Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-05-09
@ HEERING NEW s.


been OF more agreeable character than
anything that has ,rsuspired Of late. II
has, however, been quite mesgre 10 smouut,
evidently having been pruned down by
Government censorship. The one great
fact, Of the crossing Of the Rappahanncck
by the Potomac army appears to be an es
tablished one. The movement was begun
By three corps, the Eleventh, under Major
General Howard; the Twelfth, under Ma
ior General Slocum, and the Fifth, under
Major General Meade, marched from FsL
month on Monday, arriving at Kelly's
Ford, about twenty Ave miles distant, on
Tuesday. The rebel pickets were surpri'
ed, . bridge thrown across the Rappshan.
mock, and the Eleventh Corps was over the
river before dark The Twelfth Corps
made the passage during the night, Stone
mars Cavalry Corps came up aud crossed
ct 9 next morning, and the Fifth Corps
followed immediately after. The cavalry
Instantly dashed forward, aiming FOR the
eebel line Of communication between Fred
ericksburg and Richmond The Eleventh
and Twelfth Corps moved without delsy OH
Germauis, aud crossed the Rapidsn at that
point at O'Clock OH Wednesday afternoon
The Fifth Corps passed the same river fur
cher down st 8. neither column having met
any considerable resistance.
Meantime the LIST Corps under Major
General Reynolds, the 81 Corps, under
Major General Sickles. and the 9th Corps,
under Major General Sedg~ick, starting at
eoon on Tuesday. moved down the Kappa.
hammock, and in The course of the night.
ibe Sd and 9Th Corps bridged the river
four miles below Fredericksburg. and threw
across sufficient detachmen,s to hold the
opposite heads Of tae brldges The lst
Corps succeeded 10 the same stteInpt two
miles further down, being opposed by rebel
sbarpshooters in rife pits, but silencing
t6em with artillery.
When these two movements had been &C
eomplished, the three corps that crossed at
Kelley's Ford being already on the march
foc ,be Rnpdnn, the 2i Corps under Gen.
Couch, SEE .uk's Ford, six miles above
Frederickburg. on Wednesday morning,
opened a road beiweeu there and United
States Ford, ten miles beyond. aud without
crossing in force 10y in position for move.
nent the moment they were needed.
During Wednesday, then. the llth, 18th
and 5lh Corps reached aud crossed the Ra-
pidsn, the 81 occupied Banks Ford, the
81 and 6: lay four miles below Freder-
ieksburg, aud the lst six miles below,
threatening q movement on that fank also.
The enc my might we'll be at loss TO know
on which side the blow Was about to fall
His pickers had been surrounded and cap
tured at oil points. and the whole operation
had been silently and suddenly effected aud
abe real movement skilllulIy Disguised.
On Thursday morning the scene changes.
The uosomeui down the river was fein'.
Late Wednesday night the 81 Corps, which
was a. the four mile bridge, marched
strsight up the river again and joined the
Second 8, Banks Ford; and early Thurs,
day morning the FIRST Corps followed 10 its
path. aud also halted at the same Ford s.
that on Thursday morning there we're three
corps across the Rspidan, marching
straight on the rear of Fredericksburg, by
way Of Charlottesville, q village twelve
miles distant from that city. aud three more
ct Banks Ford, with the road to United
States Ford open, aud Communications e>-
tablisbed with the advancing columns--al
six 10 position to move directly upon the
rebel line OF communication, and the Sew
enta Corps still With 9 formidable display
Of force threatening to cross below aud as
sail the other flank OF the enemy.
Lee had no alternative but to march out
OF Fredericksburg, or to fight with the Ger
taiuty that his whole army, II defeated.
vouid be destroyed or cap iured And iu
any event S;onemsn with his cavalry corp.
Is in the rear Of any position to which Lee
can have possibly fsllan back.
Lee must 6ght with what forces he al
ready has. for no reinforcemen,s can react
him from Richmond, If the communication,
with that point have been, as is expected
en-. oh. before Hooker falls on his isolated
forces.
Lee has beyond question been deceived
Hacked. and probably forced from his posi-
tion--in other words out generated. 1t /
OF coarse but the beginning of the cam
paign which is to test the genius and task
abe resources OF General Hooker, but tn,
suecess already achieved is brilliant enough
20 inspire confident hopes Of complete ,ri
amph in the field and the early possession
Of Richmond. u'
rhs New rsrk. Ts~~ and Herald contain the sollown
Interesting sssoans Of the further proceedings Of hooker
sruy.
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