New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-02
GEN. HOOKER,s ADVANCE.

are across tne happanannoCh, anu tuo heDeiS
have probably evacuated Fredericksburg. Gen.
Hooker commences his campaign by sudden,
bold, and admirably.e1ecuted movement which
has taken the enemy completely by surprise,
turned bis position, and compelled him to fight
on ground not of his own choosing. We ore
not in possession of full accounts Of the move
ment any later than Thursday morning. but
down to that time the outline of events 10 mainly
sketched in the letter of our special correspond
emit, on the first page which was printed in
Yesterdays evening editions, and was the only
authentic and Trustworthy intelligence published
in this city. The following statement is COL
lected from thst letter and from information
that yesterday we deemed it prudent to with.
hold. The movements may be readily traced
on the map printed on the first page, except
that Kely's Ford and Germana are beyond its
limits to the west The two feints at Port
Royal and Kelly's Ford. made at nearly the
same time some ten days ago, seem 70
have puzzled and deceived the Rebels CON-
pletely a. to the proposed movement. Zen.
Hooker, however, carried out his whole plan ~
means Of feint on grand scale, and undouo''
edly has ere this placed his army on the other
side of the Rappahannock, and before Lee az all
uo5ers.ood whether he meant to cross above
or below Fredericksburg.
Three CORPS the Eleventh, under Major
Gen. Howard; the Twelfth, under Major-Gen.
secum. and the Fifth, under Major-Gen.
Meade. marched from Falmouth on Monday.
arriving at Kelly's Ford, about twenty-five
miles distant, on Tuesday. The Rebel pickets
we're surprised, bridge thrown across the
Rappshsnuock, and the Eleventh Corps was
over the river before dark. The Twelfth
Corps made tho passage during the night,
StoBemans Cavalry Corps came up and crossed
at next morning. and the Fifth Corps fol-
lowed Immediately after. The cavalry instantly
dashed forward, aiming for the Rebel line Of
communication between Fredericksburg and
Richmond. The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps
moved without delay on Germania, and crossed
the Rapidan at that point at o'clock on
Wednesday afternoon. The Fifth Corps passed
the same river further down at 5, neither
column having met any considerable resistance.
Meantime the LIST Corps, under Major.GeD.
Reynolds, the Sd Corps under Major.General
Sckles, and the 9th Corps, under Major.Gen.
Sedgwick, starting at noon on Tuesday, moved
down the RappAhannOck. and in the course of
the night, the Sd and 9th Corps bridged the
river four miles below Fredericksburg, and
threw across sufficient detachments to hold the
opposite heads Of the bridges. The lst Corps sue
ceeded in the same attempt two miles further
down, being opposed by Rebel sharpshooters in
rifle pits, but sllencing them with artillery.
When these two movements had been ac-
conplisbed, the three corps that crossed at
Keliy's Ford being already on the march for
the Rapidan, the I'd Corps, under Gen. Couch,
seized Bankss Ford, six miles above Fredercks-
burg, on Wednesday morning, opened a road
between there and United States Ford, ten
miles beyond, and without crossing in force
lay in position for q movement the moment
they were needed.
; During Wednesday, then, the llth, 18th
and 9th Corps reached and crossed the Rapi-
dan, the I'd occupied Bankss Ford, the I'd and
9th lay four miles below Fredericksburg, and
the lst six miles below, threatening a move.
ment on that flank also. The enemy might
well be at loss TO know on which side the
blow was about to fall. His pickets had beer
surrounded and captured at all points, and the
whole operation had been silently aud suddenly
effected and the real movement skillfully dis.
guised.
On Thursday morning the scene changes.
The movement down the river was feint.
Late Wednesday night the Third Corps, which
was at the four-mile bridge. marched straight
up the river again and joined the Second at
Banks's Ford; and early Thursday morning the
First Corps followed in its path, and also
halted at the same ford. SO that on Thursday
morning there are three corps across the
Rapidan, marching straight on the rear of
Fredericksburg by way Of Charlottesville, a
village twelve miles distant from that city,
aud three more at Banks's Ford, with the
road to United States Ford open, and com.
munications established with the advancing
columns-all six in position to move directly
upon the Rebel line OF communication, and
the Seventh Corps still with formidable
display Of force threatening to cross below
and assal the other flank Of the enemy. II
may well DO believed that Lee evacuated
sredsricksburg precipitately and fell back to.
ward Richmond. kilograms to that effect
were received yesterday, but were based per.
maps a. much on the presumed necessity Of the
retreat as ppon any direct information. If it
10 not true so much the worse for Loo. He
had 40 alternative but 10 march ont of Ersdsr.