Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-21
PARTICULARS OF THE ADVANCE UPON
FRI DERIt KSBURG


correspondent Of the New York Herald gives
the following particulars of the advance Of Gen.
Mcdowell upon Ftd aricksburg:
| About nightfaIl on Tuesday Gen. Aupur,s BRIG
sde was ordered to advance. The General and
| staff, accompanied by the Herald correspond dent,
preceded the troops, and arrived at Catlet's sta
ton late at night, after most disagreeable ride
in the darkness, through slough and mantraps
wearied and disguised with the highways of The
"sacred soil,n and with keen appetite for the
evening lunch at the headquarters Of Gen Nc
Dowell.
Gen. Mcdowell arrived on a special train at
two O'Clock Wednesday morning.
The command was halted in Wednesday for
the arrival of the supply train and the remainder
OF Gen. Kings division In the meantime the
rebels placed field piece upon the south bank
Of the Rappahsnncck, and entertained our pick. .
cts with frequent sLot and shell, without doing
any damage
On Thursday, with tie frs: faint light of dawn.
the command started. Lieuf. Colonel X ilpatrick
with the Ira Harris Light cavalry, led the ad.
vance Before starting an order was issued direct
ing tie instant shooting Of any one detected in
the act Of pillaging. burning, or wantonly de-
stroying property. No occasion was found for
the execution Of tbs order. Late In the day the
heat compelled the men to relieve themselves Of
everything not absolutely indispensable, end
oveIcoats and blankets strewed the road
Six miles from Catietts station recent tracks Of
rebel cavalry were discovered. Twelve miles be-
yond the eneInys picket was driven In. General
Au2ur pushed rapidly forward with the cavalry
and the BROOKLYN 18th regiment and a section Of
artillery. small TebeI mounted force was dis
covered, which retired diminishing, The chase
continued for eight miles, the BROOKLYN Hth
without single siraggler, keeping up with the
csvalTy ard artillery.
Lieutenant Decker, company ID, of the Ira
Harris Light Cavalry, was killed while calamity
leading one Of the charges. lie was shot through
the heart The rebel by whom he was killed;
and fifteen Others were almost al the same Instant
taken pFIsone Colonel Kilpatick charged
upon tic camp Of the enemy, diving II EN- ike
frightened sheep, aud captured large amount Of
forage. The command bivou &C kPd for the nj bit
miles
Few men were found on the farm, along the
road. Several Of the families expressed Union
sentiments. but every man capable Of performing
military duty had been pressed into the rebel ser
vice or made prisoner
During the night the Ira Harris Light Cavalry
continued TO hdrrass the enemy, and In the morn
Ing, led by Colonel KilpatricE, chlrged pallantly
upon the barbados across the road and drove
the eEemy's advance back with considerable
loss.
At daylight the command moved forward
forcing the enemy acrGss the Kappa hannock and
compelled them to retreat beyond the bpip hts
south 81 fredericksburg. In their fight they
set hre to the bridges, upon which had been
placed heaps Of combus,i bles. The Chatham and
railroad bridges were destroyed The HickIen
bridge was saved by the strenuous exertions of
Falmouth, on the NORTH bank Of the Rappahan
mock, Immediately opposite Fredericksburp was
found almost entirely deserted. Several Union
families remained TO welcome the advance Of our
troops. The people generally received our SOL
diers In friendly manner, and expressed sur.
prise when assured that they were to be protected
instead Of murdered, as they he'd been assured by
the re bells they would be.
Our occupation Of the place was surprise The
mills were still running, aud women and chill
dren engaged In ordinary domestic avocations
when our cannon beChed forth its thunder from
the adjacent cliff.
GeneTdl Augur and ste fl were courteously enter
timed BY Mr.. u Ficken, a wealthy citizen Of
Falmouth, whose loyalty had rendered him OBJ.
noxOus TO the rebels
Private Haslam, Of the Ira Harris lip ht cayalrv
acting orderly for Gen. Aueur, was shot by our
own pickets, while carrying an order from the
General to Col. sullivan. Private Brftton, of the
1th wisconsin, had rendered efficient Sci vice
| as a scout Tor Gen King, had his leg broken by
| an accideI tai shot while in front
mediate preparations Were made for the re-
pair OF the bridge, that had been only slip htIy
| damaged. Fredericksburg Is virtually i'm our
| possession, as our cannon command all its an
proaches. There Is no sign OF fertilization, The
enemy q forces, composed OF one regiment of in
fdntry, and one OF cavaly and battery of artillery
burned their camps and fed.
Col BOnebroke, the rebel commandinp officer
was out examining the pckets at the time of our
approach, and was chas ed by Col Kilpa trick four
miles, but final v escaped.
| We have captured 10 prisoners and killed n
mum Der Of the enemy, but how many Ia not vet
asceTtained. -
number Of fac steamers and a considerable
amount OF shipping Is at Fredericksburo The
cars are busily running to and from the CITY. The
people crowd The streets and house:ops, watching
our movements ~