The New York herald., 1863-12-02


Court House plank road The plank road and turnpike
rup nearly parallel each other about three and half
miles spart. The roads running southwark from the
river are dst the from Cupepper Ford ntersectng
the plank road at Parkers store second that from Ger
mamma Ford to Broken Bridge third that from Jacobs
Mills Ford to Rcbersons tavern and fourth, that from
Raccoon Ford to Robertson's tavern.
rHe OPERATIONS ON THURSDAY, nov. 20.
Nothing occurred on Thursday worthy of note. The
several corps reached the ford little after noon and
crossed without opposition except that inerposed by
high water but all failed reach the points designated
owing to the delays in laying the pontoons the horri
BILE state or the roads, added TO total want Of know
ledge OF the country and the mpossibty OF obtaining
reliable Information. General French found tho outpost
Of the rebels the south bank at Jacobs mlli and
skirmshed with them driving them back couple Of
miles, where he encamped. General Meade and General
Warren had their headquarters at Flat runlchurch
General Sykes had his short distance south 0 the river
the road towards Parkers store. General sedgwick
encamped the Jacobs mill. and General
Newton st Cuipepper Ford.
ASSUMPTION MARCH on FRIDAY. a.
Early Friday morning each OF the advance corps
took up their lines Of march In the directions nst dc
signed. the Third corps the right, advanced only
about four miles, when General Prince commanding the
Second division, came upon the enemys pickets, At
place known the Widow Morris farm He here halted
his command-as divergence In the road 10 the et not
laid down in the military charts. rendered highly pro-
babie that he was on the wrong road altogether.
SECOND CORPS ENGAGED
While he hero halted he heard the first firing Of
General Warren, at Robersson's tavern. As It came
and nearer Gen. French concluded Gen. Warren
attempting TO open communication with him. and he
pushed Prince forward supported by Brney and Carr
with instructions TO reach and hold tho Recon Ford
road at Jones Cross Roads.
AsssrAScx FROM THIRD ooRps.
General Prince accordingly moved on, skrmshus the
while with smatl body Of the enemys sharpshooters
until be reached point about half mile from
roads where be found the strong force. drawn
up In ue battle the road Ae at formed his
division in line Of battle, his right resting on ravine
and his left extending few rods south OF the road.
TIE FIGHTING BBcoNRs CENHRAL
For an hour or more, to three O'Clock the fighting
between the administers only each party evil
IDENTIFY trying to ascertain the position Of the
other. General Birncy's and General Carr's d.
visions posted at the loft Of Prince, and
at four O'Clock the fight became general The enemy hld
opposed TO force OF about fifteen thousand men, who
had moved down from Raccoon Ford that day. consisting
OF Earlys, Rhodes and Johnstons divisions. Shortly
after four O'Clock three brigades the Sixth corps
the woods the left Of the Third corps and
though they actually engaged they did excel
lent service In preventing the enemy from thanking
position In that direction.
RESULT or BAI1Ix-TBE K.BKrs FoRcxp WITH
HEAVY LOSSES.
The fight lasted until after dark and resulted In the
pulse OF the enemy with loss OF about SIX hundred In
killed and wounded and two hundred prisoners. The
enemy withdrew. undor Of the darkness, leaving
his dead and wounded hands TO the line OF bis do
fences west Of Mine :
General Freuchs loss was about three hundred and
afty wounded aud afty killed Tho killed OF tho Third
corps were buried on widow Norris farm, and the
wounded were the next day taken to tho general hos.
pial. near RobcrtsonB tavern; but the killed and
wounded rebels left the Hed owing the ambu.
anoes Of the Third and Sixth corps not having arrived
aod we had no means Of removing them.
OPERATIONS InE CEsrHK on FRIDAY.
Tho Second corps moved early Friday morning from
Orange Grove down the Germans plank road to the old
turnpike; thence west towards Orange Court House
10 Robertsou's tavern, which IL hslf-way between
Fredericksburg end Orange Court House. Al about
ten O'Clock Colonel Smyth. commanding the Second
brigade, Third division, having the advance of the
column, arrived at Roberson's, whore no found tho
cnomys skrmshers posted In the woods. west Of tho
tavern and occupying slight brsastwork In tho hollow.
Az the country was thickly wooded, and - General
French had not como up. and - General Warren had
heard the firing attendant upon tho operations Of the
Third corps Jones' roads, and the indications
that the enemy In force 10 front and tho
right GereraI Warren only threw forward his line Of
skirmsbers and planted part Of . battery 70 sweep
down the pike In the direction OF Mine run. brisk
skirmsh kept up until night. resulting 10 the with.
| drawsi OF the rebels under cover Of darkness.
THs loss TO the Second corps WAS probably atty 10
xii Cd and wounded.
OPERATIONS fm Lxyr
Tho FKth corps after crossing the river Culpeppsr
Ford advanced southwark far the Old wilderness
church. miles from Chaucslorsvle where they
oamped for The night On Friday incoming they o.
the sgan going direct Psrksr's stors the
and orsns Court House plank road Here
thoy h'lted 10 allow Gresss cavalry to pass.
| novsxxyrs oAvArRv.
General Gregg had como down from Eys Ford BY sno.
ther road. and 70 tske the Initiative tho ID
vanco OF to left column. Tho cavalry and infantry
then moved forward 70 Oak woods-or, as IL is
laid down the map, New Hope Church. Here the
valry advance upon rebel infantry well caval.
~ pckets who rstrsi lighting, mile and naH tho
point where thsr posted and whore they
hnd erected ssme earthworks Ths cavalry then rsssd
and places taken by portion of C<awfords
division o Psansyvania reserves who after taking up
strong poston . picket line went into camp for ~
| night.
Inths heht the cavalry suffered severely having lost
about seventy Ave In killed and wounded but tho
and behavior Of tho cavalry spoken Of very
brsde cavalry dismounted and acted infantry
and while doing and repused two terrific bayoncs
| charges OF the enemy.
rHs r1asr ooRps.
The First corps followed tho Fth the river aud
encamped, Thursday night. At Richards Nils half
mie from the river, and Friday again brought up the
rear, going into camp Of and between the Fif,A
and Second corps.
srRrkD skRysn ouURAI crsrxs's cAyArsr.
hear also that General Custer os General Khparicks
division Of cavalry, had quite spirited sklrmsh in the
vicinity OF Racoon Ford whore he crossed and ATTACKED
the enemy their inrcnchments driving them out and
taking possession bat Of the particulars have nothing,
as tho cavalry are not allowed the privilege Of having
historian with them.
| GENERAL xKApx's HEADQUARTERS.
AZ night on Friday General Meade moved his headquar
from Fiat church 70 point about mile east Of
Roberisons Tavern, in the rear Of the Second corps
surAnoS oy rHx Army Iss roromAc ON sArvrpSy
4