Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-05-07
MORNING DISPATCHES.
FROM the BATTLE FlELO AT
FREDERICKSBURG.
UNION FORCES COMPELLED TO
RETREAT ACROSS THE
RAPPAUANNOCK.
Tho Enemy Reported to be
Crossing tho River to At
tack Our Forces.
NKw York. Nav 7

NhW iosh' M"y =.
The morning papers have no news rel
ative TO army movements additional to
what was telegraphed yesterday.
Nothing OF war matters was tele-
graphed from Washington last night to
any quarter for publication.
The World, however, prints tho fol-
lowing
We learn hy special messenger that n
great battle was fought Oh Tuesday, and
Hooker, with his army, WAS driven back
across the Rappahannock.
Lee was heavily reinforced, and the
last battle exceeded in slaughter those OF
previous days.
New lonK, May $50 A. NJ.
The Herald hns Just issued tho fol-
lowing extra
UNITED STATES Fonp,
Nav G-s A. NJ.
estcrdaymorning the trains were all
ordered. back to camp, aud by dark the
whole Of the extra cnlssons, pack mules,
&e., were at Falmouth. The wounded
werc hastily removed from the hospitals
aud sent to Washington, leaving nothing
on the other side e1cep, infantry and ar
tlllery
About O'Clock it commenced rain.
ing, deluging the roads, tearing up cor
duroys, sweeping away bridges and
threatening the destruction Of the pou.
toons The river rose with great rapid
ity and soon overilowed the ends Of the
pontoons, rendering crossing impracti
cable
The upper pontoon wns taken up and
lengthenlng Others, and after several
hours of very hard labor tho bridges
wero once moro ready. Pine boukhs
were spread upon the pontoons 10 pre-
won't noise in crossing, and about mid
night the troops commenced falling back
The lst corps WAS the first TO cIoss and
is now nearly over. The Sd corps re-
mains in tho entertainments to cover tho
retreat. II is hoped the army will reach
discover tho retreat, but cannonading has
commenced quts tierccly ut tho front
aud n desperate battle is not Improbable.
We can doubtless retire across the
river without serious loss but if discover
ed in our attempt the struggle will he
fierce. 'nmolested, troops can get over
by noon.
The roads are in n terrible condition
almost asibad as when burnside foun-
dcrcd here last winter.
Our sick are lying in the roads, but
ambuanccs are coming up 70 remove
them.
There was no fighting yesterday ofany
consequence. Sharpshooters were quite
active, and the artillery opened OCCASION
ally, but the results are unmportant.
The enemy has evidently massed his
army on our right with = view, it is be-
licvcd Of crossing above and attacking
US on our rear. High water, however,
will Illustrate that movement.
Three pontoon trains are down near
Hamilton's Crossing. Some fears have
been entertained that the rebels would
make n demonstration across the river
below Fredericksburg.
A great number OF our wounded have
fallen into the encmy's hands.
Our dead on the battle field Of Sunday
are still unburied, and tho wounded arc
undoubtedly dying in great number. for
want Of attention.
DR.. Johnson, Medical Inspector Of tho
army, has volunteered to go over with q
corps Of surgeons and take charge Of our
wounded lie will probably be sent over
a, soon a. practicable.
Hooker is very much depressed. Last
night he held consultation with his
commanding generals in which it WAS
urged that longer stay in its present
position would prove un.aie for the army,
and hasty return TO our camp is impsr-
a,ive. Rain is falling heavily asd the rv-
er rising with great raridry.