The Portland daily press., 1863-05-05

From tDe Army-OccupaLlOn OF FTeOerlcKS-
burg-A Great Battle Going on-16 Pieces
of Artillery Captured-rhe Rebels driven
with Great Slaughter.
New YORK, May A.
The Times correspondent dating in the
field, near Chaneelloryile, at 10 p. NJ, May |,
states that the I'd Army Corps took position
the night previous on the left, and the Sd Corps
reached the front about noon. The position
there occupied is thus described We hold
the Gordonville road securely, and the county
road leading to the Spottsylvania Court House,
and another road in the rear OF that. The en-
emys flank is thus dangerously exposed, and
if they fight it must be in the open field. A
dispatch captured yesterday from Gen. Lee to
an engineer officer, dated 18th, says he (Lee)
was much surprised at this movement, had not
anticipated it, and WAS not prepared to give
instructions. About noon "a movement was
made to endeavor to bring out the enemy and
compel him to develop his strength. Our men
entered the field with much enthusiasm. Only
one regiment OF cavalry first charged on the
rebel infantry, the latter driving ours back re-
peatedly, when small force OF infantry sup
ported our cavalry, checking the rebels. Our
division, under Sykes, and rebel division,
under Anderson, then becamed engaged. Our
troops drove the rebels from two ridges par
allel with the Rappahannock, gaining mile
and fifty prisoners, when Gen. Hooker ordered
them to retire, not wishing to bring on gen
eral engagement The rebels mistook our re-
tirement for a check, and followed rapidly.
On top OF the first ridge the rebels halted a
moment, gave "A yell, and came down on the
double quick, but were met by Sykes diyis-
ion, who poured in a terrible fire at very short
range The contest lasted three-quarters of
an hour. and extended to the cross road, where
twenty-five guns shelled the woods etiectually,
and the rebels ANONYMOUSLY retired.
During the afternoon the rebels made seve
raj attempts on our lines, but were repulsed.
At $50 Z. NJ, they made a desperate charge
to capture our battery commanding the Hank
road to Fredericksburg, but were handsomely
repuIsed by Geary, assisted by KNAPP and
Hamptons batteries, who double-shotted their
guns with grape and canister
During the night both our and the rebel
force built earthworks and abattis, and a battle
on Saturday, it was thought, would surely be
opened by the rebels.
LATER.
The Tribune has just issued an extra, 7.30
A. NJ, stating that our army has advanced;
that the left wing is behind fredericksburg;
the first line of rebel redoubts has been car
ried, and our troops are advancing on the sec
ond The rebels are concentrating on our
right wing at Chanceorville, where heavy fir
ing has been heard, indicating that the rebels
have been forced into fight on the ground Sc
lected by lighting Joe Hooker.
The following are the details in the Trbune's
extra
Our news by mail from the Rappahannock is
up to Sunday morning. At that time our left
wing was in possession of Fredericksburg, and
of the first line OF redoubts on the hill behind
it, and was feeling its way to the second line.
The river was crossed and the redoubts car
ried with great ease, and with very slight loss
of life. The rebels had marched away in the
direction of Charlottesville, ten miles above
Fredericksburg, to attack our right wing there
posted, leaving at first only 10000 men, and
subsequently not more than from 5000 to 1000
in their works, as was ascertained by recon-
noissance from Lows balloon.
A great portion of our Falmouth batteries
were engaged on Sunday with the rebel bat
teries firing across the river and city.
The firing. both of musketry and cannonad-
ing, on the right, in the direction of Chancel-
lorville, was very heavy. The enemy had
been forced to fight on the ground OF General
Hooker's choosing. as he promised his soldiers
in the general order, published this morning,
should be the case.
1t was believed in both wings that General
Stoneman's expedition to cut the railroad be-
tween the rebels and Richmond, he'd proved
successful, thus cutting OFT the only path Of
retreat.
So confident was Gen. Hooker at Falmouth
force had already commenced TO rebuild
bridge over the Rappalannock.
The troops are in the finest OF spirits, and
everything looks propitious.
The Herald has an extra giving dates up to
| A. NJ. Of Sunday, with the important state-
meut that the rebels stores hear Fredericks-
burg and ut Stonenan's Station had been
burned, and gives the following rumors: that
our right had captured 10 pieces of artillery,
hut fh..f Irish hriyabta had taken three rebel
batteries, that our cavalry were tearing up the
railroad tracks on the rebel lines, destroying
rebel property ,scrossing their country, carry
ing CONSERVATION and dismay TO the rebels !;
that our forces advanced mile yesterday, driv-
ing the rebels and are still driving them with
great slaughter.
Sunday, IL A. M.-There is heavy firing on
the right.
The Times correspondent, dating Friday ev-
eniny, four miles below Fredericksburg, states
that two of the rebel lines visible yesterday
have been withdrawn. probably to meet our
rear attack to which the rebels were bending
all their energies.
Another correspondent, dating Saturday
morning at eight o'clock, states that the firing
from our forces on the right, directly in the
rear of the rebels, can be distinctly heard
At the same time our troops are drawn up in
two lines of battle this side, while our batter
les were vigorously firing.
A Characteristic correspondent gives an ac-
count of daring reconnaissance by the 9th
New York cavalry towards Spottsylvania
Court House. in which Colonel McNidar was
killed, nearly all the officers were wounded,
and quite a number captured, by being sur
rounded by four rebel regiments.
The Herald prints the following editorially:
"There is strong probability OF truth in the
report that a battle commenced between the
forces under Mai. Gen. Hooker and the rebels
under Gen. Lee at about eight O'Clock on Sat
urday morning, on both the right and left Of
our army. 1t is stated that the cannonading on
the left was quite rapid Gen. Sedgwick was
engaged on the flats where General Franklin
fought, and the rebels were evidently deter
mined to offer an obstinate resistance. On the
right the cannonading was very light. The
rebels were falling back in that direction, or
else Gen. Hooker had not completed his ar
engagements for a vigorous attack
Rebel Communication with vicksburg Cut
OR-Escape of Marmaduke.
New YORK, May 4.
The Cairo, Ill.,, correspondent of the Times