The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-05-12
TIE LATE BATTLES AT AND NEAk
FREDERICKSBURG, VA.
rhe LincoInites Defeated.

cused, as it is impossible to avoid them ana give
all the particulars:
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG,
Saturday, May 2, 1868.
The Lincoln army commenced crossing the
Ranpahannock River on Wednesday the 18th OF
April On this Saturday, morning, the roar OF
artillery from above, apparently at or behlna
Ranks ford, was echoed from batteries the riv-
er near Hamilton's Crossing Before going to the
latter point and listening to "the music OF Its roar
On both sides of me, let me give you yesterdays
news | learned that the heavy ,cannonading yes
terday afternoon occurred about 7 miles above
fredericksburg on the Plank road. There was
little fighting beyond skirmishing, the enemy
keeping close in the woods. The fighting Wednes-
day hear was done mainly by the 5th and 9th Lou
isiana, and the 18th Georgia. 1t Col. Henley, OF
the 9th, was taken prisoner with IS of his regi
ment wounded and missing.
They attacked the enemy near PratPs house.
The 5th Louisiana held the river road opposite
Barnard's An officer told me he thought there
were 900 Yankees on this side of the river, max
ing earhworks, and had two cannon at least across
On Thursday some half dozen of the 9th Louisi-
ana killed by the premature explosion ofone
Uf shefis.
A wounded soldier who left the fight early yes
terday afternoon tells me that Andersons division
engaged the enemy and drove them back. The
enemy were easily driven back at first, but being
reinforced by division of regulars, they fought
better, but were driven three miles. Rhodes men
reinforced Anderson's. 1t was not general fight
It occurred near wooden church, where the river
road enters the Plank road, about seven miles
above Fredericksburg.
103 A M.-Gen. Early opened on the Yankee
batteries on this side and the river. The
artillery duel was severe for some time. One
tilieryman on our side, Virginian, had his leg
shot off, and three others were wounded The
enemy first moved down the river After the hea-
Wv fire above had continued some time, the enemy
turned and moved large forces at double-quick up
the river, and withdrew nearly all their pickets.
Before that they thick and close almost as in
line of battle. From above hear Lee drove the
enemy five miles. Wilcoxs brigade left Banks
ford and were sent out as skirmshers, but could
not catch up with the Yankees, who were demon
allied and retreated rapidly beyond Decker's, two
Ill lies below Charlottesville. At midnight they
returned to Banks ford, where the enemy had ap-
peared to be preparing to on pontoon bridges
The Yankees crossed at United States ford bv
permission, suppose. Two brigaGes, Feather
stones and another, retired on their approach
The citizens past whose houses the enemy retreat
ed said they much demoralized. Stuart and
Fitzhugh Lee were about, taking prisoners, &c.
II A. MA courier, just arrived, reports that
Jackson has got bet,cecn the Yankees and the riv-
Lee and Jackson were both the field all
night. About 100 prisoners were at headquarters
last night. Jackson's old division was on the
right and Andersons on the left.
The casualties are reported very few. Two hun
droI and fifty prisoners were taken in a squad A
report from Fredericksburg says the enemy cross
cd last night at Stanfords ford, one mile above
Burk's ford and got into the fight near Decker's
yesterday evening, an0 were driven back to the
river
Gen. Malone lost about 100 killed.
PLACES AND DISTANCES
Charlottesville contains but single house.
aud is in Spotsylvania county, Va. 1t is ten miles
northwest of Fredericksburg. Wilderness is five
miles beyond Charlottesville. The United States
Ford is the Rappahannock, eight miles above
Fredericksburg Two miles above this is the
mouth of the Rapidan. Ely's ford, on the Rapidan
miles above Ely's.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
From the Richmond Sentinel of the 5th
awe have again to thank Almighty God for a
great Uictory," writes Gen Lee to the President,
as appears in his despatch in another column
The telegraph has carried the news all over the
Confederacy, and to-day whole people are indeed
lifting their hearts to Heaven in joyous gratitude,
Lha1 IL dSaiu Siohueu OuI aTulS Win glorious
success, and sent confusion and disaster upon our
foes. Thank God
Without needless REPETITION of what we have al
ready published, and without attempting to supply
any deficiency in our present information with
tances, We will state that the enemy commenced
crossing at fredericksburg aud skirmshing there
on Wednesday morning; that it soon became per-
fectly apparent that the strength of Hookers at
tack was invested in flank movement, designed
to turn our left and gain our rear; that Gen Lee
responded to this new line of approach of the ene-
my, and met him in the vicinity of Chanccllors
vile, ten miles Northwest of Fredericksburg.
On Friday evening heavy skirmsLing CON-
menced, resulting in driving the enemy back for
several miles
On Saturday the battle commenced early We
learn from Gen, Lees despatch that Gen Jackson
on that day maneuvred so as to gain the rear of
Hooker while two of Longstreets divisions "peg-
ged away at him in front. Thus caught between
the upper and the neither milestone, the enemy
suffered very severely, as may well be imagined.
Five thousand prisoners are represented as having
been taken on that day, besides an enormous list
OF killed and wounded. Hooker's army driven
by jackson, were pressed down from the Wilder
ness, to near Chance louisville, (four miles, when
night brought its truce.
The next morning, Sunday the battle was re-
sumed Hooker was driven from allhis positions,
and made for the river by his flank Here he was
crossing at last accounts, with our victorious army
pressing upon his heels or the disasters which
attended, hia e~ossino undar o, oh