Evening star., 1863-05-05
THE GREAT BATTLES ON THE
RAPPlHANN0CK.
ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY,
AND SUNDAY.
INTERESTING DETAILS.

From the correspondence of the New York
Times, Tribune, and Herald, VIC make MP the
following interesting details of the first three
days fighting across the Rappahannock:
Events of Friday.
About noon, the Fifth and Twelfth eorps
Gems neade's and Siocum's, advanced [froln
Chancellorsville] by separate roads towards
the city of Fredericksburg. Gen. Siocum's
corps moved to the right, and Meade's to the
left; the second division of this latter corps,
under Gen. Sykes, leading the advance. In
about an hours time heavy firing announced
that they had met the enemy. This continued
for upwards of three quarters of an hour,
gradually extending to our right wing when
orders were sent by Gen. Hooker from his
headquarters at Chancellors ville for the two
columns to fall slowly back. This command
was carried out in the most systematic and
regular manner.
The cause for this movement was the fact
that General Hooker had re eceiyed information
from his headquarters that the enemy had
thrown the greater part of his force over on
this side of the Notifications, ard had also re.
moved many OF the guns in the lower batteries,
and placed them in position at the upper end
of the town-thus indicatiog an intention Of
making an attack on us. He, therefore, sus.
pended this preliminary attack at snce, which
had been arranged a prelude to important
operations elsewhere, and rightly surmdsed
that il the enemy did really mean to attack ms
they would follow up our retirement At2
r M. he remaI ked: 81 think can make them
come out and fight me on my own ground" In
two hours the assertion was proven. The
enemy mlstook our voluntary retirement for q
check and followed us rapidly as we fell hack
After the return of the two columns every.
thing remained quiet until about four O. clock,
when the rebels attacked us in force on our
right, mile or SO from Chancellors vile an.
pearing In line OF battle in open field, 'front.'
ing dense wood. Our pickets retired before
them slowly, and our artillery opened vigor-
Gus fire of shell, which induced them to fall
back. Gen. Geary. of the second Division of
Slocums command, at this point stoulIy
maintained his position by an effective use of
artillery. With remarkable rapidity, they
commenced shelling our whole line extendius
back TO our rear, where General Howard was
stationed with the 18th Corps. The General
was making preparations for the fight Rifle
pits were quickly dug in the fields back OF
headquarters, about 800 yards from the road,
and heavy lines of skirmishers lay upon their
faces waiting the attack. The artillery practice
grew more lively each moment, and was
continued till night, when it ceased, with a
prospect, however, Of renewal next morning
Our total losses are not yet known. Wehad
about one hundred killed and wounded in
Gen. Sykes fight. Capt Marsh, of the l7th
regulars, was killed; Capt. Oyerton, of Gen
Sykes staff was wounded-not dangerously:
Lieut.. Wells, 18th regulars, wounded; Lieut.
Col walker, Assistant Ad lutant General to
Gen. Couch, was wounded by piece of she'll
in the arm-not seriously; Lieut.. Col. Morton,
133d New York, wounded, but not seriously:
Capt Steinagel, 6Sth New York, leg fractured
The entire operations Of the day indicated
that the enemy was engaged mainly in feeling
our lines, endeayoring to find weak point,
and to ascertain the strength of our position
and forces but he was repulsed at every point
While these operations were in progress on
the right (that is above Fredericksburg), the
position below the town was not uninterest-
ing. The two lines of battle which the enemy
showed on Thursday night, were no longer
visible, the troops doubtless having been with
drawn to fight our forces in the rear Their
skirmish line also looked as if it had been
thinned out, and to all appearances, the rebels
had 'sraked and scraned' together all their
forces to meet the rear attack. Our own troops
are stretched out in two lines of battle on this
side of the river. At intervals the rebels were
cheering vociferously, and rebel camp fires
appeared along their line.
Their forces could be seen all the forenoon
passing along the road on the brow of the crest
to the right, supposed to be Jackson's CORDS
Artillery, to the number of 40 or so pieces &C.
companied them, being distinctly seen and
counted.
Capt. FitZhue, who resided in an elegant
mansion on this side of the river, was killed
day before yesterday, and his remains sent
over. He was in the rifle pits when our forces
charged up the opposite bank OF the river.
Events of Saturday.
Early on Saturday morning the enemy com.
menced Smelling our troops about two miles
below Fredericksburg. A heavy fire was also
directed on our lower bridge, with the expecta-
tion, doubtless, of destroying it. Our guns on
the left returned the fire vigorously. Among
the batteries participating were Capt. Ricketts,
First Pennsylvania, Capt Thompson's Inde.
pendent battery, Capt. Edgell's First New
Hampshire, planted together on a small eleya-
ton. The fire temporarily slackened on both
sides, at about nine O'Clock.
Events of Sunday.
On Sunday morning, we are Informed, our
left wing was in possession of Fredericksburg
and OF the first line of redoubts on the hill de-
hind it, and was feeling its way to the second
line. The redoubts were carried with great
ease and with a very slight loss Of life The
Rebels had marched ascay in the direction of Chan
cpIl cS.SH a milo hnx E~oI 1fx.kv
to attack our right wing there posted, leaving
at first only 1900 men, and subsequently not
more than 5000 to 1000 in their works, as was
ascertained by reconnaissance from loves
balloon.
A great portion of our Falmouth batteries
we're engaged on Sunday with the rebel bat.
teries. Firing, both OF musketry and cannona-
ding, on the right, in the direction Of Chancel-
lorsyille, was very heavy. The enemy had
been forced to fight OR ground of Gen Hooker's
choosing as he promised his soldiers in the
general order, published this morning, should
be the case. It was believedin both wings that
Gen. Stonenan's 8 expedition to cut the railroads
between the rebels and Richmond had proved
successful, thus cutting off the only path of re-
treat. So confident was Gen. Hooker at Fal.
mouth of success in conformity with his orders
a force had already commenced to rebuild q
bridge over the Rappahannock. The troops
are in the finest spirits, and everything looks
propitious
w withdrawal of Wadsworth's Divison-
Mysterious Fires Behind Fredericksburg
Occupation of the Town by Federal
Troops.
FIRST ARMY CoRPs, May 3-It is not con.
traband information 10 state that the first di.
vision, under Gen Wads worth-the only part
Of the first corps that crossed-was withdrawn
from the south side of the Rappahannock du.
ring the artillery firing. Capt Sillman, Of
Troy, chief OF Acting Brig Gen. Phelps stan,
our pickets, and not q man was left
behind.
Last evening there was a brilliant fire in the
rear of Fredericksburg, which appeared to pro-
ceed from the burning of rebel encampments
There was another fire IN the rear Of Falmouth,
from the burning OF encampments below Stone.
mans station.
Fredericksburg was occupied this morning
about two O'Clock by our troops. The batteries
Din either side Of the river commenced playing
upon each other about O'Clock, and the roar
ing of cannon Was loud and prolonged.
of Rebel w areheuses and Yes.
seis al Mnrrells Inlet.
NEW YORK, May IA schooner which ar.
rived here to day from Port Royal reports that
she was boarded of Murrell's Inlet by boat
from the gunhoat Monticello, who reported
the steamer Braine that day entered the Inlet