The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-12

the balloon, to the effect that no camps were
visible over the river; that the enemy had
evacuated their stronghold-they had
Folded their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently passed away"
Later another rumor reached me that the
bridges were completed and some of our
troops had crossed. Riding to Falmouth and
the river bank opposite Fredericksburg dis
covered the pontoon boats lying idle in the
sun, and the Rebel pickets stronger than had
ever seen them. But what had become of the
artillery had seen. moving during the fore
noon? These brazen throats had not yet re-
vealed their whereabouts. Concluding that
the balloon must have been wrong in its state
ments, or that Gen. Hooker had reason to
doubt its veracity, l resolved, as the day was
far spent, to go home and await the coming of
events. At the moment of arriving there |
heard the sound of guns far distant, and with
an appetite for something to write about,
sharpened by a long-continued period of fast
ing in this respect, + rode Off determined to
discover what the firing meant.
turned my horse in the direction of Fitz
Hugh House, a large brick mansion facing the
river, used by us as a hospital and after sharp
ride of about Is minutes reached there, and
to my surprise saw before me only the green
valley looking almost as on many Sabbath
afternoon it must have looked before the war
A man stood by tree looking through tel
escope, and to my question, "Is Sedgwick
crossing?" came the thrilling answer:
HE is, SIR"
"Where?' / asked
"Yonderr
looked, and off in the direction of Fred
ericksburg, In some broad fields on our side
the stream, beheld sea of gray-bue smoke,
saw sudden flashes come fiOm it. and curling
clouds, whittier and paler than the rest, float off
and vanish, and following each fash, | heard
the dull far-away thunder of artillery The
sky above was covered with dark rain-clouds
wove into ansnfinitude of purple shades,
reaching away to the horizon, where belt of
saffron formed glowing background to the
rebel hills looming grand and sullen in the
distance.
Wishing to gain nearer view of what oc-
CURED, rode rapidly in the direction of the
contest. taking a short cut across fields and
along by-paths. At length | reached hill
above where our artillery was posted, afiording
a magnificent view of the whole scene. Our
troops 1.-THE I'd Division of the 9th Corps,
Brig. Gen. A. z. Howe) were resting in the
plain below, while our artillery. there also,
was engaged in throwing shells with uner-
ring accuracy at a line of Rebel rifle-pits you
could see every one of them burst above it,
and hear their shrll whistle as they blew
through the air. Still the butternuts lurked
within. There was a stir among our troops
III tHe Heius DelOW me. ana regiment on the
double quick started for the river. 1t is the
9th Vermont boys from the Green Mountain
State. This was what is called Frankin's
Crossing. Over they went in the boats.
They'll clean 'em out" heard whispered all
round Straight for the rife-pit they made,
charging it, and ont went Johnny Reb" run
ming for dear life. some back toward the Bow
ling Green road, but most of them to the left,
where stands the ''Birnard House." At these
our pickets let fly, and well directed shot
from. one of our guns bursts right among
them. killing or woundng two, for you could
see them fall.
Then our men followed them close up, flank
ing and finally surrounding the Barnard house
where the Rebs" took refuge. A few volleys
ensued: but soon the enemy gave it up, and
themselves. Before dusk the dark
uniforms of our men could be distinguished be-
yond the Bowling Green Road, about mile
and half out from the river, and at this house
several regiments had crossed, formed in line OF,
battle. and were marching to the support of our
skirmishers. Night came at last, and with it
every thing became quiet. Tomorrow will de-
eide whether Lees army has gone to succor
Vicksburg, or is lying in wait beyond the al
ready historic hills of Fredericksburg