The New York herald., 1862-04-08
NEWS FROM GEN. HooKER's DIVISION.


The Reconnaissance Near Fredericks-
burg-Skirmish at Stafford Court House
Between the Rebels and Gen. Sickles'
Brigadc-Capture OF Rebel Cavalry
Horses, the Mails; and q Number Of
Small Arms-Sketch OF the Locality,
&C., &C., sc.
WASHINGTON, April 7, 1862.
The steamer Freeborn has arrived up from Liverpool
Point bringing additional particulars Of the skrmsh
at Stafford Court House, Va
The Stepping Stones, Acting Master Frank command
ing, after landing certain troops at point Of tho Mary
land shore Of the Potomac, took board portion Of
General Sckes brigade together with the General ami
his STAFF and during the night crossed the river TO the
neghbohood Of the entrance Of Quantco creek where
the force was landed under cover Of darkness.
This having been safely accomplished, the steamer
turned to the camp the Maryland shore, and there
embarked another portion Of the brigade which
carried aud safely landed the main land Of vr
gna third trip carried the remainder Of the force
which occasion the Stepping Stones accompanied
by the Freeb orn, under command Of Lieut. Magaw The
whole force not all landed before daylight At eight
O'Clock A. NJ the column formed and took up its line
OF march towards Stafford Court House. each man ap-
parently eager for the fight The expedition was com.
manded by General sickles person, who was accompa
MED by two onncsrsof the Signal corps.
During tho reconnaissance General Scklss troops cap
tured some forty horses belonging to the cavalry
and number Of small arms and tho mails in the Stafford
Post Office, in which are many letters. OF which will
probably be Of interest to the government.
Six prisoners were also taken, who brought upon
the Freeborn and sent up to the old Capitol prison.
As tho OF the Freoborn getting horses
and other property captured tho rebels opened heavy
nre upon them from the thcks but on the Feeborn re-
turning the compliment with shrapns the enemy hastily
disappeared.
SKETCH OF STAFFORD COURT HOUSE AND VICINITY.
Stafford Court House is place heretofore Of no very
great Importance commercial point Of view Il ia
small post village, but being the capital Of Stafford
county, Virginia, has in small degree some local in.
tersst 1t s situated at about seventy-sx miles from
Richmond, about ten miles from Fredericksburg, four
miles from Aqua. which s situated at tho junction Of
Beaver dam and Aqua creeks, and about the dis
tance from the railroad depot at the mouth Of Aqua
creek where empties into the Potomac. Between the
villages OF Aqua and Stafford and from thence
dercksburg, there good turnpike road but direct
turnpike road with the depot from either p,ace
The county in which II s situated borders on tho po
tomac river, and has an area OF hundred and nty
square miles. II is bounded on tho south.
by tho Rappahannock river and is also drained bv
the Aquia Potomac and Accokeck creeks The surface
Is hilly, the soil near The Potomac river s light IN
moderately fertile, but in other parts sandy and ro,r
Quarres OF granite and freesone, suitable for buding
have been opened, and gold has been found in small
quantities. Tho Rappahannook afords excellent water
power at Falmouth. Tho comfy is ntersected by tho
Richmond, Fredercksbgra and Potomac Railroad and
was organized In 1876. IL named after q county of
the same demo miuaton b Lnghnd. The population Of
the county in 1850 about eight thousand, Of whom
nearly one-half wWo slaves.