Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-21
From the Charleston Mercur

BATTLES ON The RApPAHANyoCK,-T
TRIAL OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BE
PORTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, Sc, Sc. &c
We have received late Northern papers, bringing Us date
up TO last Monday the llh We gather from them the
lowing summary of news:
CAMPAIGN ON TIE RIPPABA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cr rue VERY
FreHr1Ea-THE OF ATFACK-rHK OUTLINE CT EAo1
DAY ePEKATIoEs-THE " DIsGRACgFUL PANIC " OF TE
ELEVENTH coRPs--assERAL HOOKER BADLY UsED Up.
The New ork World has interesting letter detailing
In connected order, tbs various movements mar
operations Of the weeks Sighting about Fredercksbu
Inc accounts we have hitherto received through the
ern papers have been confused and agmentary, and iii
following review puts in brief and alligble form
operations OF Rockers army from the time of it's sd
to is retreat across the river 1t is too, by far the
candid account have yet the envy
respondent writes:
tions Of the Army OF the Reppabannock upon the
OF which many had looked with hope and al with anxiety
nave enoeo IN complete failure. Commencing with the
most 1aterng mises of cheering and decisive victor
it has rermit ste d i'll detest-in disaster.
The confused and fragEentay accounts al eady publish
eo can give 30 ade quate realization of events which TIE
past nine days have developed and resume in
ficts alone convey a idea we're
.uccessfu how lar we were defeated and the Causes OF
the present result as far they be d. erned.
The difficulties of the position in which the army was
placed are too well knowIto need much explanation &
the enemy fer their defence To carry this posi- ion by
front attack in the face of such obsa les simply
above below these ks would abandon
ment of the present base OF supplies q1ia landing
the enemy Snd possibly tai TO take adv nage
How then could the difficulties Of the position
position 2 TIE following 10 have been the plan
which adopted, and which great degree sue
ce sfGl.
portion of the army, about half of it, cross the
river Fredericksburg pretend renew The
tempt II which Burnside had been prev full
and accomplish two objects-frst hold the remy's
or that point; ard second, protect counun
supplies while the hal of the army thou
make crossing above the Notifications and sweeping
down wi the greatest rapdity to he of Ere ercks
burg, take strong position and hold it until they
rentormed by the portion OF the army engaged making
lie fent, which withdraw fr m D sion take
the bridges to the point OF the river which had been
covered by the faux movement, and the whole army
thus to be in the The
following outline OF each days operations will show to
what extent this bold and hazardous plan has proved
cesfu and in what degree ami Tor what has
suited so unfortunately.
MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
On Monday, the 26th, was commenced the execution OF
ordered to march with eight days ratloas to Kes
Ford near the Oronge and Alexander Railroad General
sloeum OF the Twelfth orps, was placed in command,
ant part of executing the flank movement had reached The
mock Tuesday night, Also three other corpsthe First
Third and Sxh-were sent to Frankns Crossing. three
miles below to be ready to undertake the
Ford on Wednesday morning.
The enemy were evidently not prepared to resist the
cross at either point and the affair well aged
both divisions OF the army had established themselves
the bank of the river and covered these
without any serious opposition by the enemy General
sedgewick, who commanded the three corps of tho left
wing made except enough to attract
the enemy and prevent them from turning upon the
works in command of General Stoneman General HOOK
had personally supernteDded the passage OF the troops
at Kleys Ford, and returned while they pushed
wards the Rapdan at Germana Mills whore they crossed
successfully and made some progress beyond before We'd
nesday night.
THURSDAY.
SedgWck still eatened the enemy and held them
and took his position the plank road the enemy
line of retreat towards Gordsnsve at Charlottesville
moved to the United States Ford aud crossed to
join General Slocum. General Hooker also rejoned and
took command of the four thus ated in the
OF Fredericksburg and the line OF the
retreat 1t time for the detachment to take the
defence and hold their position Until the other corps should
join them and the army thus united be enabled to meet
al the forces which the enemy might bring against them
Thursday night there sharp work both sides to out
MAJ euvre the other The enemy had learned with
sufficient certainty that large force their in
the direction of and that Stonemsns
airy greatly endaDg aring their railroad communioa-
tion and hey moving accordingly away tom sedg
wick toward the of Hooker between Charlottesville
and tbs Rspdan by the roads at the south Of the plank
road, which was in our possession While leaving sedg
wicks front the enemy made the usual demonstrations
camp fires, concentrating there, and similar devices
were resOrtod to on side But neither deceived
the other, for both moving away and aide a
portion of the bridges taken up Immediately, aud the
Third Corps moved all night towards the United States Ford
to join with General Hooker as CanceOrsyIlie.
While the First and Third Corps moving from toe
LETT wing join General Hooker st ChBnI ellosvie and
while Jackson taking CrCultOus route to reach
OF General lines between Chance iosvc and
the Rspidap wo dvlsions-Sykss OF tie 5h orps and
Williams Of the 12th--pushed to the of
Fredericksburg, skrDshing and fighting with the
who sight resistance that direction. he enemy
thus drIven before them for four mi when General
Hooker for reas9n ordered them TO fa back and
join lines Chanceorev B., night his army
concentrated except the Sixth Corps, and readT
forward movement to the rear Of Heights
The main body Of the enemy had now moved foGl
Fredericksburg,
tack army lie right, in direction from which. s
beaten they could successful y retreat and from which II
was hardly expected they would meet u.s.
General Hooker occupied the day in awaiting the attack
of the enemy which evidently expected The
of the enemy seemed to that they
ating and "a The main line of
pied by our forces that ire conf
IDENTIFY expected What the surprise, then, to lind
5tonsw all jackson, Saturday afternoon upon
treme light AID rear between charlottesville and Gerna
Mills furlCus and desperate attack made
and the front of our ne hch was held by the Eleventh.
Corps almost ms anty broken and the peic struck
in uit cO1fUS,oa EItk and without nusaets hats
aud coats rushed headony f. ON uuder fire down only
road which led to the ges The flying Germans came
dashg the fed IL crowds stampe"lDg and INNING
as only men do ran convinced
is awaiting them. that ave Ity
do justice to tie scene thai followed IL was my lot 10 be
the centre or at field when panic burst upon
NJ ay never be witness another such scene On
hand solid column of infantry reLreatng at double
quick; on he other was a del of beings who
lying their legs could carry them followed up
by the rebels pcarng their voeys III upon US
cavalry horses left deress the fret dschalg from
The rebels dahing fra ideally about in all directions;
batteries fyiI from the field battery wagons, anbu
ances horses, men, cannon, csissons-a jumbled AM
umbIed together iu inextricable massand the
Serious Gre Of the rebels still pouring upon them To add
the of the occasion there but OF
escape the feld and that through little neck
ravne washed out by SCOTS Towards this
confused plunged headlong. For moment seem ID
10 no power could the frightul calamity that
threatened the entire army On the panic stricken
crowd terrified artillery riders sparring and flashing their
their utmost ambuances upsettng and being
dashed to pieces against and stumps horses dashn
the field men flying and crying with alarHl,a per