Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-06-08
PUBLISHED DAILy) BY
EDGAR SNOW DEN, JR.
ne OFFICE-No, 104 King street, over
: ona's formerly French's) Book Store.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

L
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The n. 7. Times
2.cci2 dispatch from the army Of the Poto-
s;ac, dated the eth inst, gives the particulars
of the crossing Of the Rappahannock, and says:
Yesterday at noon, and very unexpectedly
,c everybody, the engineer brigade was order
81 tc the Rappahannock with pontoon bridges
and ordered to proceed with the construction
oF two BRIDGES across the river at q point
known as franklin's Crossing, Just below the
mouth Of Deer run, and one mile below Fred
or;cksburg. The batteries from the sixth
corDs, under charge Of COL Tompkins, were
likewise ordered to cover the engineers III their
work, and HoWe's division OF infantry was Or
dered to the spot to support The engineers,
and push across as soon as the bridges were
laid
The only Confederate force visible was
double line OF pickets, who ounged about,
watching the operations closely. About So
clock the engineers commenced unloading the
Dontoons, whereupon the Confederates got into
their rife-plts and began picking Oft the Fed
erals The artillery, some twenty guns Or
more, Immediately opened with shell, and for
Ug0 hours kept up vigorous cannonade, with
little effect, however, upon the Confederate
L
the rife pits, and at half: past six Q clock the
26th New Jersey, Col, Morrison, of Colonel
Grants brigade, were ordered into the boats
They at once pushed across the river under a
severe fire, and landing on the opposite side
rushed upon the pits with cheers The Con
Gederates vacated the pits and retreated
Che Federals instantly deployed as skirmish
.Ys, and IL short time some sixty Of the Sec
ca& Florida Regiment were brought in as
prisoners Other regiments OF the Vermont
brigade soon followed in boats, until nearly
The whole Of tie brigades were over. Soon as
Che firing ceased the engineers began work at
he bridges, and at ?. n. had one completed
&nd the remainder Of Gen. Hines division
passed over. The Federals had only five kill
I'd and about twenty-five wounded
The Federal forces advanced cautiously
2oross the plain, deploying skirn1ishers, the
light resting on Deep run, and the left in the
vicinity Of Bernards house. BY dark the
nead reached Bowling Green road, and posted
2ickcts for the night well out to Yards the foot
2i Timber creek, on which the Confederates
nave their strong earthworks The Confeder-
o!tes were not discovered in force last night,
,Aough the prisoners stated that the Fede1aIs
Nould soon meet them if they kept on advan-
eng.
This morning enough was ascertained to 10
cate the greater portion Of the Confederate
forces. Nearly 100 prisoners, including one
major were captured. The crossing took the
J,ontederates greatly by surprise, and during
the night Gen. Lee marched two corps back
from the vicinity of Salem Church to a posi-
ton IN front Of the lines, and Gen. Longstreets
corps reinforced the troops in Fredericksburg.
and they slept on their arms last night. This
morning they moved in a southerly direction.
4 dispatch from Washington dated the 9Th
inst says:-''Whatever may have been the
condition Of affairs on either side Of the Rap
2,ahannock for the last two days, it is known