Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-12
eAFELE 0K THE RAPPARAENocK..
Seven Days Fighting.
-
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER.
Oar Troops Compelled 70 Retire.

been 10 fever ofexcitement in regard to
the startling news from Tirginis
That there has been terrible battle is
now DO longer a matter of doubt, and the
following are the details as given by those
competent to gain correct information ::
Hooker's army commenced crossing the
RappahannoCk on Monday the 29l6 ult.,
in three columns, one below and two above
Fredericksburg, and by Wednesday morn
ing all were across. The movement was
accomplished with celebrity and without ac~
cident, and was so unexpected to the ene.
my that little opposition was made and
most of their pickets were surprised and
captured.
After crossing, the main column march,
ed offin the direction of ChaDoell,rviIle
which is II miles southwest of Fredericks-
burg, on the Rapidan so that. instead of
attacking the rebels in front, it was now
manifest the Intention was to attack their
left flank, and threaten their rear, and to
cut # their communication with Rich
mrnd. A. the same time that the main
army thus moved of to the west of Freder-
ickshnrg Sloneman's cavalry started 10
the same direction. bnt on much wider
circuit, proposing to strike the rail road
much nearer Richmond. A large force
under Sedgwick was in front Of the town,
and another down tLe river on the rebel
right. .. er.s-
Wednesday appears to have been spent
in getting the different corps and divisions
in pr sitiOn, and in occasional skirmishes in
which the rebels generally fell back
Some sou !ebel prisoners were taken in
these affairs.
Thursday, the same kind of work, with a
brief, formal observation of the fast day
On Friday afternoon, the lst inst, the
right wing moved out from Characteristic
where Hooker had now made his head
quarters, towards Fredericksburg aad soon
encountered the enemy. After fighting
an hour, the enemy commenced slowly to
retire, our troops following, until they
were recalled BY Hooker. As they fell
back, the enemy turned about and follow
ed until within mile or SO of Chancellor
vile, when our batteries opened on them
and they retired.
Saturday there was considerable heavy
fighting. the operations comprising q SER
les of attempts, on the part of the rebels to
break HoOker's line at various places,
which were in part successful only in one
place-on the right. This was held by
Towards corps, composed of the divisions
of ShuEz, SteiDwehr, and DeviD, mostly
Germans. They were attacked BIZ Stone
wall jackson with some 40 900 men, and
after the second or third fire, fed panic
stricken. The wing, aud indeed the whole
army was only saved from a route by this
piece Of cowardice, by throwing General
Breg's corps (IIooker's old corps) into the
breach, by which the tide of rebel success
was stayed. But .he disaster defeated
other important movements which might
have secured to Hooker the victory that
day.
Sunday there was heavy fighting again
along the whole line. The rebels made
a fierce attack on our right, which the
night before they had partially fanked and
got into the rear of. The fight lasted here
some six hours, during which the slaugh-
ter was awful among the rebels and heavy
on our side. But our army by change
of position had again got the rebels a.
round into our front, and gained ground
| on them.
AT the same time the corps left in front
OF fredericksburg, made a charge upon
the enemy's works there. and by noon had
taken two lines of entertainments on the
enemy's left, several batteries, and some
1000 prisoners. Thus on Sunday night
matters looked hopeful. Hooker had COM
PEELED Lee to change front and was facing
him from the south, while Sedgwick held
the heights of Fredericksburg on the left of
his rear.
Monday there was again heavy fighting
on Hooker's right, in which it became APP
parent that the rebels had been reinforced.
The reports are very indefinite Of this days
operations but it is clear that Hooker held
bis own on the right with difficulty, while
the corps that were expected to take the
works south of Fredericksburg and then
fall on Lees rear, failed to accomplish the
job.
On Tuesday Gen. Hooker, after holding
a council Of corps commanders, decIded
that 1t was unsafe for the army to remain
longer on the south side of tho Rappahan-
mock, aud on Tuesday night commenced @
retreat to the north side. One account
states that bloody battle was fought on
Tuesday, resulting in Hooker's being driv
en- across the Rappahannock while, &C
cording to others, no fighting of coDse-
quence took place on Monday, and the pas
sage of the stream was quietly commenced
with hopes of effectiDg the movement IN
observed b. the enemy. Heavy eaunona,
ding, however, was heard on Wednesday
morning in the direction Of the ford, but
no statement is made in relation to the
damage, if any. received by the Federals
The river was very mush swollen, threat
ening the destruction of the pom oons.--
The Federal dead were left On the field uu-
buried and great many of ourswouuded
fell into the enemy's hands.