Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-05-04
TIE REBELS REFUSED IN EVERY
ATTEMPT TO BREAK
OUR LINES.
Probability that a Tremendous
Battle has Taken Place on
a Field Of Hooker's
Own Choosing.


NEW otk, mHy Se
The Times correspondent, dated on
field, near Chancellorvillc, 10 o'clock l..
NJ, May lst, states that the second army
corps took position on tho night previous
on tho left, aud the third corps reached
front about noon. Their occupation is
thus described:
We held Gordonsvilc road securely, an
other road leading 10 Spotsy lyania Court
House, another road four mIles in the
rear OF that. The enomy's flank is thus
dangerously exposed, and il they fight,
it must be in open field.
A despa,ch captured yesterday from
Gen. Lee TO An engineer officer, dated the
Goth ult, says he is much surprised al
this moyclnen,, had not anticipated it, and
was not prepared TO give instructions.
About noon movements were made to
cndcavor to bring out the enemy and
compel him 10 develop his strength
Our men men entered the field with
much enthusiasm. Only one regiment
of cavalry charged on the rebel in isntry,
the latter driving ours back repeatedly,
when small force Of infantry, supported
by cavalry, checking the rebels, our di-
vision under Gen. Sykes, anl the rebel
division under Gen. Anderson, became
engaged. Our troops drove the rebels
from two ridges parallel with the Kappa
hammock, gaining mile and taking fifty
prisoners, when Gen. Hooker ordered
them to retreat, not wishing TO bring on
general engagement.
The rebels mistook our retirement for
check and followed rapidly, On top OF
the first ridge the rebels halted moment
and giving yell came down on tho
double quick, but they were met by Gen.
Sykes division who poured in terrific
fire Of artillery At short range. The con.
test lasted three quarteIs OF an hour and
extended ac oss the roads where there
we're 22 Of our guns which shelled the
woods cilcctually and the rebels retired.
During the afternoon the rcbels made
several attempts on our line but were rc-
pulsed. At $3.50 p. m., they made des'
pera,c charge TO capture our battery
commanding the plank road to Frederick
burg, but were handsomely repused by
Geary, assisted by Knapp and Hamp'
tons battery, who double shotted their
guns with grape and canister. During
the night both ours and tho rebel forces
built carthworks and abattis. The battle
on Saturday it Is thought, would surely
be opened by the rebels.
Nsw York, May $3.50 A. M.
The Tribune has Just issued an extra
a. follows: Our news by mail from the
Rappahannock is up to Sunday morning.
At that time our left wing WAS in possess
ion Of fredericksburg aud the first line
Of redoubts on the hills behind it, and
was feeling its way to tho second line
The river was crossed and the redoubts
carried with great ease and very slight
loss OF life.
The rebels had marched away in the
direction OF Charlottesville, to attack
our right wing there posted, leaving At
first 10000, but subsequently not more
than from 5000 to 1000 men, in their
works, rs was asccrtained by recon.
noissance from loves balloon.
A great portion OF our Falmouth bat
teries were engaged on Sunday with
rebel batteries, firing across the river and
at the city.
The firing, both Of musketry and can.
nonsIing, on the right, in the direction
Of Chanccllorsville, was very heavy
The enemy had been forced to fight on
ground Of Hooker's choosing, ss he
promised his soldiers.
1t was believed in both wings that
Stoneman's expedition to cut the railroad
between the rebels and Richmond had
proved successful, thus cutting of the
only path Of retreat.
So confident was Hooker, 1t Fal.
mouth, Of success, that in conformity
with his orders force had already com
menced to re build . bridge over the
Rsppahannock.
/ Tho troops are in 6ne spirits, and
everything looks psopitiosa