Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-05-15

y
cross the Rappahannock, On Tuesda,
night also, three other corps. the First
! Third and Sixth, were sent to Franklin',
crossing, three miles below Frcdericks
burg, to be ready to undertake the cross
ing simultaneously with the other corp,
at Kelly's Ford on Wednesday morning
WEDNESDAY.
The enemy were evidently not pre-.
pared to resist the crossing at eithei
point, and the affair was so we'll nanageIl
that both divisions Of the army had iii
tablished themselves on the west. ba. IN
the river and covered their bridges with
out any serious opposition by the enemy.
General Sedgwick, who commanded the
three corps Of the left wing, made no for
ward demonstration, except enough to
attract the enemy and prevent them from
turning upon the detachment which was
forcing its way toward the rear of the
enemy's works in command of General
Stoneman. General Hooker had person.
ally superintendent the passage of the
troops at Kelly's Ford, and returned
while they pushed on toward the Rapi-
dan at Germania Mills, where they cross
ed successfully and made some progress
beyond before Wednesday night.
THURSDAY.
Sedgwick still threatened the enemy,
and held them near Fredericksburg
while Slocum pressed on from the Rapi-
dan and took his position across the plank
road (the enemy's line of retreat towards
GordonsviIle,) at Chancellorsvile. -
COUGHS (Second Corpse which had re-
manned at Banks Ford, now moved up
to the United States Ford, and crossed
to join General Slocum. General Hook
er also rejoiucd, and took command Of
the four corps thus concentrated in the
rear of Fredericksburg and across the
line of the enemy's retreat 1t was now
time for this detachment to take tho dc.
fence and hold their position until the
other corps should join them, and, the
army thus united, be enabled to meet all
the forces which the enemy might bring
against them.
Thursday night there was sharp work
; on both sides to out-maueuvre the other.
The enemy had now learned with sufli-
cient certainty that large force was in
{ their rear in the direction Of Chancellors-
vile, aud that Stoneman's cavalry was
greatly endangering their railroad COM
munication, and that they we're moving
accordingly away from Sedgwick toward
the rear Of Hooker, between Chancellors-
vile and the Rapidan, by the roads at
the south of the plank road, which was
in our possession While leaving Sedg-
wick's front the enemy made unusual de-
monstrations Of camp fires, as if concen-
trsting there, and similar devices we're
resorted to on our side. But neither de-
ceiyed the other, for both were moving
away, and on our side a portion of the
bridges were taken up Immediately, and
the Third Corps moved all night toward
the United States Ford to join with &C.
neral Hooker at Charlottesville.
FRIDAY
While the First and Third Corps were
moving from the left wing to join Gene
raj Hooker at Charlottesville, and while
Jackson was taking circuitous route TO
reach the rear of General Hooker's line
between Charlottesville and the Rapi-
dan, two divisions Sykes Of .hc Fifth
Corps, and Williams Of the Twelfth
pushed on nearer 10 the rear of Frede-
ricksburg, skirmishing and fighting with
the enemy, who showed slight resistance
in that direction. The enemy were thus
driven before them for four miles, when
General Hooker, for some reason, order
ed them to fall back and rejoin bis lines
at Charlottesville. BY night his army
was all concentrated except the Sixth
Corps, and ready for a forward movement
TO the rear Of Fredericksburg heights 49,
The main body Of the enemy had now
moved away from their works at Frcde-
ricksburg, and were preparing to attack
our army on the rightin direction from
which, If beaten, they could successfully
retreat, and from which it was hardly ex
\ pected they would meet us.
SATURDAY.
General Hooker occupied the day in
awaiting the attack Of the enemy, which
was evidently expected in front. The
movements Of the enemy seemed to indi-
cate that they were retreating, and as the
main line Of their retreat was occupied
by our forces an attack to recover that
line was confidently expected. What was
the surprise, then, to find Stonewall
Jackson, on Saturday afternoon, upon
our extreme right and rear, between
Charlottesville and Germania Mills? A
most furious and desperate attack was
made, and the right Of our lines, which
was held by the Eleventh Corps, was al
most broken, and the panic-stricken men,
il utter confusion, with and without mus
kets, hats and coats, rushed headlong
from under FIRE down the only road which
led to the bridges, and no power on earth |
could have stopped or prevented the com
plete and disgraceful rout of the soldiers
who have hitherto shown better qualities
under their former commander. General
Howard could have no control over the
cowardly fugitiyes, who stopped not TO