Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-05-14

| cavalry were upon tneln. stuart had
turned off on the Culpepper road in too
great haste to warn them; but, dsrting
behind the banks of the mill race, and in
70 the gorge OF the bluff, they soon pep
pered Us handsomely. Captain Thomp-
son, OF General Pleasanton's staff, accom-
panied by Lieutenant Ramsey of the cav
airy, rode down to reconnoitre, only to be
driven back, the Lieutenant with a ball in
his leg, and leaving Corporal Martin shot
dead in the road.
The infantry were soon down, and then
the rebels discovered the trap they were
in. a CALLING ire was poured into them
in front, and fromsthe right and left, along
the bend of the stream, a shower of bullets
enfladed their bitches. 4 few ran, and
were shot down. Another volley follow
ed, and dozen handkerchiefs appeared
above the embankments, showing signal
of surrender. Sixty-seven came over,
glad to get out Of their 'last ditch" alive,
and our cavalry crossed. Then came the
task for the infantry. The river was up
to the armpits, rapid and rocky. Cartridge
boxes were hoisted on the muskets, CLOTH
ing was stripped of, and in they went.
Some went down in the current, to be
picked up dozen yards down stream,
half drowned; but all were jubilant, and
filled the valley with their shouts and
laughter. After dark the scene was mag
nifcent Huge bonfires were kindled, and
| their light danced with the moonbeams
among the baynnets and on the water,
and wrought fantastic pictures on the hill
sides, while the long, dark column stream
ed down from the woods into the cleaning
currents and up the gorge beyond. Slocum
| and Howard and Williams and Pleasanton
were there, with their aids; artillery, in
fantry and cavalry officers swarmed on
the banks, and everybody pushed forward,
eager to give assistance and pull out the
unlucky.
ELY's FORD.
The 9TH corps crossed the Rapidan be-
| low, at Ely's Ford, in water waist deep,
and was the first to reach Chancellorville,
a Virginia village consisting of one large
| brick house. Two rebel brigades had been
| there the night previous, and had COM
menced throwing up earth works.
| The Sth Pennsylvania cavalry, which
| led the advance of the Fifth from the Rap
| pahannock, after brisk skirmish drove
the enemy from his earthworks at Chan
ericksburg, but, meeting two brigades of
the enemy, with artillery, on hill, about
six miles from the city, were compelled to
retire, but without loss. The rebel brig
AIDES of Mahoney and Possey fell back up
on Fredericksburg from the fords about
| 10 A. NJ.
THE CROSSING AT OTHER lords.
The First, Second and Third divisions
left camp on Tuesday, and moved to the
vicinity OF Banks Ford, taking circuits
Gus route to keep in the rear OF the range
! of hills skirting the LETT bank of the river.
On arriving at Banks Ford, the enemy
was found strongly posted to resist the at
tempt to cross. Some little demonstra-
ton was therefore made, when the main
body of the troops moved of further up
the river. The enemy were also found IN
force at this point, but during the night
decamped from the formidable earth
works which they had constructed. Du-
ring the day the 5Oth New York (Engi-
neer regimenD threw a pontoon bridge
across few hundred feet below the ford.
Upon its completion the band of the En-
gineer brigade marched over it, playing
" In Dixie's Land I'll Take my Stand"
Then passed over one Of the divisions,
which was followed by a continuous stream
of troops until very late in the night
What the rebels intended to do was some
thing of a mystery, but the general i'm
preston seemed to be that they would
mass their army az a convenient point on
their left, and give battle outside of their
defences.
The above named divisions at once join
ed the others at Charlottesville The
road from the United States Ford to
charlottesville rams through oak woods.
The plank road and the cid turnpike offer
ed solid track.
THE ENRMY's POSITION
at noon of the 3Oth, as indicated Ola the
map, extended On their left from Spottsyl-
vania Court House to Banks Ford, and on
| their right from Fredericksburg to a point
below the mouth Of Nassaponax Greek.
The route of our supply trains from Fal.
mouth, by way of the United States Ford,
was very circuitous and delayed the move
ments Of troops very considerably.
THE SITUATION ON THURSDAY, BOTH.
Our brief resume of the operations since
Monday brings the time down to the date
of Gen. Hooker's congratulatory order to
the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Divisions,
which in four days time marched sixty
four miles, forded or crossed two streams,
| had two skirmishes, captured large num-
| Der of prisoners, and lost bat two men
killed and one wounded. 1t seems that
the rains have delayed this splendid move
ment some days, for it was on the 10Th
| thet OrIara were raceiyed TO nreDara eight
days rations and be prepared to march at
moments notice. But two teams were
allowed to regiment, men were required
to carry additional ammunition in their
knapsacks, and a mule train was to carry
a still further supply in panniers. This
was the light condition in which the army
actually marched.
THE MOVEMENT BELOW FREDERICKSBURG.
On Tuesday, the 29th, the movement
below which deceived the rebels was made.
At noon the First corps, Major General
Reynolds, the Third, Major General Sic
kles, and Sixth, Major General Sedgwick,
moved down the river four miles, built
two bridges during the night in the very
face OF the enemy's pickets, crossed and
captured the pickets and reserves. Then
the First corps moved two miles further
down, built another bridge, drove the en-
envy out of his feldworks with artillery,
and captured something less than a hun
0red prisoners.
DEATH OF AN ENGLISH UNIoNIsr The
death OF Sir George Cornwall Lewis is
reported Born in Wales, nearly fifty
nine vaara auo he UaG p1ncoto6 of Etop