Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-05-06
GENeL HooKEB's ADVANCE.
Details of the Movement.


thu following:
~-On Monday morning. at five O'Clock, the
llth. Maj. Gen. Howard's corps; the 18th,
Maj. Gen. Slocum's and the 5th, Maj Gen
Meade's corps. struck their tents and march
ed westward on the several roads leading to
| krily's ord, distant from the line of the A
qnia creek and Fredericksburg railroad about
tyenfy five miles The 1lth corps reached
Relly's ford at IL O'Clock on Tuesday morn
/ ing.
I A brigade from this corps, commanded by
Col. Bushbeck, had been guarding the ford
ever since the advance of the cavalry two
weeks ago The position had been we'll recon
noitered and hence immediate preparations
were made for laying the pontoons.
! The position is an admirable one for the
exercise of little strategy. Marsh Run
| empties into the river just Glow the fords
after stealing its way round high bluff
| The pontoon boats were moorcd in this
creek behind the bluff; in seventeen boats
255 men from the 73d Pennsylvania volun.
teers and the l5ith New York regiments.
suddenly darted from the shadow of the
hill, and pushed vigorously across the
river, and siezed the bank. The rebel
piekets, about twenty in number, attempted
to fire, but their. powder being wet succeeded
only in swapping few caps at the mcn in the
boats
,Skirmishers were deployed to the right,
| left and front, but the enemy was now nowhere
| to be found. The remainder of the two
reg i'm enis crossed in boats while the bridge
bnilding was pushed forward with a most
commendable vigOr. Early in the evening
the l1th corps commenced crossing, and the
| 18th bivouacked on the commanding bluffs
that surround the ford.
On Tuesday morning, long before the day
had dawDed, the tramp of feet was again
, heard on the floating way, and. when the gray
light ofmorning rose on the scene, long black
lines were projecting themselves in radia from
the pontoon launching, and the plain beyond
the river was soon covered with moving mass
es OF men.
AT SIX o'clock Gen. Storeman's cavalry
corps arrived at the bridge, and commenced
! crossing. Following these came the 9th
corps, the l2th having already crossed.
The wagon trains were all sent back from
Kelly's ford, and parked near Banks ford,
and it was evident that connection would be
forced from Banks ford to the troops from
Kely's ford. From eleven till one O'Clock,
irregular firing heard in the direction of
Germania on the Rapidan, and it is supposed
that the enemy was there endeayoring to
check the rapid march OF the national troops
though nothing Trustworthy has yet reached us. |
At twelve O'Clock Tuesday, the camps |
of the first corps. Major General Reynolds;
the Sd, Major General Sickles, and the 9th, |
Major General Sedgwiek, were abandoned, |
aud the troops were put in motion. When |
the day light broke on Wednesday morning.
national brigades had surprised, surrounded |
and captured the enemy's pickets and re-
serves, and the astonished rebels behed two
bridges connecting the hostile shores of the
Rsppahannock. four miles below Fredericks,
burg
As at Keily's ford, every thing was in read
mess, and the first notice the rebel out-posts
had of what was going on, was the approach
OF the boats flied with men. They fired a
volley at random, wounding some twenty men
of the 10Th Pennsylvaa volunteers.
The success OF the expedition in boats was
so complete o prevent an alarm. The lay
ing of the bridges, though in the very face of
the enemy, was, therefore, carried TO compile
lion without his knowledge.
The hazy atmosphere of the night was most
Iavorabls for the work. Two bridges were
aid near the same crossiug-one by detsch-
nent of regulars, and the other by volunteers.
After this a third bridge was constructed. i
A sufficient force to hold the bridges was
marched over aud placed in position, after
which the crossing ceased for the day. The
several commands on this side were advan-
ageously posted to await further orders.
Two miles further down the river Gem Rey-
loids, with the first corps, constructed
,rdge in the face of the enemy's rife pits,
md effected crossing. Tie resistance was
stubborn, but of short duration. The fire of
he artillery was too rapid and severe for the
.nemy, and he wisely abandoned the earth
Sorks and fed. leaving in the hands of par ,
y who crossed in boats 81 prisoners from the t
9th Georgia and 9th Louisiana, attached TO
ackson's command. The prisoners report
Jackson as commanding the right wing ofthe /
ebel army.
Yesterday the second, (Couch's) corps I
ook position in the rear of Banks's Ford
nth full facilities for crossing his own corps
nd as many as might be ordered to follow g
i'm. A good road was constructed between I
anks's and United States Fords, and only d
rders were needed TO put in harmonious mo-
ion all the departments of this great army. q
Later inte llIgeDce brings the cheering news