Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-05


WARRENroN JUNCTION, April q, 1868.
T. WA proposed during the past winter to collect the
,vslrv force of the Army Of the Potomac from Tho
Tere1t divisions to which they were detailed, anC
corcantrate Them under one leader. Gen. Hooker
Win the NapoleOnic knowledge OF men which he has
shown in the selection Of subordlnaes, nominated Ueh
Soneman for the position officer Who from natural
ide and long experience in the Western Territories
= scLnowIedeed TO possess no superior in the army
~, 5,s;on was speedily carried out Pleasanton,
iii, Gregg Buford, with their forces, we're ranged
nnSer his command; corps Generals who had aired
Their dignity with long trains oil oodyguards, were re-
dced IN stumptaIed pOtentates OF twenty; DIVISION
Ce,Is we're remorseessly curtaied to six; and Brig
H. moor fellows, were vouchsaed but three TO act
ss orderlies aud run their errands'
=" -, nv the President was held early during
A. srssert month 10 This splendid body Of men, and
n, the Is instant large portion OF them sareu, Win
TWO batteries of artillery under Major Robertson up,
an secret expedition, beaming with nope, ana prouu
of the magnificent organization to which they were
st,,cbsd To the regulars, General Stoneman urged
TO- thew should prove the superior discipline they
I;oS aver volunteers. To the latter, he conceded
he unsurpassed efficiency Which several OF them mad
,rtsined and hoped much from Their emulaton. Inc
nrt = mas properly long been silent upon TINS uhueI
t,t;rg lint Philadelphia paper having impauenuy
5,Is,d certain of its movements, reticence is no
80 necessary It's definite object was known ouL
=, So f,w and this was subectto the modification OF
;,,rostances and Conformation received No wagons
80 - beyond few ambulances. Packed mules
,-.;,d tbs spnplies and mud was no obstacle. On
Tburs5ay General Stoneman arrived az beverly foIu,
sccompanied by Averilfs dvisioni Gregg lay oehinu
-, Rnford with the regulars, and Rushs Lancers
- ioor down at Rappahannock bridge, while COL
n,is v,i,h brigade, was ordered on Tuesday even
-; -, .ross at Ffeeman's Ford the following morning
=, drive the enemy nom their rlhe pits, move
49, and do the same from Beverly Ford, thus clearing
-. ~. H.. Co.
the way for Averil, Gregg and the Commanding 1ene
raj Buiord was ready at given time 70 erect MS
own crossing. I,..L up n I'm,
soss and furious rain retarded his object until 8
A AZ on Wednesday. Passing Freeman's Ford with
-, inierruptiou be proceeded to Hazel river, cap
fred EIGHT men at Milford Mills Ford and then toreach
BEVERLEY Ford, made flank movement OF Two ana
half niles with two squadrons from the SIn new torA
nd third Indiana under MAYOR Pope, covering his right
AMI The latter squadron being subsequently directed
% move on the ford and capture the enem IN their
anits found they had escaped and were then pushed
81 administers into the woods ip the rear. The Kappa
hammock swelling rapidly an order came from General
Stopeman TO recross. Within an hour after doing so
tb liver became unfordabe. BY the miscarriage OF an
orlv the skrmishing squadron of the Sd Indiana
tired too late and lost Lieutenant, with nineteen men,
az nrsoners During lul Of the subsequent series OF
storms Col Davis moved his brigade to Liberty, thence
90 Waterloo aud secuted the country to Hazel river,
Little Washington Orleans ana Shein, khing OF tue
enemy wounding s. capturing 81, with officer and
so horses aud losing himself but one Lieutenant slight
Nv wounded Previous to his march on Tuesday he had
detached Two souadrons of the Sth Illinois, under Capt
F,rpsworth to Warrenton and White Sulphur Springs.
Tbey drove a company Of the 4th Virginia from the
former place killing woundng and capturing H. The
lt Rhode Island rendered gallant and effective service
with the other regiments under Col Davis and the con-
duct of the whole brigade received high eQmmendaton
ANY crossing OF the Rappahannock has since been ut
tery out Of the question.
Even the small creeks throughout the neighborhood
have been at times too swollen for passage and commu
nicaton could only be kept open by swimming. After
waiting at several points for an abatement Of the wa
ters we arrived here by way Of Warrenton, on the
22nd nst for supplies which, through the timely dis
position Of the General and bis Quartermaster and
Commissary Lieutenant Colonies Sawtele and Austin,
met Us at the moment Of arrival Such punctuelty
has been hitherto almost unheard of, but constant
practice has rendered every department o. the army
now comparatively perfect in its details.
We shall doubtless move at the earliest practicable
moment, but probably with new. plans. The enemy
have become aware Of our proximity, have changed
their positions and prepared reception.