Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-05-13

- - ,ha
! We learn, by special messenger
great battle was fought on Tuesday, ska
Hooker with 4 = army was driven back
across The Rap sahannoek. Lee WIS heas
lily reinforced, and the last battle exceeded
in slaughter tLvse of previous days.
s. Nothing yet has been heard of Stone
man. 1t seems impossible to doubt tha'
be and his force will be captured
New York, May z, $50 A. M.-The
Herald has just issued the following IN IN
extra:
3 United States Ford, May 6. A. NJ
| Yesterday morning our trains were all or
| dered back to camp, and by dark all the
whole extra caissons, pack mules, &c.,
were at Falmouth. The wounded were
hastily removed from Hospitals aud sent
to Washington. leaving nothing on the
othef side except infantry and artillery.
I" About five o'clock it commenced rain
ing, delngiDg the roads, tearing up the
corduroys, sweeping away the bridges and
threatening the destruction of the pom
/ toons"
The river rose with great rapidity and
soon overtlowed the ends of the pontoons,
| rendering crossing impracticable. The
upper pontoon was taken up and used in
| frightening out the others, and after sew.
eral hours very hard labor the bridges
were once more made ready. Pine boughs
were spread upon the pontoons to prevent
| the noise of crossing, about midnight the
troops commenced falling back.
/ The first corps was the first to cross and
is now nearly all over, The third corps
remains ir entertainments to cover the re-
treat. It is thought that the army will
reach this side before the enemy discover
the retreat, but cannonading has COM
menced quite fierceiy at the front and q
| desperate battle is not an improbable
event.
| We can doubtless return across the
| river without serious loss, but if discover
ed ia our attempt the struggle will be
| fierce.
If uamolested the troops can get over
| by noon. The roads are in a terrible con-
| dition, almost as bad az when Burnside
| f1oundered here last winter.
Our sick are lying in the roads but
ambulances are coming up to remove
them.
There was no fighting yesterday of any
consequence. SbarpshooJers were quite
! active and artillery opened occasionally,
but the results were unimportant.
| The enemy evidently massed his army
on our right, with q view it is believed of
crossing above and attacking US on the
| flank and rear. The high water, however,
will Illustrate that movement. Three
| pontoon trains are down near Hamilton's
crossing, and some fears have been enter
| tanned that the rebels would make
| demonstration across the river below
| Fredericksburg.
| Great numbers of our wounded have
! fallen into tue hands of the enemy. Our
| dead on the battlefield of Sunday are
still unburied, and the wounded are un-
doubtedly dying in great numbers for
want of attention.
DIR. johnson, Medical Inspector of the
army, has volunteered to go over with a
| corps OF surgeons, and take charge of our
wounded. He will probably be sent
across as soon as practicable.
| Hooker is very much depressed. Last
night he held consultation with his COM
handing Generals, in which 1T was urged
| that longer stay in its present position
would prove unsafe for the army. A hasty
return to our camp was deemed impera-
| tive.
Tie rain is falling heavily and the river
rising with great rapidity.
New York, May Z.
A Tribune extra, has news from its
army correspondent dated May 9th, which
states that the army OF the Potomac re-
crossed the kappaaannock at U. 5. and
| Banks fords and 40 marching back to the
| old camp along the Acquia railroad.
| Sedgwick was overwhelmed by q um-
| bcrs and hardly able to escape from Fred
ericksburg. The Heights are re-occupied by
the rebels. Sedgwick lost about five
| Il 4 H., nd
trains.
Our crossing at Q. S. ford was effected
without loss.
| On Tuesday, the 9th corps recently en-
gagged at Chancellor crossed and is
marching back to Falmouth. Hooker's re-
treat caused a great panic at Acquia Greek.
| The crossing commenced on Tuesday night
covered by Meade and the 9th corps.
( Lees sharpshooters picked Oft artillery
horses and mounted officers. The rebel
batteries occupied all the advantageous
positions, and fired vigorously on Hook
| er's camp.
A consultation of the corps command
ers decided that the enemy was too pow
ertul. Sedgwick failed to join Hooker,
and, being hard pressed, crossed the river
to prevent annhilatioD, the experiment
costing 1000 men. This, added to the
counsels of the corps commanders, shook
Hooker's confidence, and he ordered an
evacuation of his strong position. The
army was greatly demoraIized by this in
glorious retreat. There was no time from
Friday morning to Monday night but
Hooker could nave attacked and defeated
Lee, but he lacked the ability to give the
order.
The Tribune closes by saying the army
is safe less 10000 men and much larger
number unfit for duty.
| The World's extra has .the following
Richmond papers of the 9Th state that
Stonemans cavalry destroyed bridges be-
tween Richmond and the Rappahannock.
tore up the railroad, cut the telegraph
and ventured within few miles OF Rich
mond /; consequently no communication
can be had with Lees army.
! Official intelligence from Stoneman
states that after the above he deployed
his immense force, forming a line of obser-
vation to detect rebel reinforcements.
Hooker was forced baok In consequence
Of the superior numbers and generalshlp
of Lee.
Il is rumored that Lee has massed his
| army on our right and Hooker will change