The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-05-19
THE RESULT.
The Richmond Wing says:


lv o,cprate as can be obtained in the absence of
offc;.l REPORTS Our loss in killed, wounded and
missing. be puts at 10000, of whom about 2,O0O
were taken prisoners and of the remainder an un-
usually large per cent wounded. He is confident
these figures will cover our loss. That of the enc
my he estimates at 10000, including from 5000
to 10000 prisoners, not counting the wounded
who fell into our hands. lie could not hear GER
tainly of more than twenty pieces of artle-
ry captured; and we lost eight pieces, six of the
Washington Artillery, and two of Capt Parkers
battery from this city. The number of small arms
captured by us was immense, greater, our lnfor-
mant thinks, than in any former battle. The held
vas strewn with knapsacks, blankets and clothing,
and with all the evidences of complete rout.
The fighting of our men was superb, and zen.
Lee is understood to have been particularly pleas
cd with the part borne 10 it by the artillery, which
exhibited decided improvement both in prac
tice and ammunition. The artillery was frequent
ly up in front with the skirmishers The spirits
of our men since the fight at the highest pitch
of exultation, and their enthusiasm for their great
commander boundless. Great praise was awarded
Gen. Stuart for the mastery manner in which he
handled Jacksons corps after the fall of that re-
nowned leader The retaking of Marye's Hill by
Early was considered of the most brilliant
achievements Of the 1t was affair Of in
fantry, and called out the finest display of courage
and dash in the troops engaged in it. But, in
deed, the whole army, officers and Men, behaved
so we'll that discrimination is unj Just. Some had
the good fortune to have better opportunities for
distinction than others, but finched from any
duty or peril. Our informant heard of no solitary
case of bad conduct-no Sinking, hating, no
struggling. 1t was brave, manfu, thorough work
throughout and by all.
Tho great airuggla near Frederick hn-g consist
ed of three heavy battles; the first at Wilderness
o.. IL i
celiorsville, on Sunday, May 3, and the third
Fredericksburg, on Monday, Maya. The first
two were under Hooker in person; the third un-
der Scdgwick, who, with heavy column, was opc-
rating for the relief of his chief:
The location of the battle field is described
thus: Charlottesville is in the county of Spottsyl
vania about three miles in direct line from the
Rapidan river; the Wilderness, the point from
which Gen. Lees despatch says the enemy was
driven, is about Ave miles distant from Chancell-
orsville, in Westerly direction. The Court
House Of Spottsylvani county is distant from the
Wilderness about seven miles, and from Frede-
ficksburg about twelve miles. Charlottesville,
to which the name of the battle will doubtless be
given, is nothing bu: tavern stand, and is ten
miles West of Fredericksburg, on the plank road
leading from that town to Orange Court House.
The face of the country between the Wilderness
and Charlottesville is slightly undulating, with
succession of woods and fields, afferding excel
lent ground for man9uvering an army, particular
ly along the road between the two places. Back
Of Chancellorsville and towards the Rapidan there
are ranges of hills and the country is rough.
RIcHMoSD May 1.-THE aggregate number
Of wounded brought here since the 1st May, is
seven thousand one hundred, ofwhich three thou
sand have since returned to duty.
FROM FREDERICKsBURG- on Yesterday
eonversed with officer who on Sunday, visited
Me North side of the Rappahannock under flag
OF truce Hooker had written a letter to General
Ice, asking permission to send surgeons to attend
the Yankee wounded, Offering to send rations for
their support, and also offering to send any medicine
that our wounded might require. Our informant
was the bearer of the reply to this letter. in which
General Lee gave permission for the Yankee
Surgeons to come over, but declined the tender of
medicines and rations, saying that he had an
abundance OF both. Gen. Lee s said to have been
much graihed at the general tone Of Hooker's letter
The Yankee Surgeons, with whom our informant
eonversed, acknowledged that Hooker had suffered
most terrible defeat, and describes his retreat
across the Rappahannock little short of rout
They also stated that when Hooker was making
his advance, Regiment whose time of enlistment
was within one day of expiring, refused to cross
the river, and, when an attempt was made to force
them, they fired into their officers, killing all but
one.-Richmond Examiner, May 12M.
INCIDENTS OF WAR.-A letter to the Peters
burg Express records the burning of the large
brick tavern at Charlottesville, which had been
converted into hospital, and, horrible to relate
one hundred aud fifty wounded soldiers were burn.
Ell alive. it being impossible to rescue the suffer
ers. One hundred of the number were Federals
and fifty Contederates. This is one of the most
melancholy incidents of the battle. The building
was fired by she'll thrown by one of the enemy's
guns, but whether accidently or Intentionally. is
not stated. The shells set the woods on fire. and
thousands Of wounded we're burned to death. You
could see where the poor wretehes tried to rake
the leaves from around them, and the flesh COM
pleteiy burned off; others erawled into the branch
and lay there; great many we're drowned. Both
Yankees and Confederates Jared alike-but not so
many OF our men, as they were picked I'D as fast
.as possible, but there were 60 many, it was inn
possible to get all up.
YANKEE CORREsPoNDEsCE-Some Yankee
letters were picked up the late battle field,
characterized by the usual neatness Of penmanship
and coarseness of expression of that peculiar
people 1t is obvious that learning to read and
write is not the ,whole.of education. We have a
letter found the Geld froia axife to her husband
which, ,thoughwelf written and expressed, would
have diegraced in its grossuess any,aegro woman
on Southern plantation The epistolary CORES
/ pondence Of she Yankees during this war ought
to be carefully preserved, as illustration of.she