The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 1863.

THE

GREAT BATTLES ON THE
RAPARANNOCK,

The following details of the great battles fought
upon the Rappahannock are extracted from the
papers received by the Persia :
(From the New York limes.)

Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, in the Field,
near Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 1, 10 p.m.
The day opened with a heavy mist hanging over the
country, particularly near the river, which was not entirely
dispelled until the sun was well up—say, 8 o'clock. The
morning was quiet; neither party seemed to be ready for
battles
We brought up additional artillery during the night, as
well as large ammunition trains, and an allowance of six
forage waggons to each corps, which were ordered to return
in each case before any more were allowed. to pass the
bridges. Major Painter of the Quartermaster's Depart-
ment, had charge of the ford, and regulated the passage of
waggons and artillery, so that there was no confusion;
while the total amount of transportation which reached this
aide of the river was vory small, and not in the least cum•
heisome.

The Second Army Corps camp up during the night at d
encamped near the left of our position. The Tnird Corps
lay between Banks and United Skates Fords during the
night, and reached the front about noon. The troops
marched rapidly and with great cheerfulness.
The great strategic importance of this position grows
more and more apparent every hour. We hold the Gordons-
ville-road securely. By going half a mile to the rear we
find a country road leading to Spottsylvania Courthouse;
four miles to the rear is another. Their flank is thus dan-
gerously exposed, for if they retreat they are harassed by
flank and rear ; if they fight, they must fight in an open
field, on equal terms, with, perhaps great advantages in our
favour.

Evidences hourly accumulate of the fact that the enemy
is totally surprised at our vigorous operations, and in a
great measure unprepared to meet ns. That he is very ner-
vous is evident from the manner in which he falls to dig-
ging rifle pits in every convenient location, If any further
Evidence of this fact were needed, it is found in the capture
at this point, yesterday, of a despatch from General Lee to
an English officer here, saying, in substance, that he was
very much surprised at this movement, had not anticipated
it, and was unprepared to give him instructions. This des-
patch was dated April 29. One more fact. M'Vicar captured
in his charge last night a despatch from General Lee to
Fitzhugh Lee, ordering his cavalry brigade to be at Spott-
Sylvania Court-house on April 30. Thus Lee came in upon
M'Vicar's rear, who was also bound to Spottsylvania.
Hostilities among the pickets were carried on during the
night, with slight loss. Watson's battery, in Meade's front,
thus lost two men and eight horses. Our lines were not de-
veloped last night, the troops being massed in proper loca-
tions.

Here let me, if I can, give an idea of our exact location.
On your maps you will perceive Cbancellorsville, a few
miles west of Fredericksburg, a true style of Virginia vil-
lage, consisting of one house and a crossroad—albeit the
house in this instance is a fine large structure, and will ac •
commodate a great many wounded, to which purpose it is
already devoted. But the crossroad is the matter of vital
importance here. From this point the plank-road runs
directly west to Culpepper, by way of Germanna Ford, or
by turnpike via Ely's Ford. The Gordonsville turnpike
diverges to the left four miles in our rear. The plank-
road to Fredericksburg runs nearly due cast, making an
elbow bend to the south here, but regaining its easterly
direction within four miles. Nearly east, or about east-
north-east) Ms the old turnpike to Fredericksburg, which
intersects the plank-road again about three miles from here.
Near this intersection a road bears to the left, and goes to
Banks's Ford, six miles, direction north-east. United States
Ford lies north-north-west, and the road thereto leaves the
Ely's Ford-road and bears to the right about one mile from
this point. This road winds through the timber, and is
very indifferent at the best.

The forenoon was mainly occupied by General Hooker,
his Staff, and able corps commanders in consultation, and
in making dispositions of the columns. At about 12 o'clock
General Sykes's division was sent forward on the left, by
the Bank's Ford-road, to make an attack, and compel the
enemy to develope his strength on that bank. He moved
promptly into position, with Weed's, now Watson's regular
battery. The first gun was fired by the enemy about 12
o'clock. Heavy skirmishing commenced, our men entering
the field with much enthusiasm. The Bth Pennsylvania
Cavalry skirmished in the very front for some time, and
sustained a galling fire from the enemy's infantry, but be-
haved with great intrepidity. They charged and recharged
upon the infantry, only to be in turn driven back. General
Sykes then threw forward two companies of infantry, with-
out knapsacks, on the double-quick, who supported the
cavalry, and checked the further pursuit of the enemy. The
action now became quite general between the two forces, eash
seeming to be about the same strength. The rebel division
thus engaged was that of Anderson, part of Longstreet's old
corps, and consisting of the brigades of Pasey, Mahone, and
Wilcox, Sykes fought the latter brigade at Gaines's Mill.
The rebels contested the ground very vigorously, giving way
only w LLULL 1.1 titS6.4 Ycay laaap . CY
an hour with great spirit, and drove the enemy from two
sinceseive and strong positions upon ridges of land which
ran parallel with the Rappahannock. The distance thus
gained was nearly one mile, and some 50 prisoners, mostly
belonging to Virginia regiments, were captured. They gave
themselves up readily, many of them manifesting pleasure
at their position, About half-past 1 o'clock, just as Colonel
Chapman, commanding a brigade of regulars, had expressed
a desire to " take anotherridge," an order was received by
Gen. Sykes from Gen. Hooker to suspend the attack, and
totiro nearly to his former position, This appeared inex-
plicable to both officers and men, and as the latter came
back slowly and in good order, frequent mutterings were
heard among them about being on the retreat again. But
the sequel proved there was a mind over all who directed
what was best for them.

The cause for this movement was the fact that General
Booker had received information from headquarters that
the enemy had thrown the greater part of his force over on
this side of the fortifications, and had also removed many
of the guns in the lower batteries and placed them in posi-
tion at the upper end of the town, thus indicating an
intention of making an attack on us. He therefore sus-
pended this preliminary attack at once, which had been
arranged as a prelude to important operations elsewhere,
and rightly surmised that if the enemy did really mean to
attack us they would follow up our retirement. At 2 p.m.
he remarked, " I think I can make them come out and fight
me on my own ground." In two hours the assertion was
proved. The enemy mistook our voluntary retirement for
a check, and followed us rapidly as we fell back.
General Sykes's division had got in their o'd position, and
pickets thrown out, when the enemy again appeared in force
on the ridge at the foot of which we lay. Our men had
stacked arms and were at rest. The whole division,
save the Duryea Zouaves, were lying at nearly right
angles wit'a the road. The Zouaves were parallel with the
road. Quick as thought General Sykes brought his men
into line, the Zouaves on the left half -wheeling into line of
battle like a machine. The rebels paused a moment on
the top of the ridge, and, as if to nerve them for the
onset, gave one of their scattering, demoniac yells, and
then came down on the double-q lick, shooting, capturing,
and literally running over our poor pickets, who scrambled
behind all sorts of obstructions. But in an instant more a
terrible crash resounded from the Zouave end of the line.
and down the column rolled the most deafening roar of
musketry that in all my war experience has ever met my
ears. It did not last, apparently, two minutes; but its
work was done.

This attack was very fierce, and, being so' much near
than the previous firing had been, created considerable corn-
motion
around the cross-roads. It at once brought Gen,
Hooker into the saddle for the first time during the day,
and things were speedily in shape. This onslaught was for
the purpose of retaking this very important point. The first
thing done was the massing of artillery near the roads, and
in 15 minutes 22 guns were sending shell into the woods
and the roar of artillery became ten times more deafening
than that of the musketry had been. The work was soon
done.ee The contest lasted three-quarters of an hour, and the
.I'?3' ignominiously retired.
ritthengh this attack was so handsomely repulsed, it
P:30(''6`1.,10.be...07.1y preliminary to still greater operations. At
planir".ros4 IrepoDi:en, who had cavalry skirmishers on the
driving in his
vieteet the enemy advancing in force and
to the right, and Re was soon discovered deploying
by sending in GeneralGearra.Slocum promptly met the move
attack proved to be only ailiou and Hampton's battery. The
thing was a development etiellelefr, however, and the next
was again checkmated by General on our right, which
Williams, who, with
three batteries of artillery andlehrail division, replied
very effectively to the enemy's fire, Own
Beyond thlliejell was
sometimes
brisk but never heavy.
to occasionally shell our extreme rioldti,du7dteir eGxcept
Howard; but his troops were very placid,
and the shells did
no damage.
For a while there was a cessation of the
ordesultorywt and
a,
spasmodic firing, which had been going on f
But at half-past 6 o'elock a desperate charge wasmode hours
our batteries commanding the plank-road. The rebels ad-
vancedfor through the woods at a rapid pace, and got within
point-blank canister range of our guns. A column, also,
came up the road wildly. Geary met them with great
promptness, and wheeling a regiment into the road, a deadly
volley was poured into their advance. At the same time
Knapp and Hampton double shotted their guns with canis-
ter, and for 15 minutes there was another fiery episode. Of
course the enemy were severely repulsed, and with heavy
loss. Their killed and wounded fell in the timber in front
of our batteries, and the leaves and brush having been set
on fire by our shells, the poor wretches are suffering a
double death,
After this hour there were no more vigorous attempts on
the part of the enemy. For an hour or more a sharp shell-
ing was kept up against our extreme left, occupied by Gen.
Meade. Gen. Couch's forces were deployed early in the
afternoon, and rendered effective assistance in supporting the
centre. Gen. Sickle's column acted as a reserve.

The entire operations of the day indicate that the enemy
was engaged mainly in feeling our lines, endeavouring to
find a► weak point, and to ascertain the strength of our posi-
uott and forces, but he was repulsed at every point, particu-

larly in his attempts to retake Chancellorsville, and the
insane charge upon our batteries.
Everything goes to show that Lee will open the attack
early this morning, (It is now 3 o'clock a.m., Mby 2.) Our
troops have been at work all night, and the woods resound
with the ring of axes. Buth parties are bw y building
earthworks and abattas. Certain changes a:e being made in
our lines, and we shall be fully ready for any emergency.
The greatest day in the history of the rebellion is about
dawning. General Hooker got some rest during the night,
which was much needed, but at this hour he is in consulta-
tion with his corps commanders. His staff are prodigies of
energy, and their labours are unceasing.

Oar losses yesterday are not yet known. We had about
100 killed and wounded in General Sykes's fight early in
the afternoon. Captain Marsh, of the 17th Regulars, was
killed. Captain Overton, of General Sykes's staff, was
wounded, not dangerously—Lieut. Wells, 14th Regulars,
wounded—Lieut.• Colonel Walker, Assistant Adjutant-
General to General Couch, was wounded by a piece of shell
in the arm, not seriously.

The troops acted magnificently. Not a case of misbe-
haviour has come to my knowledge. They go into battle
with enthusiasm, and one idea seems to animate every one
—the idea of victory.
Four miles b2low F►edericksburg, Friday Evening,
8.30, May 1, 186 ;.
The day has closed without firing on either side. The two
lines of battle which the enemy showed last night were no
longer visible to-day, the troops doubtless having been
withdrawn to fight our forces in the rear. Their skirmish
line has also been thinned out, and, to all app-!arances, the
rebels have "raked and scraped" together all their forces
to meet the rear attack,
Our own troops are stretched out in two lines of battle on
this side of the river, where they have been since an hour
before sunset. As I write the rebels are cheering vocife-
rously, or, I should say, delivering one of their peculiar
howls, which Bull Run Russell describes. Our own men,
on the opposite side of the river, have taken it up, and are
now endeavouring to Crown their yells with counter cheer-
ing.

Rebel camp fires have simultaneously appeared along
their line of works, which appear to be built for effect.
We could see their forces all the forenoon passing
along the road on the brow of the crest to the right. The
forces are supposed to be Jackson's corps. Artillery to the
number of 40 or 50 pieces accompanied them, being dis-
tinctly seen and counted from this side.
Captain Fitzhue, who resided in an elegant mansion on
this side of the river, was killed the day before yesterday,
and his remains sent over. He was in the rifle pits when
our forces charged up the opposite bank of the river.
The balloon has been up all day at intervals. Heavy
firing has been heard from our other forces to-day.
Two miles below Fredericksburg, May 2, 7.45 a.m.
The rebels have opened the ball this morning ; 35 minutes
ago a light battery, planted during the night in the rear of
the Bernard house, tossed a couple of shell among our
troops, and was immediately followed by their 10 10-pound
Parrots, planted on the side of the crest (three-quarters of
a mile below), which are now concentrating a rapid fire on
our lower bridge, with the expectation, doubtless, of destroy-
it. Our guns on the left are returning the fire vigorously.
Owing to the dense clouds of smoke, I am unable to
make out all the batteries • participating. Captain
Ricket's Ist Pennsylvania,' Captain Edgell's Ist
New Hampshire, Captain Thomson's Independent battery,
planted together on a small elevation, are among the number.
B.ls.—The rebels have opened their Whitworth gun, and
several -others are on the extreme left. Our troops are
drawn up in two lines of battle on this side of the Rappa-
hannock, and have not suffered as any yet. Those on the
other side have dropped down under the protection of the
river bank, where they are safe from the enemy's missiles.
Last night they were heard operating on the railroad, and
this morning a few pieces of railroad iron have been thrown.
The firing from our forces on the right,:now directly in the
rear of the rebels, can be distinctly heard. A moment ago
I saw one of their shells explode above the crest. The rebels
are thus compelled to fight that way and face this.
Chancellorsville, Virginia, 10 miles West by South of
Fredericksburg, Midnight, May 2, 1863.
The military operations which have been in progress on
the line of the Rappahannock for a week past nave to-day
culminated in what, if not precisely a great battle, only
escapes that designation because we all feel that greater, by
far, remains behind.
General Hooker, by a series of brilliantly audacious
manceuvrss and movements, of a celerity wholly unmatched
in this war, has succeeded in crossing the Rappahannock
River, and gaining for his army a position 10 miles west by
south, and in the rear of Fredericksburg.
General Lee, at first completely surprised by this move,
and utterly puzzled as to his antagonist's intentions, has,
however, had time to recover himself, and with a hand
almost equally bold in the grand game of strategy—aban-
doned
his position in Fredericksburg, and the line of 20
miles down the Rappahannock which he has held for
months—has changed his front, and stands opposite us in
order of battle.
We have secured a strong position, completely turning
the line of rebel defensive heights in the rear of Fredericks-
burg, against which our army on the 13th of last December
in his inspiriting order of Thursday, gives us the advantage
of compelling the enemy to fight us on ground of our own
choosing.
Figure to yourself a huge triangle or redan, one leg of
three miles long, resting on the south side of the Rappa-
hannock, above Fredericksburg, and between Banks and
United States' Ford, the other on Hunting Creek, an af-
fluent of the Rappahannock, with the apex at Chancellors-
ille, and you have, in epitome, the situation as it now
stands. This position, naturally strong, has been rendered
stronger by breastwolkt and abattis thrown up in front to
cover the troops.
Imagine, now, the enemy massed in front of this position
—front to front, and flank to flank—and you have the rebel
situation. Take into account, also, that the enemy have
strengthened themselves by the same appliances adopted
by us.

These relative positions were assumed three days ago,
and the history of that period is that of skirmishing along
the advance line, developed in front of both armies, we feel-
ing the enemy at various points, the enemy feeling us at
various points.
This afternoon and evening, however, the enemy was em-
boldened to depart from these minor operations, and make a
bold coup by attacking~ our right flank in force and attempt-
ing to double us up. About 6 o'clock this evening Jackson
—you will recognise as I go on the operations and all its
circumstances as one quite in his style, and the affair will
recall to you Cedar Mountains and other memories—with
his whole corps of 40,000 men threw himself ina pot aously en
our extreme right, formed by the 11th Army Corps, under
command of Major-General Howard. The assault was one
marked by all the dash and audacity which characterise his
mind, and as it was made precisely at our weakest point,
and on a corps which Jackson had already several times
beaten, it was well calculated to succeed.
That he only partially succeeded in turning our flank was
not owing to the conduct of the 11th Army Corps, which
was disgraceful, but to the superb generalship of Hooker,
who promptly threw reinforcements on our right to stop the
enemy's advance.
From the order which the commanding General issued it
will be seen that the position gained at Chancellorsville,
which is ten miles west by south of Fredericksburg, com-
pletely turns the line of rebel defences on the series of
ridges in rear of Fredericksburg, and, in fact, there was
now but one alternative; the enemy must either retreat
along the line of railroad toward Richmond, while that line
was yet uncut :(for their was no other line of retreat, the
communication with Gordonsville being threatened by
our hold on that line), or else come out and ' give us battle
on our own ground: Lee had been completely out.
generaled, and in a strategic point of view had suffered a
defeat before we had fired a single shot. It was in this sense,
and not in the meaning that they were actually destroyed,
albeit he anticipated nothing less than that, that General
Rooker, on the night of our arrival at Chancellorsville,
proudly exclaimed, "The rebel army is now the legitimate
property of the Array of the Potomac."
General Lee seems to have felt himself strong enough to
pursue the latter alternative, and he took prompt measures
to carry his plan into execution. There is very little doubt
that he had been heavily reinforced with troops from the
South.
Occupying, too, the interior line, Lee's facilities for a
change of front were, of course, very great, and our army
had hardly gained its position when a rebel column was
marching up to confront it.
The military situation on Saturday morning (the 2d),
therefore, stood as follows :—Our main force holds the posi-
tion at Chancellorsville, confronting the main rebel army
now massed opposite us. H iward's corps has the extreme
right, then a division of Sickles's corps, then Slocum, then
Couch, then Meade on the left, Humphreys division of
Meade's corps holding the extreme of the left. Working
parties have been employed during the whole night in throw-
ing up breastworks, and the woods have resounded with
the strokes of a thousand axemen felling trees for the pur-
pose of constructing abattis. We hear the rebels, not ha' f
a mile distant, at work with the same view, and in the morn-
ing both armies are well intrenched. It will now be who
will c me out and give battle. Hooker is determined to
put forth all the resources of the craft of which he is a con-
summate master to tempt them out
So
much for the right.
strategic bearings on' Another, though minor force, is
working on the left, independently,
operation is at Fredericksrabsinr
the yet with its definite
operations. This subordinate
show clearly that the enemy Balloon reconnaisances
from the heights of Fredericksburgtaken their main force
veand the line down the
asresmedovietdagtahins ns at Chancellors-
yßiallpep. ahTahnenyochka,veanadlemo
lkof their
artillery with the same end ; and GeengerreaalteSredhu
commands the left, thinks himself strong Wick'enouggh who
the heights. The Commanding General assents, if tht°er carry
good prospect of success ; for it is of the utmost
importaanbeeea
not to anticipate the golden moment to strike.
Still another co-operative role is assigned the powerful
cavalry expedition under general Stoneman. This is
nothing less than to cut the railroad bridges that cross the
two affluents of the Pamunkey—namely the North and
South Anna—less than 20 miles from Richmond. The
bridge over the North Anna is 150 feet long and, 80 feet
high, and cannot possibly be reconstructed in Lea than a

fortnight. You can see how tremendously this will em-
barass the rebels.
In the morning, as we stood on the battery of Chancel-
lor's house, the attention was aroused by a sharp rattle of
musketry coming from a column of rebels coming up by the
main Fredericksburg plank road, directly in front of us.
Knapp's battery, however, which was planted directly in
front of the position, opened upon them, and, after a few
rounds, caused them to retire.
Immediately afterwards a battery opened from the height
which I have mentioned as having been gained by Sykes
yesterday, and then abandoned by us. The position was
rather upwards of a mile distant from the cleared space, and
its object was to damage our ammunition trein, which was
visible to the rebels from the taps of trees on the height.
One of our batteries was, however, immediately opened in
reply. The third shot blew up one of the caissons, and a
subsequent shot blew up another, and this settled their
account.

Subsequently a reconnoissance was sent, on our part,
consisting of the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers (Carr's
brigade, Berry's division, Sickles's corps,) on the same road
by which the rebels had approached in the morning, for the
purpose of feeling their strength. They went out on the
plank road, deployed on both sues in the form of the letter
V, chased the rebel skirmishers a couple of miles, till they
came to a heavy double line of battle, with artillery in posi-
tion, when they retired, bringing us that p'ece of intelli-
gence.

Another reconnalsance was next sent out on our right,
consisting of Berdan's sharps:looters. They met the enemy's
pickets, drove them handsomely, and at 4 o'clock returned
with 50 prisoners of the 23d Georgia.
At 4 o'clock the rebels are moving down in force on the
plank road, where we had a little before made the reconnois-
sance. Grey's division of Slocum's corps is sent in on the
double quick into the woods, their bayonets flashing in the
sunlight. A sharp contest ensues, and in a few minutes
they come back in disorder. A portion of Kane's brigade,
composed of raw troops, had broken, and thrown the
columns into =fusion.
An aide from Slocum comes to ask General Hooker if he
con have reinforcements. "No I he must hold his own.
Howard will, of course, support him from the right. Let
Geary's division, however, be thrown to the right of the
road, so that the artillery may be able to sweep the enemy
on the left." This treatment presently repaired the damage,
and checked the hope of the rebels being able to pierce our
centre.

Foiled in this, they now prepared to make a still more
desperate dash on our right flank. We were aware that
they bad been massing against that point all the afternoon,
and the terrific treble of the demoniac yell with which the
rebels always rush into battle announced their approach
from the woods by the Culpepper plank road. Jackson's
whole corps, reinforced by D. H. Hill'sdivision, numbering
in all 40,000 men, had precipitated themselves on Howard's
corps, forming our extreme right wing. This corps is com-
posed of the divisions of Schurz, Steinwehr, and Devin, and
consists mostly of German troops. Without waiting for
a single volley from the rebels this corps disgracefully aban-
doned their position behind their breastworks, and com-
menced coming, panic stricken, down the road towards
head-quarters. Our right was thus complete'y turned,
and the rebels were in•the fair way of doubling us up.
It was a critical situation, and brought out the superb re-
sources of Gen. Hooker.. He was in the saddle in a moment,
calm and cool—the master of a situation fit to overmaster
the most. The first thing was to check the rebel advance,
which must become fatal if allowed to go on much further.

It was a terribly animated scene. The whole open plain
presented such a• spectacle as the simoom might make in the
desert. Through the• dusk of nightfall• a rushing whirl-
wind of men and artillery swept over the plain. The
shattered fleeing columns of men were rushing down and
over us at head • quarters.

Hooker's dispositions were made in a moment. Whom,
of all others, should he send in at this fearfully critical
moment, but the darling child of his own creation—his
own old corps, now commanded by General Berry.
" General !" shouted the Commander, " throw your
men into the breach—receive the enemy on your bayonets
—don't fire a shot—they can't see you 1"
Oh 1 it was a sight to see that glorious band rush at the
double-quick to the rescue I Pressing up in their horrid
array of glittering steel, the enemy's advance was quickly
checked, and he had to withdraw to the line of breastworks
just vacated by the 11th corps.
Batteries were immediately sent up in a thunderous
clamour to the front, and Captain Best, chief of artillery of
Slocum's corps, massed 20 pieces on the crest near General
Sickles's heael-quarters, and a terrific fire was opined on
the enemy, and kept up far into the night.
Gen. Pleasanton, too, succeeded in turning back a dozen
pieces taken from the flying col ps, and planting them in a
favourable position, while he drew up his little brigade of
cavalry, consisting of squadrons of the 6th New York, Bth
Pennsylvania, and 17th Pennsylvania, with drawn sabres
to protect the guns (a novel sight in battle). Directing
the pieces to be doubled- shotted with canister, he swept
the position occupied by the enemy with a murderous fire.
The successful check of the advancing foe is in no small de-
gree owing to the indomitable energy of this gallant soldier.
While this is going on, the panic-stricken Dutchmen are
leading to United States Ford. Many members of the Staff
of General Hooker and other general office's placed them-
selves in the road, and with drawn sabres smote and slashed
the cowardly retreating rascals. It was all in vain, how-
ever. The road for two or three miles down towards United
States Ford is now crowded with their shattered fragments.
General Hooker has, however, already sent Sykes's regu-
lars after them. As to the loss sustained by this corps,
either in killed or captured, it could not have been great,—
they ran too fast for that, I have the mortification to add
that they allowed 12 pieces of cannon to fall into the haLds
of the enemy.
What makes this retreat not only disgraceful, but well-
nigh disastrous, is that it completely foiled a splended
mat oeuvre which Gen. Sickles with his corps was engaged
in executing. He had gone in on a branch road leading,off
from the main pike, pierced the enemy's centre, penetrated
for a mile, cut them in two, and would have secured the key
to victory, when the turning of Howard's position compelled
him to make good his retreat, though he brought out with
him 400 rebel prisoners.
The artillery combat was prolonged till midnight, and the
bursting of the shower of shells thrown by our batteries
into the rebels made a spectacle that beggars all description,
During the whole crisis General Hooker was under the
severest fire, and his staff, made up of young braves, per-
formed prodigies of valour.

The enemy has completely turned our right, is now in our
rear, and will, unless prevented, turn this immense advan-
tage to account with the first dawn of to-morrow's light.

This was the position at dark, and it did not look very
promising. But our energetic commander was more than
equal to the emergency, New dispositions to repair this
disaster were at once resolved upon. Communication was
at once had with Generals Birney and Whipple, and a night
attack ordered, to restore the connection of the lines. Gen.
Ward's brigade of Gen. Birney's division made the attack
at 11 at night, aided by Capt. Best's guns, massed on the
ridge in front of the enemy. Birney's position was on the
extreme left of this new line of battle, but Ward's terrific
attack was entirely successful; communication was restored,
and in the charge made by the brigade a portion of the ar-
tillery lost by Howard was gallantly retaken by General
Hobart Ward.

This night attack was the most grand and terrific thing
of the war. The moon shone brightly, and an enemy could
be seen at good musket range. The air was very still, and
the roar and reverberation of the musketry and artillery
past all conception. Malvern Hill was a skirmish compared
with this, save in the degree of slaughter. But it was suc-
cessful; the enemy were driven back nearly half a mile,
and our tired men once more slept on their arms. That
night's work was ended.

Headquarters in the field, near Chancallorsville,
Virginia, Sunday, May 3, 6 p.m,
Another bloody day has been added to the calendar of
this rebellion. Another terrible battle has been fought and
more fields crimsoned with human blood. Few more such
days as this will find no armies left on either side to fight
battles.

General Reynolds's First Army Corps arrived at United
States Ford on Saturday afternoon, It was immediately
put into position on our right, which was withdrawn from
the plank-road to the Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was
immediately formed by Gens. Reynolds and Meade, the
latter's position, on the left, having been relieved by Gen.
Howard's 11th corps,whichnotwithstanding its disorganised
condition was so far reorganised during the night as to be fit
for duty again this morning. They were assigned the position
on the left, where it was probable there would be little or no
fighting, and were protected by the strong works built the day
before by Gen. Meade's corps. Our new line assumed the
shape of a triangle, prolonged at the apex, the right of the
line being somewhat shorter than the left. As the portion
of the line on the right was new, time was necessary to
fortify and intrench it, and the work was carried on vigor-
ously by the Fifth and First Army Corps.
It was very evident at daylight this morning that the day
would bring forth a terrific battle. We knew the enemy had
been reinforcing his line all night, at the expense, undoubt-
edly, of the strength of his force on our left. -His intention
was evidently to fight for the possession of the plank-road,
which it was perfectly apparent he must have, as that por-
tion of it which we then held was subject to the enemy's
assault in front and on both flanks.

But the possession of this road was not obtained by the
enemy save at our own time, at his severest cost, and after
one of the m' st desperate, tenacious, and bloody conflicts,
for its short duration, of the whole war. At 5 o'clock a.m.
the rebels could be plainly seen up the plank-road, about a
mile and a half from the Chancellor-house, which General
Hooker still retained as his head-quarters, though a shell
had gone through it the evening before, and another had
cut down a tree directly in front of it.
onslaught
Our line of battle was formed with Gen. Berry's gallant
teryrific
division on the right, General Birney next, on the left,
and
rien
aoffer
General Whipple and General Williams supporting. At half
T:tosda.m. the advance became engaged in the ravine, just
the ridge where Captain Best's guns had made their
frowned upon the
crash,
The enemy and threatened his destruction.
the night before, and where they still
became engaged, thenaomente, as battalion after battalion
sketrY soon became a long continued
roar Surpassed all conception, and in-

dicated that the fight would be one of the most terrible
nature. General Berry's division, which had checked
the enemy's advance the night before, engaged him again,
and if it were possible for them to add more laurels to
their fame, then they did it thrice over again. The enemy
advanced his infantry in overwhelming numbers, and
seemed determined to crush our forces. But the brave
men of Sickles and Slocum, who fought their columns
with desperate gallantry, held the rebels in check,
and inflicted dreadful slaughter among them. General
French's division was sent in on the right flank of our line
at about 7 a.m., and in a short time a horde of ragged,
streaming rebels running down the road indicated that that
portion of the enemy's line had teen crushed. At 8 o'clock
a.m. General French sent his compliments to General
Hooker, with the information that he had charged the
enemy and was driving him before him.
Sickles maintained the attack upon his line with great
endurance. The enemy seemed determined to crush him
with the immensity of his forces, and, as subsequently
shown from the statements of prisoners, five whole divisions
of the rebel array were precipitated upon this portion of the
line, for from these five divisions we took during the day an
aggregate of over 2,000 prisoners.

The exploits of our gallant troops in those dark, tangled,
gloomy woods may never be brought to light; but they
would fill a hundred volumes. It was a deliberate, despe-
rate hand-to-hand conflict, and the carnage was perfectly
frightful. Cool officers say that the dead and wounded of
the enemy covered the ground in heaps, and that the rebels
seemed u telly regardless of their lives, and literally threw
themselves upon the muzzles of our guns. Many desperate
charges were made during the fight, particularly by Berry's
division. Mott's brigade made 15 distinct charges, and cap-
tured seven stands of colours, the 7th New Jersey, Colonel
Francine, alone capturing four stands of colours and 500
prisoners. .

General Couch's Second Army Corps, though only in part
present, did excellent work. It was General French who
charged and drove the enemy on the flank, and it was the
indomitable Hancock who gallantly went to the relief of the
hard-pressed Sickles.

The engagement lasted without the slightest intermission
from 530 a.m to 845 a.m,, when there was a tempo-
rary cessation on our part, occasioned by getting out of
ammunition. We held our position for nearly an hour
with the bayonet, and then, being resupplied, an order was
given to fall back to the vicinity of the Chancellor House,
which we did in good order. Here the contest was main-
tained fcr an hour or more, not so severely as before, but
with great havoc to the enemy and considerable loss to our-
selves.

The vicinity of the Chancellor House was now the theatre
of the fight, and my visits to that spot became less frequent.
General Hooker maintained his headquarters there until
10 a.m , when it was set on fire by the enemy's shells, and
is now in ruins. Chancelloraville is no longer in existence,
having perished with the flames, but Chancellorsville is in
history never to be effaced.
Our new line was now so far established as to render it
safe to withdraw all our forces on that front, which was ac-
cordingly done, and at 11 30 a,m. the musketry firing
ceased.

The engagement had lasted six hours, but had been the
most terrific of the war. Our artillery had literally slaugh••
tered the enemy, and many of the companies had lost heavily
in men themselves, but the guns were all saved.
The enemy was now no longer in our rear, but had been
shoved down directly in our front, and is now directly be-
tween us and our forces in Fredericksburg, aad we were
again in an entrenched and formidably fortified position.
The enemy has gained some ground, it is true, but at the
sacrifice of the flower of his force, five of his seven divisions
having been cut to pieces in the effort, and over 2,000 of
them have fallen into our hands.

Our right wing, under Gene. Reynolds and Meade, was
not engaged, save the division of General Humphreys,
which went into the woods on the enemy's left flank, and
fought valiantly under their brilliant leader, until their
ammunition was exhausted.

During the afternoon the enemy has made several at-
tempts to force our lines, particularly at the apex of our
position, near the Chancellor House, but Capt. Weed bas
massed a large quantity of artillery in such a position as to
repulse with great loss everything placed within its range.
The enemy tried several batteries and regiments at that
point at different times during the afternoon, and they were
literally destroyed by the fire of our terrible guns. Nothing
can live within their range.

Our present position is impregnable if our troops continue
to fight as they have to-day. General Lee, the prisoners
say, has issued an order that our lines must be broken at
all hazards. Let them try it again with what they have
left. They can, and perhaps will, destroy themselves by
attacks upon this position.
Our troops are perfectly cool and confident. They have
fought with great spirit and enthusiasm, and will continue
to do so.

The rebel prisoners report that General A. P. Hill was
killed this forenoon, during the sanguinary conflict his divi-
sion had with General Berry's division. General Berry was
himself killed while gallantly fighting his brave men.
It is impossible to estimate the loss in to-day's battle on
either side. We know that ours is heavy—heavier than
know that the loss of the enemy is admitted by themselves
to be perfectly frightful. We had the advantage in artil-
lery, and our shells and canister tore and mangled their
ranks fearfully. The prisoners are silent as to the loss of
prominent officers, but some of the Alabamians in A. P.
Hill's division say that he was killed early in the day, and
that General Raynor is now in command of the division.
The exact count of prisoners thus far taken, during the
battle of Sunday, is not yet known, but it must he, all told,
nearly, if not quite, 2,000. They were brought in singly,
in squads, in companies, and by regiments; and our men
say they could have taken many more, " but for the trouble
of bothering with them on the field of battle." They would
rather shoot than capture. Two regiments were taken en-
tire—the 23d Georgia and the 4th Alabama—the former
yesterday and the latter to-day. Then there are detach-
ments from 50 or 60 other regiments, including many North
and South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana
regiments. The enemy has undoubtedly taken several
hundred of our men, mostly wounded, with some from the
11th Corps, who couldn't run fast enough to get away.
General Averell, with his cavalry command, returned to
-United States Ford to-night, and reported in person to Gen.
Hooker this afternoon. General Averell has been out
23 days, and been as far south as Rapidan Station, on
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where he destroyed
the bridge and track of the road. During his trip, he drove
Lee and Stuart out of Culpepper, and captured there about
5,000 doss. worth of salt and bacon belonging to the rebel
Government, which he did not destroy, but distributed
among the poor and suffering people of that vicinity. This
made General A. very popular, and hereafter the people
there will prefer his visits to those of Lee and Stuart.

Gen. Averell has received instructions for important work,
and our communications may be considered entirely safe so
long as his force is in reach.
The headquarters of the army of the Potomac in the field
are to-night under a large tree, just in the rear of the front
line of rifle-pits and abattis. Gen. Hooker has just dined
on hard tack and cold ham. The gentlemen of the staff are
looking for their "pack mule."

Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, near Falmouth,
Virginia, Sunday Evening, 10 p.m.
I have arrived here from Chancellorsville, and learn of
the complete success of Gen. Sedgwick's attack upon the
stronghold of the enemy at Fredericksburg Heights.
The position was brilliantly carried by storm to-day by
Pratt's glorious light division of the 6th Army Corps, cap-
turing two whole regiments of rebels, the 16th and 18th
Mississippi, one company of the famous Washington Artil-
lery of New Orleans, and part of Alexander's Artillery, in-
cluding in all eight guns and nearly 1,000 prisoners. The
storming forces were aided by Gen. Gibbon, of the Army
Corps, who, with a force, came upon the flank and rear of
the enemy, planting the American flag upon their works
before they had actually ceased firing upon our charging
column.

The captures wore complete, and our loss only moderate.
Gen. Sedgwick afterwards engaged the enemy and drove
him back. At 6 p.m. he advanced to the Brick Church, 44
miles out on the plank road toward Chancellorsville. Here
he had a severe engagement with Early's divison, rein-
forced by troops from Lee, but repulsed them, and sent in
another lot of prisoners.
The enemy is now hemmed in between Hooker and Sedg-
wick, and will, no doubt, fight with desperate tenacity to
extricate himself from his desperate position ; but the ad-
vantage seems to rest decidedly with us.

" Am I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER ?"—The
Rev. Caroline Cleverbawl addresses thus her own
sex in L. Fairfax's Tale of the Confederate States of Ame-
rica, called " The Elopement :"—" But this blue and glo•
riously-bespangled banner has long enough waved in
mockery over our down-trodden race. 1, a weak, timid
woman, assert the right of woman to wield the sword, the
pen, the forceps, and the maulstick. Why are we excluded
from the Legislature, the judge'e bench ? Why are we not
allowed to ballot? Who are the bravest in battles? The
women who follow the camp. Who are the most profound
and successful writers? Women. Who the most skilful
doctors ? Women. The most celebrated painters ? Women.
The most eloquent and untiring speakers ? Worsen. The
greatest poets ? Women. I could quote hundreds of ex-
amples to prove this platform. And yet, with our mul-
titudinous abilities, there is nothing left us but the thimble
and the needle. Since he leaves us no other weapon, let us
fling aside the thimble, vile emblem of drudgery, unsheath
the needle, and upon him. I loudly assert, I assert the
right of woman to love and wed if she will freely, when, and
"here,
whom, and how she pleases. In ending this brief
speech, I cast my vote for free love, free speech, free ne -
They
ucsaen.n
grees, free women, free press, free soil, and Fremont."
EADvEnTisEmyr.l—Holloway's Pills are undeniably
the finest medicine for dilapidated constitutions, disordered
liver, bile, and indigestion. The wonderful efficacy of this
the
them.w it grain of salutary
su medicine and the good effects produced on patients
rg
from
the above complaints, would appear in-
credible if not confirmed by daily proofs of the cures
effected by them, and the permanent benefit derived from
the nervous
and invigorate
purify the blood, regulate the secre-
tions,o:dhoeshearimnv.aluable Pills soothe and strengthen
Thep are composed of vegetable extracts, unmixed
gaonraytemtihneercoalnsotrituntoixonio.usDeuisbesatsaenficeie.s bTefhoer;
perfectmay,
with safety, to delicate females and young children.
therefore, be given with the utmost confidence, and
The

THE KINGDOM OF ITALY,

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
TURIN, May 15.

The debate on Italian affairs which took place in
the House of Commons on Friday last, and to
which I have already alluded in a former letter, has
created the liveliest sensation throughout this
country. The speeches of friends and foes of the
Italian cause fill the columns of every newspaper,
and the comments we hear on them are, in my
opinion, just, and at all events temperate.
The population of Southern Italy is described
by certain orators in Westminster as held under
restraint by a tyrannical Government. How is it,
then, that this very Government continues to send
muskets for the use of the Neapolitans and Sicilians ?
All the previous Ministers strove to arm the Southern
people. The present Cabinet, which only came in
last December, already, as I informed you, has
supplied those provinces with 70,000 muskets for
the citizen militia. Now, do we see Austria busy
arming the population of Hungary or Venetia ? Is
Russia very anxious that every Pole should have
his firelock ? When this shall be the case we shall
acknowledge the correctness of the gloomy descrip-
tion of our Southern provinces as drawn by some of
the members of the English Lower House; but so
long as fcr the repression of evils bred from without
our Government appeals to the energy of the citizens
we have a right to deny the existence of a tyran-
nizing Government or of a tyrannized people among
us. We have, inched, our woes, and serious woes
they are—the results of former corruption, of the
rancour of our adversaries, and even the protec-
tion of certain friends of ours; but when we see
hon. gentlemen in London compare our present
condition, such as it may be after only two years of
so profound and radical a revolution, with that of
a country which for the last 100 years has
marched safely on the path of orderly progress, we
doubt whether the discussion be any longer a serious
one, Would Lord H. Lennox and his friends
institute the comparison between our country as it
is and theirs as it was two years after the landing
of William of Orange ? Then we are ready for the
trial ; we shall examine the prisons, and the ad-
ministration of justice, the freedom of the person
and of the press, religious liberty, industrial and
commercial progress. Let the parallel be drawn on
these terms and we shall see who is the loser by it."

Such are the words of to-day's Opinione; and I
hope that English fairness will allow the Italians
the benefit of them. No doubt the comparison
would not be altogether just, because the world has
gone on with great strides during the whole interval
between William of Orange and Victor Emmanuel,
and even the most crushed and benighted commu-
nities have obeyed the influence of an all-reaching
civilisation. But, unquestionably, the condition of
Naples is an exceptional one, and it is a cruel injus-
tice to apply to it the rules of normal government.
To the north of the Liri and the Trouto, however—
i.e., throughout two-thirds of the Peninsula—ltaly
enjoys as perfect a state of order as England, and
without contradiction as great a freedom as any
other continental community-.

Lord H. Lennox, for instance, complains that
the liberty of the press in Italy is a mere mockery,
and, to prove it, he ventures on the following
assertion :

"The Perseveranza of Milan, one of the first
journals in Italy, the organ of the old Milan aristo-
cracy, was seized on the 27th of last month, and
what did the house suppose it was for ? Surely,
the new Lord of the Admiralty, the hon. member
for Halifax (Mr. Stansfeld) would feel a throe of
sympathy—(cheers and laughter)—when he learnt
that the Perseveranza met with an untimely
fate because it republished in one of its columns
extracts from documents written and signed by the
present Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Italian
Government. (Hear, hear.) On this ground, one
of the most respectable newspapers in Italy was
seized, and not allowed to circulate on that day."
(Hear, hear.)
Now, would any man believe, after this, that the
Perseveranza, in its yesterday's number, should
come out with a flat denial that its numbers were
aithpr on the particular day mentioned by the
noble lord, or on any other day since its first appear-
ance in 1860 ? Yet the Perseveranza actually as-
serted this fact yesterday, and if your correspon-
dent has won any credit with your readers for
veracity, I may freely add my testimony that the
alleged seizure never took place.
After breaking down in SU essential a part of his
evidence let us hope that Lord H. Lennox's charges
against the Italian Government will be received with
reserve. I have lived many years in England and
America, and I must candidly express my opinion
that the press never was more practically free in
those countries than it now is in this country. The
number of papers seized almost daily is considerable
indeed, but this should scarcely be astonishing if we
reflect that the number of Italian daily papers is
legion (more than a score in Turin and three times
that number in Naples), that many of these half-
penny periodicals struggle into existence and chal-
lenge notoriety by the uttermost abuse of things and
persons, by the most outrageous intemperance of
language, often compelling the unwilling authorities
to apply the law, that their natural death should at
least be hallowed by the crown of martyrdom. The
law on the press is liberal enough, though it is true
that every editor is bound to enter a copy of his
paper at the police-office, at the same time that he
sends it forth broadcast among the multitude, and
although it is true that when the police become aware
of any breach of the law, they are empowered to
seize on the offending journal, provided, however,
that they at the same time prosecute the offender and
are ready to prove the offence before a court of law,
upon the principle of a free and open trial by jury.
No doubt, if I am to express my own opinion, the
Procureur du Roi shows in his prosecution of libels
greater activity than need requires; many of the
papers that are seized would come to a much mere
ignoble end if they were never interfered with.

INHUMANITY OF A WIFE.—On Friday Mr. Hum-
phrey, coroner, resumed at the Plough Tavern,
Shoreditch, an inquiry respecting the death of Mr. Wm.
Doggett,aged 36 years. It will be recollected that according
to the evidence taken on the previous occasion, the deceased
was a wealthy ironmonger, carrying on business at No. 18,
Shorediteh. His wife stated that in 1852 she entered the
service of his father as a servant. She had for two years
occupied the same room as Mr. John Doggett, the younger
brother of the deceased, but she would swear that that was
because he was ill, and that she did not occupy the same
bed, or live with him as his wife. Mr. Doggett, sen., M.
John Doggett, and Miss Doggett, all died suddenly.
Two years after John Doggett's death she married
deceased, and they lived together, she said, "as happy as
the days were long." She was sober, and he also was, and
she never ill-used or threatened him. He had been ailing
for three years. They had been married about four years.
Mr. E. Spencer, on the other hand, deposed that Mrs. Dog-
gett was in the habit of threatening and ill-using her hus-
band to an extent that appeared to affect his intellect. Sarah
Dalton, nurse to Mr. Doggett, said that deceased was not
allowed by his wife to have the medicines which were sent.
She was generally tipsy, and her conduct to the deceased was
brutal in the extreme, omitting to pay any attention to him on
his death-bed, and even keeping from him little niceties which
had been sent by his friends. Deceased seemed to be in mor-
tal fear of her. A will had been made which appointed Mrs.
Doggett executrix and left her the property. One night sh
fell on the landing drunk. She called to him to pick her
up, and he came. She put her hand in her pocket, and said,
"I have got the will in spite of them all, and all is mine.
They can get nothing of it (the property)." She then
ordered her husband into bed again. Wm. Martin, foreman
to the deceased and now in the employ of the widow, de-
posed that he had seen no conduct on the part of the wife
which would hasten the death of her husband. She had once
struck witness on the face, and he returned the blow. Mr.
A, Roper, surgeon, who attended the deceased occasionally,
and who made the post-mortem examination, said that the
liver of deceased was diseased from drink, and that was the
cause of his death. Deceased had been most improperly
treated and managed by his wife. He had seen her strike
the deceased, and her language was of the most outrageous
kind. Witness discontinued visiting him from the fact of
her bringing him down from the second to the first floor,
with only a shirt on, and when he was in a most pitiable
condition from advanced dropsy. Witness considered that
if deceased had been properly nursed and taken care of he
might have been alive now. She insisted on being present
at the post mortem examination, and assisted at it in a most
inhuman manner. Witness would rather not state how she
acted on the occasion. Some further evidence having been
adduced, the coroner said that he should adjourn the in-
quiry until Monday next, to obtain the testimony of the
several nurses mentioned by Mr. Roper as having been per-
emptorily dismissed.. •