The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-13
slaughter OF tho ftebels-Stone-
MANS operhtiona.

says:
From a gentleman connected with one
Of the Pennsy lvAnia regiments which
participated in the series of battles of the
last few days arrived in this city last
evening, we have must cheering advices
from our army at Falmouth. He was q
participation in the battle fought under
the immediate eye Of General Hooker,
and affirms never did soldiers fight bet
ter, and never was such aomiral lie gem
eralship displayed as on this occasion.
With the exception of the time Of the
panic in the 18th Corps, the men etocd
as frm as rocks and literally moved
The rebels down as fast aB they came up.
He had witnessed many battles during
this war, but be assures us that never did
such immense slaughter Of human beings
take place.
Our batteries were massed at threat
ened points and showered their double
shotted contents into the ranks of the
enemy: but while this was taking
place our men we're in a great measure
secured from the fire of their opponents
They had been 80 disposed that they
coulddo the most possible damage 10 the
enemy, whilst not suffering much from
him. Rebel dead were piled In many
places eight and ten deep, and persons
could not walk q step without tumbling
over corpse. lie thinks the enemy at
least lost four to our one, as Hooker did
all he could to draw them out Of their
sronghold, and then deal as much destruo
ton into their ranks as possible. Reports
that the army has been demopalized, and
feel that they have been whipped in being
Withdrawn across the Rappahsnnock,
are pronounced by this gentleman, and
numerous officers and civilians with
whom we have conyersed, unqualifiedly
false. Never were our troops in such
good ppirits, and never so jubilant over
their ACHIEVEMENTS as now, aud instead of
thinking that the withdrawal was the
acknowledgment Of defeat, they knew it
was wise movement of Hooker, and
would result far more disastrously to the
rebel cause than if we had remained at
Charlottesville. They knew that Gen.
Hooker by simply remaining at Chancel-
lorsvile must keep the rebels there, but
would not destroy them, his main object
To do the latter he had pledged his
word as a soldier, and they knew be
would carry it out. Instead, therefore,
of his retrogade movement being cOnsid-
cred an acknowledgment of defeat. our
soldiers knew it was done for purpose.
The destruction Of five thousand rebels
they also knew was better for us than the
possession of hundred miles Of Virginia
territory, and the latter object must be
subseTvient to the former. Our ,cros-
sing of the Rappahannock was done in
masterly manner, and was not attended
with the least casualty. The FIRST troops
crossed at 3 o'clock ON Monday morning,
and in few hours time ali the corps
were carefully on this side. 1t is not
necessary to cay where our forces are at
present bat we unhesitatiDgly assert that
they are in foe condition, and would
march across the Rappahannock to-day
ifOrders were given them. They teel
that they have a leader who does not on
ly plan victory for them, but leads them
on to 1t, and also shares their dangers.
The rebels in Fredericksburg on We'd
nesday continued to throw shells at q
body Of our troops who were on this
side, but our batteries on Falmouth
Hights soon silenced them. They did
not make a second attempt Of this ma
ture.
PHILADELPHIA, May 9-'rhe New York
Herald has a special, dated Washington,
May z, at midnight, which describes the
operations of Stoneman's cavalry. 1t
says:
On Sunday, May Sd, our cavalry went
to Columbia, on the James river and
broke the banks of the canal. They
then went TO Lockland, twenty miles
from Richmond, took stores there, and
disturbed the Inhabitants greatly. An
other column captured Louisa Court
House, and destroyed the same road.
The same column destroy ed the road from
Trevallyu TO within eight miles Of Rich
mond, and portion OF them were within
a mile and a quarter of the city of Rich
mond. Gen. Stoneman then started for
the Peninsula, and the only force the
rebels have on the Peninsula is General
Wise's small brigade, 5000 or 1000
strong.
The enemy have, from Richmond @
Petersburg, most fOrmi liable works facino
west and another line from Petersburg {.
tho Potomac, facing east Gen. Long
street pushed his forces through on Frio
day, Saturday and Sunday, before Gen.
StOneman had broken the connections,
aud it il believed by all parOled pris-
oners who have come here that StOneman
might have taken Richmond with a
thousand men. The city aud intrench-
ments were stripped bare of defenders.
All Of them were with Lee on the Rap
pahannock. Richmond, according to his
account, might have been taken withOu.
a struggle. may be taken yet before
the roads and bridges between it and the