as he
approached Ashland, and, suspecting something
wrong, slackened the speed of the train. A shower
of balls pelting against the side of the locomotive and
tender soon convinced him that the enemy were
near. He ensconced himself in the tender, and thus
escaped the bullets aimed at him, but was in a few
moments captured by several Yankees, who mounted
the engine and compelled him to move the train on
the village, Beside the sick and wounded soldiers
who were on the train were Colonel S. Bassett
French, aid to Governor Letcher ; Mr. Roy 0.
Crowley, Government electrician ; and several
others whose names we did not learn. There were
also two or three ladies. They were all treated
kindly by their captors, and concur in attributing
to Col. Davis, commander of the raiders, sotre gen-
tlemanly and humane qualities not generally mani-
fested by Yankee officers. When the passengers
discovered that they were at the mercy of the
Yankees several of them prudently thrust several
documents into the stove of the car, and applied a
match to them. A package of Confederate Treasury
notes, amounting to several thousand dollars, was
transferred to the custody of a lady, who kindly
concealed them i❑ the folds of her skirts until the
Yankees had disappeared. We have not heard that
the passengers were searched. They, together with
the soldiers, were all paroled by Col. Davis. Most
of the former walked co the city yesterday on the
railroad. The main body of the Yankees remained
for some time at Ashland, while a detachment pro-
ceeded to Hanover Court-house, tore up the Central
Railroad track at that point, cut the telegraph wire,
and also, it is stated, burnt the Court-house. This
was Yankee-like. The detachment afterwards
united, if we are correctly informed, at Hungary
station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, and en-
camped during the night in that vicinity. They de-
stroyed several small trestle bridges across the runs
and gullies this side of Ashland, and also the
water tank at Hungary. Already a force is en-
gaged in repairing the road, and it is hoped that
communication will be re-established to-day. From
Hungary the raiders proceeded in squads to the
Brooke turnpike, passing along unfrequented roads
and bridle paths, evidently guided by some person
familiar with the country. They seemed to have
remained in this vicinity for some time, long enough
for a resolute body of mounted men to have killed
or captured the entire party ; but, so far as we are
informed, no demonstration of the kind was made,
though any number of armed men on horseback
were galloping to and fro through the streets of the
city during their stay on the Brooke-road. After
the Yankees had "cavorted" around on the Brooke.
pike to their hearts' content, fed themselves and
their horses, exchanged their most jaded animals for
fresh steeds, and waited in vain for somebody to
come and take them, they crossed over into the
Meadow. bridge-road, and visited the scene rendered
memorable by the opening of the battles around
Richmond on the 26th June last year. They crossed
the Chickahominy, and prevented pursuit by tear-
ing up the planks of the short bridges over this
sluggish stream, which can be easily replaced. Un-
luckily they captured near this point a locomotive
and tender which had been sent out on a reconnais-
sance in the morning. The Central Railroad bridge
or trestle work crosses the Chickahominy parallel
with and near the county road bridge or rather
bridges. The Yankees burnt one or two sections of
this trestle work and then ran the locomotive
into the gap, precipitating it, of course, into
the mud and water of the Chickahominy. The
injury done to the railroad at this point is not
so serious that it may not be repaired in a day.
After leaving the shades of the Meadow bridges the
marauders, full of glee, no doubt, trotted on to Me.
chanicsville, and thence towards the York River
Railroad. At Tunstall's station they fortunately en-
countered a small portion of General Wise's brigade,
who gave them a volley, which emptied several
saddles, and sent the rest of the party in the direc-
tion of the Pamunkey River. The number of men
engaged in this bold raid is variously estimated at
from 500 to 3,000. Colonel Sherwin 111• Rae and
Capt. Blackford, who made a reconnaissance yester-
day, close upon the trail of the enemy, report, as
their opinion, that the force did not exceed 500 or
600, and from the best information they could gain,
there was no artillery in the expedition. General
Pryor, who reconnoitred their camp on Sunday
night, reports, we understand, that the marauders
numbered, as well as he could judge, about 1,000 or
1,200 men. They had evidently aimed at deception
in this respect by dividing their forces into squads,
and industriously circulating the lie that they were
a formidable host—the advance guard of a terrible
army. Since the above was in type we have learnt
that the Yankees destroyed seven cartloads of Go-
vernment stores at Hanover Court-house. The en-
gineer of the locomotive Augusta, Mr. J. H. Crone,
and Conductor John T. Phillips, who went up to the
Chickahominy-bridge, had a very narrow escape.
When they saw the Yankees both in front and rear
they leaped from the engine, and eluded pursuit by
dashing through the swamp into the woods. The
Latest.—The Yankee cavalry, which came into
Louisa County were 10,000 strong, under General
Stoneman. The detachment sent to the canal were
driven back by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. Stoneman was
still in Louisa yesterday morning.

The following official despatches report the cap-
ture of Grand Gulf, on the Mississippi, by Admiral
Porter :

" Flagship Benton, below Grand Gulf, Mississippi,
April 29.

" I have the honour to inform you that by an arrange-
ment with General Grant I attacked the batteries at Grand
Gulf this morning, which were very formidable. After a
fight of five hours and 30 minutes we silenced the lower
batteries, but failed to silence the upper one, which was
high, strongly built, had guns of very heavy calibre; and
the vessels were unmanageable in the heavy current. It
fired but feebly towards the last, and the vessels all laid by
and enfiladed it, while I went up a short distance to com-
municate with General Grant, who concluded to land the
troops and march over to a point two miles below Grand
Gulf. I sent the Lafayette back to engage the upper
batteries, which she did, and drove the persons out of it.
As it did not respond after a few fires, at 6 p.m. we attacked
the batteries again, and, under cover of the fire, all the
transports passed by in good condition. The Benton, the
Tuscumbia, and the Pittsburg were much cut up, having
24 killed and 56 wounded, but they are all ready for service.
We land the army in the morning on the other side and
march on Vicksburg.
" DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear• Admiral.
"lion. G.deon Welles, Secretary of the Navy."
"Flagship Benton, Grand Gulf, Miseissippi, May 3.
" Sir,—l have the honour to report that I got under way
this morning with the Lafayette, the Carondelet, the Mound
City, and the Pittsburg, and proceeded up to the forts at
Grand Gulf for the purpose of attacking them again, if they
had not been abandoned. The enemy had left before we got
up, blowing up their ammunition, spiking their large guns,
and burying or taking away the lighter ones. The arma-
ment consisted of 13 guns in all. The works aro of
the most extensive kind, and would seem to defy the
efforts of a much heavier fleet than the one which
silenced them. The forts were literally torn to pieces by
the accuracy of our fire. Colonel Wade, the Commandant
of the batteries, was killed ; also his Chief of Staff. Eleven
men were killed that NI e know of, and our informant says
that many were wounded, and that no one was permitted
to go inside the forts after the action except those belonging
there.

" We had a hard fight for these forts, and it is with great
pleasure that I report that the navy holds the door to Vicks-
burg. Grand Gulf is the strongest place on the Mississippi.
Had the enemy succeeded in finishing the fortifications no
fleet could have taken them.
" I have been all over the works, and found them as fol-
lows :—One fort, on a point of rocks 75 high, calculated for
six or seven guns, mounting two 7.inch rifles and one 8-
inch and one Parrot gun on wheels, which was carried off.
On the left of this work is a triangular work, calculated to
mount one heavy gun. These works are connected with
another fort by a covered way and double riflepits extending
one quarter of a mile, constructed with much labour, and
showing great ekill on the part of the constructor. The third
fort commands the river in all directions. It mounted one
splendid Biakely 100-pounder, one 8-inch, and two 30-poun-
dere. The latter were lying burst or broken on the ground.
" The gunboats had so covered up everything with earth
that it was impossible to see at first what was there, with
the exception of the guns, that were dismounted or broken.
" Every gun that fell into our hands was in good condi-
tion, and we found a large quantity of ammunition.
" These are by far the most extensively built works, with
the exception of those at Vicksburg, I have yet seen, and I
am happy to say that we hold them.
" I am dismounting the guns and getting on board the
ammunition.

" Since making the above examination new forts have
been passed nearly finished. They had no guns, but were

(From the New York Shipping and Commercial List of

May 9.)

The retrograde movement-
of the Army of the Rappahan-
nock has been the all-important theme for discussion in
financial and commercial circles during the past two or three
days, and the total unexpectedness of such an event has
entirely upset the calculations of each class. The promul•
gation of the news caused the utmost excitement to pre-
vail everywhere, as it was very generally regarded as the
result of the defeat of the entire army under General
Hooker. But advices subsequently received put an emi-
nently more favourable, or rather less unfavourable con-
struction upon the movements of the army, and would
seem to affurd conclusive proof that the retrogression was
simply precautionary, and not the result of any reverse.
The promulgation of this encouraging news produced a
marked effect, especially in financial circles, and the market
for Government securities, which had materially declined,
assumed a firmer tone, while a more buoyant feeling gene-
rally prevailed, But while the public mind was greatly
depressed by the unlooked for adverse intelligence from the
immense army which bad been concentrated in Virginia it
was a significant fact that nothing akin to discouragement
was anywhere manifest, but, on the contrary, it was the
universal demand that the Union force should be aug-
mented to a degree commensurate with the herculean task
which is required of them, and sent on their mission under
circumstances which would render defeat an impossibility,
And while there remains so manifest a determina-
tion on the part of the people to persevere in
their endeavours, and to put down the rebellion at any and
every hazard, the final issue cannot be doubtful. Mote-
over, the general situation is remarkably favourable, and
though the movement in some one department may not be
characterised by that success which marks the whole,
the country will not see in this cause for any
discouragement. The complexion of the foreign news
per recent arrivals is not of a reassuring character, and
some people are exceedingly apprehensive of approach•
ing difficulties between this country and Great Britain,
if not with France also. But there is little doubt
that these fears will eventually prove groundless.
The mercantile public regard the " unexampled" act
of Minister Adams, in virtually throwing his protec-
tion over a cargo of munitions of war intended for
the Mexicans, as somewhat extraordinary, and many con-
sider it a stretch of his official powers. But the great
excitement in England growing out of it occasions much
surprise, notwithstanding the proverbial excitability of our
British cousins, as the cause for so much indignation and
bluster does not manifest itself on this side of the Atlantic.
The severe rain storm which has prevailed during the past
three or four days has rendered the dullness previously
existing in commercial circles still more conspicuous, and
business in nearly all articles has been very circumscribed.
This is particularly the ease with foreign merchandise,
which, owing in part to the violent fluctuations in gold and
exchange, has been very little dealt in. Breadstuffs and
provisions have moved quite freely, all things considered,
and prices, with few exceptions, have been pretty well
sustained. Gold, which had advanced to bsog previous
to our last, subsequently jumped up to 158 to 160 per cent.
on the announcement of the defeat of Gen. Hooker's army,
but afterwards fell off to 152 i, at which there were some
street sales, the market closing at that rate. Foreign ex-
change has fluctuated violently in sympathy with the move-
ment in gold, but business has been very light, and confined
mainly to sterling bills, which have sold at an unusually
wide range. The bulk of the sales yesterday were at 16Th to
168 i per cent. Under a temporary active demand for
money which sprung up on Thursday the market ruled
firmer,and rates were nearly to 1 per cent. higher. This
m as the result of fears al hich were engendered by the retro-
grade movement of the army of the Rappahannock, rather
than the increased demand for accommodation, however,
and as the more timid capitalists were reassured yesterday
rates_were again lower, or about as quoted in our last.