Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-05-20
The Battles Around Frederic icksburg.
In CAMP NEAR FREDERICKSBURG,
Nav g 1893
Nav 8, 1868.


May 8, 1868.
Having seen, as yet, no correct account
of the recent seven days fighting around
Fredericksburg, shall endeavor to recite
the principal movements of our own and
the Yankee army, during those eventful
days. I shall not pretend to give in detail
the. movements or engagements of all the
different brigades of our gallant armyI but
such leading facts as may enable the public
to form something like correct idea of our
hard week's,work. = .., -. II.
During the night of Tuesday, 2Sth ult.,i
a considerable, number of Yankees tabout
250) crossed the river in boats in front Of
Gen. Early'S position, and just below the
point where Deep, Run empties into the
river Owing to The darkuess'of the nigat,i
it being very foggy, they were enabled to
cross without being discovered, and rushing
upon our pickets at that point, captured
nearly all of them. A large force being in
readiness on the other side, with boats and
bridges, in very few minutes the Yankees
succeeded in laying down two pontoons, and
b. the time the fog lifted in the morning
sufficiently for us to discern their move.
ments, they had effected the crossing of
over twelve thousand men, with several
pieces of artillery, and continued to pour
upon Us their heavy column until they had
crossed about twenty thousand of all arms.
As soon as their movement was discovered,
and considerable blame has attached to our
force on picket at that point, whether justly
or not, cannot say, Gen. Early made act
i've and vigorous preparations to give the
vandals proper reception. Gen. Lee or
dered up our artillery, which had been for
some time in the rear, about Chesterfield
Station aud Hanover Junction, for the pur-
pose of recruiting their broken down and
starved horses, and all the troops of the
different corps were promptly placed under
arms, and ready to move to such points as
the movements of the enemy should require.
About II o'clock, the fog having lifted a
little, Early feh.upon the enemy with great
vigor and effect, effectually preventing his
columns from deploying, formed from the
valley. The firing continued with increas-
ed fury until ten OF eleven O'clock, when
the Yankees apparently became satisfied
that any further advance, without much
larger force, was not at all practicable, and
gradually fell back towards aud near the
river.
In the engagement our troops behaved
handsomely, repelling force nearly double
their own, and inficting serious injury up.
on the enemy. Our own loss was not CON
siderable, though some Of Early's brigades
suffered severely. ...,- ..,,...,I - I, :.
As soon as the enemy's movements OF.
posite Early were ascertaiued, Wrigbt's
brigade of Georgians we're ordered up from
Massaponax Church, seven miles distant,
to the support of Early's left. The brig
ade moved promptly, and in an hour and
half from the receipt of their order, were
in line, Immediately to the left of Hamil-
TONS Crossing, their right resting upon
Early's left. They were not engaged, as
Early had succeeded in thrashing the Yam
KEGS before they got into position.
At one o'clock, all was quiet along Ear
ly's: front, except the occasional firing or
skirmishing, the enemy being constantly
reinforcing by the addition of heavy COL
umn, which we saw crossing on both their
pontoons. Our artillery not having come
up, it was not deemed prudent to push, them
further, and consequently their crossing was
entirely unmolested. ..'
About noon information was received
that the Yankees, in considerable force, had
crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's aud
Ellis Ford, and were pressing forward to-
wards Germanna and Ely's Ford on the
Rapidan. Two brigades of Anderson's di.
vision-Posey's and Mahone's numbering
about 5000 men-and one battery OF four
guns were, and had been for several weeks,
stationed in the neie iehborhood Of Ely's Ford
and United States Ford, on the Rappahan.
mock, guarding the approaches to Freder-
icksburg in that direction.
1t was apparent that this small force
would be entirely inadequate to arrest the
approach of Hooker'S heavy column, and
Wright's brigade was ordered up to their
support At Gay light on Thursday morn
ming, the head of Wrights brigade reached
Charlottesville, at which point Posey and
Malone had concentrated their forces with
a view of making stand. Major.Gen
Anderson having also arrived in the latter
part of the night, and having obtained fur.
ther information of the number of the
Yankee forces, upon consultation with his.
brigade commanders, determined to fall
back from Charlottesville, in the direction
of Fredericksburg, FIVE miles, to point
where the Old Mine road leading from the
United States Ford crosses the Orange and
Fredericksburg turnpike and plank road
The advance of the Yankee army was re-
ported within few miles, and in great
force. The retrogade movement was COM
menced at once Wright's brigade in ad.
vance on the plank road, followed,by Posey
and Malone, with the artillery moving
down the turnpike. 1t may be proper to
state here that the plank road and turnpike
run parallel-the latter nearest the river,
and not more than half to threequarters of
q mile apart from Charlottesville to the
Old Mine road .crnssino where they unite