The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-13
BY TELEGRAPH
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
AN Advance NVOverl ent---A SHARP, En-
gagement at Fre0ericIGsburg---
Meade after lee with very sharp
Sticks.

WOTd l-Advlces from your special cor
respondent tonight from the front, state
that an advance of the entire army has
progressed most satisfactorily to. day. It
passed the Rappahannock again, but found
no enemy in any force sufficient to bring
on general engagement. Present indi-
cations do not render q general engage
ment probable.
The Herald has the following:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAo,
Nov. 8, 4 P. MI learn our army is well
over the river, and Sedgwick's advance has
reached Brandy Station. No reports of
fighting have been received. This will be
a week Of exciting and stirring events.
Reports from the front to-day are tothe
effect that Gen Fitzpatrick occupied the
city ant: heights of Fredericksburg yester-
day, and was in a position to hold them
until reinfOrcements could reach him.
Probably the army has already Joined him,
and is now entrenching itself on the south
bank of the Rappahannock.
The train used for conveying the wound
ed from the battle of Kelly's Ford yes
terday-to the number of 15OO-arrived
here at ten O'Clock tonight. There were
no ambulances there to transport wound
ed men to the hospital, and it may be sew
eral hours before they will be placed where
they can receive surgical attention. The
prisoners are expected to arrive during the
night, under command of Brig. General
David A. Russell.
Gen. Wright, in command of his corps,
reached the heights this side of the Rap
pahannOcK about one o'clock, and drove in
the enemy's pickets. Sykes's division of
the same corps, was on Russells right,
| and commenced skirmishing soon after,
and drove the enemy before them.
The Fifth corps, under Major General
Sykes, formed their skirmish line on the
south of Orange and Alexandria railroad,
stretching down toward Norwin's Ford.
Early's division and Ewell's rebel corps,
occupied the heights on this side of the
river, the works upon which they had so
turned as to make them defensible from
attack from this direction. These works
were constructed by our forces last sum-
mer while we occupied the line of the
Rappahannock; the enemy, however, had
strenthened them by digging semi-circle
of lihe-pits around their front Such was
the formidable position which Russells
brave boys attacked and carried to-day.
Col. Tompkins, chief OF artillery on
Gen. Sedgwick's staff, posted artillery on
! the heights about three-tOurths of a mile
| this side of the river, and commenced to
shell the works about three O'Clock IS
guns were engaged in Smelling them at this
short range, and producing dreadful
effect. The firing of the enemy was also
very fine.
While this was going on, Gen. Russell
was busy with his musketry. He pushed
his line of skirmishers upon both TANKS of
the enen,y's works, until nearly sunset,
when his own rigade-composed of the
9Th Wisconsin, COL Allen; 9th Maine, Col.
Edwards; 9th Maine, Col. Harris, and
121st New York, Col. Upton-were Or
dered to charge the rifle pits and earth
works upon both TANKS. Led by Gen.
Russell in person they went steadily and
silently onward, fighting as they proceed
ed, till nearing the works they fixed bay
onets and pitched in with cold steel. This
was too much even for the flower of the
Southern army, (for it was the much
Wanted Louisiana brigade they found
there,) and after short hand-to-hand
contest they t~rned to flee to their pom
toons, which were lying directly in their
rear. But they were foiled. Our boys
had already secured the approach to the
bridge, and they had no alternative but
surrender or swim for it. Some of them
tried the latter, but it was no easy matter,
and they yielded. When those on the
opposite shore found we held this end of
the bridge, they set fire to their side and
destroyed portion of it.
Thus closed at dark one of the most
brilliant actions of the war; 1t was fought
by the same troops that so CALAMITY storm
ed and carried the Heights Of St. Mary's
at the second battle of Fredericksburg
Although Generals Sedgwick, Wright and
Sickles, with their stats were present and
active, all agree in awarding the credit
of this brilliant achievement to General
Russell and his gallant troops. General
Meade has sent to General Sedgwick an
order to advance his forces Immediately.
They are pressing forward towards Culpep-
per.
The I'd division, Sd corps under General
Prince, crossed over last evening at Kel-
ly's Ford and captured 252 of the I'd and
3Sth North Carolina Regiments. Gener-
al Princes boys waded the ford, which
was about waist deep, and the prisoners
had to wade back.
The entire number Of prisoners taken
by both Sedgwick and French is now
known to be 1927. The prisoners are
composed principally of North Carolina
and Louisiana troops. THIS afternoon the
8 O'Clock train arrived bringing prisoners
at Alexandria. The number taken by
Sedgwick was from 1900 to 400. The
remainder were taken by French. Agen-
tleman who was present with the army
says it was novel sight to see all of Sedg-
wick's prisoners in a crowd. They arc
the largest lot ever captured by our forces
on the Virginia side, and they were
guarded by cavalry to prevent struggling
Or escape. French's prisoners were also
gathered in one body.
Our total loss is reported to be 400 in
killed and wounded, but no pr soners.
Our wounded were carried to Warrenton
junction, and from thence they were sent
to Alexandria this afternoon.