Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-06-13
General EEOOl<cr's Army Again
Across the Iln

The Second Division of the Sixth Army
Corps crossed the Rappahannock at noon
yesterday, on pontoon bridges laid by de-
tachmcnt of the Engineer Corps The OBJ
!ect was reconnaissance in force to ascertain
the motions and position of the enemy.
The Rebel sharp-shooters made some OPP
position to the placing of the pontoons, but
this was quickly overcome, although we
lost one or two men in the operation.
After the Division had crossed there was
considerable skirmishing, and the rife-pits
occupied by the Rebel rihemcn, were finally
carried and some thirty or forty prisoners
captured.
Among the killed was Captain Cress, of
the Fifticth New York.
The Rebels still hold Fredericksburg.
General Longstrcct is there, and shows a
strong front at the upper fords of the Rap
pahannock. 1t is believed that large part
of the Rebel force has gone in the direction
of Gordonsvillc, but with what intention
can only be surmiscd. Our army is in good
spirits, and ready for II move forward at an
hours notice.
ARMY OF TIE PoToMAc. June 6th.-Col
Kilpatrick's cavalry brigade arrived last
evening from Yorktown via Urbana and the
Northern Peak. Since leaving Urbanna
they have gathered five hundred horses and
mules, thirty-fvc vehicles, and $50 contra
bands, of whom all but 80 arc valuable field
hands.
Major Stokes of the Forticth Virginia,
Lieut. Wilhelm, of the Baltimore Light
Artillery, and number of the Rebel Signal
Corps were also taken prisoners and brought
here.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAC, June g. Special
to the New York Times. Yesterday at
noon, very unexpectedly to everybody, the
Engineer Brigade WAS ordered to the Rap
pahannock with pontoon bridges, and or
dcred to proceed with the construction of
two bridges across the river at the point
known as Franklin's Crossing, below the
mouth of Deep Run and one mile below
fredericksburg. The batteries of the Sixth
Corps, under charge of Colonel Tompkins,
were likewise ordered to cover the engineers
in their work, and lIowcs Division of In
tantry was ordered to the spot to support
the engineers and push across rs soon as the
bridges were laid
The only Rebel force visible was double
line of pckets, who loungcd about very
innoccntly, watching our operations closely.
About five O'Clock the engineers commenced
unloading the pontoons, whcreupon the
Rebels hoppcd into their rihe-pts, and
began picking off our men. Our artillery,
twenty guns or more, Immediately opened
with shell, and for two hours kept up Wig
orous cannonadc, with but little effect how
ever, upon the sharp-shooters. 1t became
necessary to storm the rihc-pits, and at half
past six o'clock the Twenty sixth New York
Col. Morrison, of Col. Grants brigade, was
ordered into the boats.
They at once pushed across under heavy
fire. and, landing on the opposite side
rushed upon the ritlc-pts with cheers. The
Rebels vacated ar ran. Our men instantly
deployed as skirmishers, and in a short time
some sixty of the Second Florida were
brought in rs prisoners. Other regiments
of the Vermont brigade soon followed in
boats until nearly the whole of two brigadcs
were over. As soon as the firing ceased
the engineers began the work on the bridges
and Mt 8 p! NJ had one completed and the
remainder Of Howe's Division passed over.
Our casualties were five killed and twenty
five wounded.
Our forces advanced cautiously across the
plain, dcploying skirmishcrs very handsome
ly the right resting on Deep Run, and the
left in the vicinity of the Bernard House.
BY dark they had reached the Bowling
Green road, and posted pickcts for the
night, well out towards the foot of the tim
bered crcsts on which the enemy have their
strong intrenchmcnts. The Rebels were not
discovered in force last night, though the
prisoners stated that we should meet them
if we kept on advancing This morning
enough has been ascertained to locate the
greater portion Of the cnemy's force.
We took nearly one hundred prisoners,
including one Major.
Our Crossing took the enemy greatly by
surprise.
During the night General Lee marched
two corps back from the vicinity of Salem
Church to position in front of our lines.
General Longstrcet's Corps has reinforced
the troops in fredericksburg and slept
there last night. This morning they moved
| in southcrly direction. BY this bold
movement we have demonstrated to GER
tainty what became of the enemy, besides
divining his purposes,
Our men behaved most gallantly, cheering
as they crossed, for the third time, this his
toric river. The movement has thrilled the
army with excitement and impatience.