Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-08

A FALSE REPORT.
WASHINGTON, June Ga dispatch boat
from below has just arrived here. with the
important information that the rebels have
evacuated Fredericksburg. The movements
Of Lees army, which have given rise to so
many conflicting reports during the past week
are explained by the removal of his entire
force from the line of the Rappahannock,
which is now in the undisputed possession of
Gen. Hooker. Our forces Immediately went
across the river and occupied the town, over
which the stars and stripes are now flying.
As yet We have no indication of tile direction
which Lee has taken.
THE FALSE REPORT CoNTRADICTED.
| WASHINGTON, June 6.-There is no truth
in the statement of the evacuation Of Freder-
| icksburg by Gen. Lee, and the occupation of
the place by our forces. Whatever may have
been the condition of affairs on either side of
the Rappahannock for the last two days, it is
known that our army tonight is on this side
Of the Rappahannock.
IMPORTANT Reconnaissance.
NEW YORK, June Nv ashington specials
70 me Herald, dated June 6, state that the I'd
Rappahannock at Deep Run, at noon yester-
day, on pontoon bridge laid by a detach-
ment OF the engineer corps. The object was
a reconnaissance in force, to ascertain the
motives and position of the enemy. Rebel
sharpshooterS made some opposition to the
placing of the pOntoon bridge, but this was
| quickly overcome, although we lost one or
two men in the operation. After the division
crossed, there was considerable skirmishing,
and the rifle pits occupied by the rebels were
finally carried, and some thirty or forty pris-
oners captured. Among the killed was Capt
Cross, of the 50th New York.
The rebels still hold Fredericksburg. Gen.
| LOnUStrppt thprp and ehnmS
front at the upper fords of the Rappahannock.
1t is believed that "A large part of the rebel
force has gone in the direction of GOrdons-
vile, but with what intention can only be
surmised Our army is in good spirits, and
ready to move forward at an hours notice.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAC, June 6.-Col. Kill
patrick's cavalry brigade arrived last evening
from Yorktown via Urbana and the Northern
Neck. Since leaving Urbana they have gath
| cred 500 horses and mules, 81 vehicles, and
800 contrabandS, Of whom all but fifty are val
liable field hands. Major Stokes of the 10th
Virginia, Lieut. Wilhelm of the Baltimore
light artillery, and number of the rebel sig
nal corps, were also taken prisoners and
| brought here.
New YORK, June THE Times spscial
| gives the particulars of the crossing of the
Rappahannock and says, yesterday noon,
very unexpectedly to everybody, the engineer
| brigade was ordered to the Rappahannock
with pontoon bridges and orders to proceed
with the construction Of two bridges across
the river at point known as Franklin's
| Crossing, Just below the mouth of Deep Run.
and one mile below fredericksburg Batter
! les from the Sixth corps, under charge of Col.
| Tompkins, were likewise ordered to cover
the engineers in their work, and Howe's Ii
vision Of infantry was ordered to the spot to
+I,,,. 81.
as the bridges were laid The only rebel
force visible upon the opposite side was their
double line of pickets who lounged about very
''uncoveredy" watching our operations close
ly, but seeming to have no idea whatever that
we would make an attempt to cross in open
daylight.
But about five o'clock the engineers COM
menced unloading the pontoons, whereupon
| the rebels Topped into their rifle pits and be-
| gan picking off our men. Our artillery
twenty guns or more-immediately opened
with shell, and for two hours kept up vigor-
GUS cannonade, with little effect upon the
sharpshooterS, however. These kept in the
bitches closely and picked off our men at ev-
cry chance. 1t became necessary to storm
the ritie-pits, and at half past six the 26th New
Jersey, Col Morrison, of Col. Grants YER
mont brigade, was ordered into the boats.
They at once pushed across under a severe
fire, and landing on the opposite side, rushed
upon the pit with cheers. The rebels vacat-
ed and ran with judgment
! Our men were instantly deployed as skir-
mlshers, and in a short time, some sixty of the
rebel I'd Florida were brought in prisoners.
Other regiments of the Vermont brigade
soon followed in boats, until nearly the whole
OF two brigades were over. As soon as the
firing ceased, the engineers began work on
the bridges, and at p. NJ. had one of them
completed and the remainder of Howes d-
vision passed over. Our casualties were five
killed and about twenty wounded. l re-
greet to name among the killed Capt. Charles
b. Cross, an able and accomplished officer,
belonging to the regular engineer battalion.
The enemy's loss could not have been large,
as they were protected by their earthworks.
The captain commanding their picket was
killed, and several men were found dead in
the bitches, the effect of our shells.
Our forces advanced cautiously across the
PLAIN, deploying skirmishers very handsome
~, the right resting on Deep Run, and the left
IN the vicinity Of the Bernard House. By
dark they had reached the Bowling Green