The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-05-09
WEEKLY SUMMARY OF NEWS.
MORE FIGHTING AT LAST
FKEDERICKsBURa TAKENl


| We have the glorious news, this week,
that the army in Virginia is again in motion,
after SO long and, seemingly, criminal delay.
| Hooker has been little too sharp for the
Rebs. He made demonstration as though
he was going to cross the Rappahannock
below Falmouth, and then be rushed across
above Fredericksburg with portion of his
army-mostly cavalry-and got in the rear
of the city before the rebels knew it. He
rather took the gentlemen by surprise. 1t
seems that Rockers plan was to operate
undoubtedly to keep the rebels from escap-
ing. We copy the following accounts of the
affair from the dispatches to the New York
papers. The Times correspondence. dated
on the field, near Charlottesville, ten pm,
May LIST, states: 1.-The Cd army corps took
position on the night previous on the left
of the Sd corps, and reached the trent about
noon. The position they occupied is thus
described We hold the Gordonsville road
securely, country road leading to Spott-
sylvania Court House, and another road
four miles in the rear of that. The enemy 8
flank is thus dangerously exposed, and if
they fight it must be in the open field. A
dispatch was intercepted yesterday from
Gen. Lee to an engineer officer, dated the
29th. Lee says he is much surprised at
this movement as he had not anticipated it.,
and was not prepared to give instructions.
About noon a movement was made TO bring
out the enemy, and compel him to develop
his strength. Our men entered the field
with much enthusiasm. Only one regi-
ment of cavalry at first charged on the rebel
infantry, the latter driving them back. when
a small force of infantry supported by cav
airy checked TIE rebels. One division un-
der Skies and rebel division 7der Ander-
son then became engaged. Our troops
drove the rebels from two ridges parallel
with the Rappahaunock, gaining a nile and
| SO prisoners; when Hooker ordered them to
retire, not wishing to bring on general en-
gagement. The rebels mistook our retiring
for check, and followed rapidly. On the
top of the first ridge the rebels halted mo-
ment and gave yell, and then came down
on double-quick, but were met by Sikes's
division of regulars, who poured in terri
bic fire of artillery at short range. The
contest lasted three quarters of an hour, and
extended across the roads. There were
twenty-five of our guns which sheled the
woods effectually, and the rebels ignomini
ously retired. During the afternoon the
rebels made several attempts on our line.
but were repuIsed. At $50 p. IN. they
made desperate charge to capture our bat
terry commanding the plank road to Freder-
scksburg, but were handsomely repulsed by
Geary, assisted by KnaPp's and Hampton s
| batteries, who double shOtted their guns
with grape and canister. During the night
both ours and the rebels forces built earth
works and abattis, and the battle on Satur-
day it was surely thought would be opened
by the rebels" The Tribune has the fol-
lowing extra: "Our news by mail from the
Rappahannock is up to Sunday morning.
At that time our left wing was in posses
sion of Fredericks burg, and of the first line
of redoubts on the hill behind it, and was
slowly feeling its way to the second line
Tie river was crossed and the redoubt car
ried with great ease and very little loss Of
life. The rebels had marched away in the
direction of Charlottesville to attack oul
right wing there posted. leaving at first TO-,
900, but subsequently, not moIe than 5000
or 5000 men in the works, as was ascer
tanned by a reconnaissance from loves bal
loon. A great portion of our Falmouth
ba tteries were engaged on Saturday with th'
rebel batteries, firing across the river anc
in the city. The firing of both musketry
and cam On on the right in the direction o
Charlottesville was very heavy. TIL enc
my has been forced to fight on ground o
Hooker's Own choosing, as he had promis
ed the soldiers. 1t was believed on botl
wings that Stoneman's expedition to cut th'
railroad between the rebels and RicbmonC
had proved successful. thus cutting off The
only path of retreat. So confident was Gen
Hooker at Falmouth of success, that in con
formiry with his orders, force had already
commenced to rebuild the bridge over tn
RsPpahaunock. Our troops are in tn
finest spirits, and everything looks propi
tious." The Herald has an extra, givin!
dates to l / a. M, Sunday, stating that th'
rebel stores near fredericksburg and Stone
mans Station had been burned, and Civ,
rumors that our right had captured sixteer