The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-22
Escape OF the Sixth Corps from Fred
ericksburg.

A lett-: from Falmouth, Wednesday, 9th,
says The sixth army corps succeeded in
cutting its way through the enemy, reaching
this side of the river yesterday morning.
The rebels made herculean efforts to sur
round it, but were foiled in their endeavors.
They had succeeded in getting on three sides
Of the force, and then opened battery on
the bridge which served for retreat. How
i got away in so good a condition is great
mystery to all of rs. Yet the corps suffered
severely, having been subjected to the Or
deal OF four heavy battles within SO hours,
fighting the last two against overwhelming
Odds and when hope of escape was well
nigh gone Prior to this disaster, the sixth
corps was the finest in the army of the Poto-
mac During these seven days battles, it
has done the wolk on the left from the very
first, constructing three of the bridges doing
all the skirmshing, storming the Fredericks-
burg nights, and rushing on to the support
of the right. Who is responsible for this
successful tlanking of the force, am unable
10 say. One thing is true, however. After
taking he nights the corps pushed rapidly
on up the river, regardless of heavy firing
from guns planted in the wood crest at the
left of the city, and as we moved on, in our
rear the road from this crest was unguardedly
left open, and when the overwhelming force
Of the enemy appeared, there was not cor
poral's guard, in comparison, to resis. them.
Up till this time everything was working
admirably We were both in the front and
rear of the enemy, and had We been content
to rest on the Fredericksburg nights without
pushing on, we should have had the rebeli
IN tight place. All this advantage is now
lost The nights have been recovered and
operations suspended by US on the left. The
history of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
would furnish volumes of Incidents The
wounded in Fredericksburg, medical stores
&c, were saved by some one organizing the
stragglers in the streets into a picket line
facing the nights taken possession Of, there
by causing the enemy to think we had con-
siderable force Doth in the city and on thi
side, which was far from the case. DIR Foo
Of the SD Pennsylvania left wounded mar
he was dressing, snatched a musket, and raj
led several of the men. These pickets o.
skirmishers, kept up fire on the rebels unit
al our wounded and stores were got across
the river.
Had our forces not been outnumbered b.
those Of the enemy, We should have admin
lstered terrible punishment to them whel
they attacked and drove US towards the river
since We had the advantage Of position, be
ing on the higher ground. We had such
long line, however TO defend, that the ,ari
Gus regiments had to be shifted from poin
l. point to resist fresh attacks of the enem!
We captured a large number of prisoner
though compelled to leave most of OIL
wounded on the field. Nearly one whol
brigade, consisting Of one general, 20 caI
ms, 80 lieutenan,s and 1000 private
which charged upon US, We're, am informed
eusnared into our lines and taken prisoners
trust the information may not prove uu
true. There is no question as to our havin
moved the rebels down by whole regimen,
wien they charged upon our batteries
lhey lay in heaps upon the battle field. NJ
a gun was taken, though so many charg'
upon them we're made. The corps retired
good order across the river, saving the
camp equlpage, mule trains, &C., with II
exception of few which were gobbled up
the momentary panic which ensued when Il
enemy first made their appearance in o.
rear above Fredericksburg.