The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-09
THE RETR0eRADE MOVEMENT.
The Recrossing Of the Rsppahan.
mock. So
The wounded Abandoned.

The wounded Aband0hed.
New YORK, May THE morning papers
contain no news relative to army move
ments additional to what was teiegraphed
yesterday. Nothing of war matters was
telegraphed from Washington last night to
any quarter for publication. The World,
however, prints the following:
We learn by a special messenger that a
great battle was fought on Tuesday, and
that Gen. Hooker with his army was driy-
en- back across the Rappahannock.
Lee was heavily reinforced, and the last
battle exceeded, in slaughter, those OF pre-
vious days. ~ ~ -
Nothing vet has been heard ofStoneman.
II seems impossible to doubt but that he
and his force will be captured.
NEW YORK, May 7.-S:3Oa. m.-The Her
aid has Just issued the following extra:
UNITED STATES FORD, May 6-S a. M
Yesterday morning the trains were all or
dered back to camp, and by dark the whole
of the extra caissons, pack mules, DC, were
at Falmouth. The wounded were hastily
removed from the hospitals and sent to
Washington. Nothing was left on the 9TH
er side except infantry and artillery
About five O'Clock it commenced raining,
dauging the roads, tearing up corduroys,
sweeping away bridges, and threatening
destruction to the pontoons. The river rose
with great rapidity and soon overfowed
the ends of the pontoons, rendering cross
ing impracticable. The upper pontoon
was taken up and used in frightening out
others, and after several hours very hard
labor the bridges were once more ready.
Pine boughs were spead upon the pontoons
to prevent the noise OF crossing, and 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 in the entertainments
to cover the retreat.
NEW YORK, May THE Tribune's ex-
ira, dated the 9th, says: The Army of the
Potomac re-crossed the Rappahannock at
United States and Banks Fords, and is
back to their old camp along the
Aqua Railroad.
Sedgwick was overwhelmed by numbers
and hardly escaped.
Fredericksburg and heights are re-occu-
pied by the rebels. Hs
Sedgwick lost about 5000, but saved the
artillery and trains.
Our crossing at United States Ford was
effected without loss.
On Tuesday the 9th corps, recently en-
gagged at charlottesville, recrossed and is
back to Falmouth.
Hooker's retreat caused q great panic at
Aqua Creek. The crossing commenced on
Tuesday night, covered by Mead's and the
9Th corps. Lees sharp-shooters picked off
the artillery horses and mounted officers.
tage of position, and fired vigorously on
camp. On consultation of corps
it was decided that the enemy
was too powerful.
Sedgwick failed to join Hooker, and, be-
ing hard pressed, crossed the river to pre-
vent humiliation, the experiment costing
him 5000 men. This, added to the couHsels
Il
fidence, and he ordered the evacuation of
his strong position.
The army is greatly demoralized by this
inglorious retreat.
There was no time from Friday morning
TO Monday night but Hooker could have
and defeated Lee, but he lacked
The ability to give the order.
The Tribune closes by saying that the ar
my is safe, with a loss of 10000 men, and a
much larger number unfit for duty, heavy
rains having impaired the health Of the
men. A @
The Worlds extra has the following -
Richmond papers of the 9Th state Stone
man's.cavalry destroyed two bridges be-
tween Richmond and the Rappahannock,
tore up the railroad, cut the telegraph wires
and ventured to within few miles of
consequently no communica-
ton can be had with Lees army. Official
from Stoneman states that after
the above he deployed his immense force
forming a line of observation to detect rebel
Hooker was forced back il, consequence
of superior numbers and the generalship of
Lee. It is rumored that Lee has massed
his army On our right, and Hooker will
change his base. Hooker much disheart-
cred, but there is hopes yet.
II is hoped that our army Will reach this
side before the enemy discovers their re-
treat, but cannonading has commenced
quite fierce at the front and a desperate
battle is not improbable We can doubtless
retire across the river without serious
loss, but, if discovered in our attempt, the
Struggle will be fierce; unmolested, the
troops can get over by noon. The roads
are in a terrible condition, almost as bad
aswhen Burnside foundered here last win
tel Our sick are lying in the roads, but
are coming up to move them.
There was no fighting yesterday of any
The sharp-shooters were
quite active and the artillery opened occa-
but the results We're unimportant.
The enemy has evidently massed his army
on our right, with a view, il is believed, of
crossing above, and attacking us on our
flank and rear. The high water, however,
will Illustrate that movement. Their pom
ton trains are down at HamiltOn's Cros-
sing, and some fears have been entertained
lhat the reDelS WOulO make u UelnOnStra-
tim across the river below Fredericksburg.
A great number of our wounded have fall
len into the hands of the enemy. Our dead
on the battlefield of Sunday, still remain
and the wounded undoubtedly
dying in great numbers for want of atten-
ton. 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 over
as soon as practicable.
Gen. Hooker was very much depressed
last night. He held a consultation with
his commanding Generals, in which it is
urged that a longer stay in its present po-
stion would prove unsafe for the army A
hasty return to our camps is Imperative
Rain is falling heavily and the river is ris-
ing with great rapidity.
FALMOUTH, May 6, 10 A. M.-Three
bridges were swept away on the railroad
from Aqua last night. Building par
ties were at work all night and trains
are again running.
It is rumored that the enemy's cavalry
has crossed over upon the northern neck
and are cautiously advancing towards this
place. A force has been sent down to OPP