Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-05
rRoM GEN. noOKER's ARMY.
Particulars Of the Forward MOvemen

We get nothing definite from the army of
the Potomac. No dispatches giving an ac-
CONT Of the recent operations have been al
lowed to come over the wires from Washing
ton since our troops crossed the Rappahan-
mock The news that reaches us consists
of such rumors, reports, and facts as
the reporters are able to collect and send to
New FORK by mail, 1t is probable that this
rather stupid suppression of the news will
continue until Gen. Hooker finishes the work
he has in hand, and sends to Washington an
official account OF it. We learn privately,
from New York, that the Herald has some
'big, good news" from Rockers army, which
it will publish this morning but we cannot
get the particulars.
Gen Hookers army consists of the first
army corps under Gen. Reynolds; the second,
Gen. Couch; the third, General Sickles; the
fifth, General Meade; the sixth, Gen. Sedg-
wick; the eleventh, Gen. Howard; and the
twelfth, Gen. Slocum. 1t appears by the let
tiers received from the army that the second,
third, fifth, eleventh, and twelfth corps
were in tine vicinity of Charlottesville,
Saturday morning. The second and third
weht there after the demonstration be-
low Fredericksburg. 1t was the sixth
corps, or a part OF it, that crossed to
Fredericksburg and took possession Of the
first line of rebel batteries back of the city.
There seems to have been heavy fighting be-
tween this force and the rebels Sunday fore
noon, occasioned probably by an assault on
the other batteries. Nothing is said of the
position OF the first corps. We learn from
private letter that our fifteenth regiment,
which belongs to COUGHS corps, was left be-
hind near Falmouth, on picket duty.
Letters from Chancellorville and other
places in that direction, dated the 29th and
30th of April, give very full accounts OF the
movement across the Rappahannock and the
Rapidan. The several columns, after cross
ing, formed a junction near Charlottesville,
on the 30th. This Charlottesville sis made
up of one house,-a large brick one; but
probably its size makes up for the want of the
blacksmith shop and store" 1t is a village in
which there is but one building of any kind
ly of Chancelors." On the evening of the
30th the New York 9th cavalry made a re-
connoissance towards Spottsylvania CIT
House, and eucouutered t~~-- - ave regiments
rebel cavalry. A severe fight followed, in
which Col MeVicar was killed, and the regi-
ment suffered some loss. Other troops went to
their aid and they came back within our lines.
At that time, it said, the position OF the eb-
els ''extended on their left from Spottey lYauia
Court House to Banks ford, and on their right
from Fredericksburg tc Massaponax creek
and our supply trains went by way of United
States ford, further up the river. This was
the situation at that point Friday morning.
We gather together below few items and
descriptions of interest from the letters of the
newspaper correspondents regarding the OPP
erations on Friday, the LIST. One correspon-
dent says
Evidences hourly accumulate of the fact
that the enemy is totally surprised at our Wig
orous movements, and in great measure un-
prepared to meet us. That he is very ner-
vous is evident from the manner in which he
falls to digging rife-pits in every convenient
location. If any further evidence of this fact
were needed, it is found in the capture at this
point yestesday Of dispatch from Gen. Lee
to an engineer officer here, saying in sub
stance that she was very much surprised at
this movement had not anticipated it, and was
unprepared to give him instructions" This
dispatch was dated April 20. One more fact
McViear captured in his charge last night a
dispatch from Gen. Lee to Fitzhugh Lee, or
dering his cavalry brigade to be at Spottsyl-
Vania Court House, on April 80.
tn &.
and repulse of the rebels, on Friday after
noon
About noon to. day. the fifth and the twelfth
corps, Gen. Meade's and Gen. Slocum's, adj
vanced by separate roads towards the city of
Fredericksburg. Gen. Slocums corps moved
to the right, and Meades to the left; the sec
ond division OF this latter CORPS under Gen
Sykes, leading the advance. In about an
hours time heavy firing announced that they
had met the enemy. This continued for up
ward of three quarters of an hour, gradually
extending to our right wing, when orders were
sent by Gen. Hooker from his headquarters
IN the large brick house to which have al
luded in my last, and which constitutes the
town OF Charlottesville, for the two columns
to tall slowly back. This command was car
rleu out IN the most systematic and regular
manner. Gen. Sykes division had got their
old 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 di
vision, save the Duryea zouaves, were living
at nearly right angles with the road The
Zouaves were parallel with the road. Quick
as thought, Gen. ykes brought his men into
line, the Zouaves on the left half-wheeling
into line of battle like a machine The rebels
paused moment on the top of the ridge, and,
as if to nerve them for the onset gave one of
their scattering, demoniac yels, and then
came down on the double-quick shooting
capturing, and literally running over our
poor picketS, who scrambled behind all sorts
of Instructions. But in an instant more a
terrible crash resounded frem the Zouave end
OF the line, and down the column rolled the
most deatening roar of musketry that in all
my war experience has ever met my ears 1t
ulu not last, apparently, two minutes, but its
work was effective.
MS attack was very fierce and, being so
nluch nearer than the previous firing had
Deen' created considerable commotion orourJ
the cross roads. 1t at once brouab+ co,,onaI
hooker into the saddle, for tho frst 80 S
ing the day, and things were sneadiiv 'u'e uul-
MS onslaught was Tor the purpose NJ 10y.
ing this very important point Tho a.. te .1a
done was the nassing of artillery aas1 uihs
roads, and in fifteen minutes twentv-t,r .lle
hill