Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-14
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
ITS RETURN TO FALMOUTH.


the Army Of the Potomac supply US With many
particulars Of the return of the Army OF the roto.
mac to It's former camp on the northern bank Oh
the Rappahannock. We extract at length from
the New York Tribune tho following letter OF one
Of its correspondents who was in the advance with
Gen. Hooker:
"ARMY OF THE PoTosAc, MAY 6. 1863.
"The Army of the Potomac has recrossed tho Kappa
hammock, at United States and Banks Fords. ana is
marcbngaok TO the old camps along the Aqua railroad
Sedgw OK overwhelmed by numbers ana Pressfa
hsri b. tn front and rear and barely able 10 mnke
good his escape near Banks Ford. ~
Fredericksburg and the heights beyond have been To-
occupied by the enemy and the situation is substantial
| as 1t was previous to the advance.
"Sedgwick has lost in killed and wounded about I'VE
thousand men His artillery and trains safely brought
| over Monday night ~
THE artillery was placed the helghts below United
States Ford, n position to command the crossing At
daylight spirited cannonadng heard for hall an hour
at Banks Ford, which unsuccessful attempt 70
she Srdgwcks line. At United States Ford the cross
| ing was effected without loss.
"On Tuesday tho Sixth Corps Of Hooker's army, re.
Gently engaged Charlottesville. also recossed tho river
at United States Ford and marching back to Falmouth
The retreat Of Hook-rs army produced great panic
at Aqua and every thing moveabo placed on board
| the boats at the landing
The order for retreat surprise as it was believed
to be the determination to march out and attack tho enemy
in tho front.
The crossing commenced at ten O'Clock on Iuea-
day ni.ht AT three ocleck Wednesday morning
wagon mule trains and the artillery had all passed and
the ifaRtry crossing two bridges ut United STATE
Ford C,ucL's corps In the advance. The retreat
| was covered by the Fifth, Meade's corps
~Aftrr 6gh.ing the severe battle Of Sunday morning
Gen. Hooker continued to strengthen his lines throwing
double lines of heps. and constructing abats along
the entire line of his camp
"The enemy cent? u-d to make demonstrations along the
works, diving in the pickets and delivering vorys of
mu,ketry at most exposed. HIS sharpshooters pick
cd off the artillery horses AMI fred sny mounted icer
behind the rapits Troops cnuld be marching
and countermarchg along the roads south from Chan
orsve. In all advan sgeous positions batteries
out and vigorously used against Hooker's camp. As
counter guns brought to bear their flying
batteries they would disappear to show themselves in
| some position.
"The effect Of movement strsegcally of naive made
tacticay defensive, produced damaging effect
the entire army The question again the safety
Of tie Army If the Potomac. Consultations had
with corps commanders the question Of the possibility Of
retreat discussed This broached and the
paign was failure.
1T decdei that the enemy too powerful TO be
resisted and that ssdgwicks Corps must be ri lined to
the army in order 10 make offensive movement pract
cable
Ssdgwck having failed joined Hooker via the Fede
ricksburg and Gordonsve plank road, aud being hard
pressed he crossed the Rappahannock and saved his corps
from humiliation. The experiment cost him some six
THOUSAND m-n. He inflicted, doubtless, much greater
Injury on the enemy.
" sedgwcks repuse, added TO the weak couns@ls Of
certain OF his corps commanders, shook Hookers conf
dence and forgetting that he the and that
less than halt his command had wthtood the attack Of
full force Of the enemy he 10 fatal moment gave the
order the strong position and his fortified
camp and to retreat the Rappahannock at United
States Ford
"A defeat could have been little worse The army is
not pancstrchen but il is certainly greatly demorazed
by this inglouus retreat There no time from FRI
day morning till Monday night that Hooker could have
attacked aud defeated Lees army There only lacked the
ability 10 give the order.
"Oo Monday morning at daylight, the enemy sheled
from the heights below SCOTS dam the trains OF Hookers
army at United States Ford This circumstance increased
the fears Of the Commanding General and the longer be
delayed to push forward the less he able to advance
ION Tuesday the order was given to retreat. New
roads cut The trains and artillery were sent
back ard the evacuation commenced
"Ihe army 10 safe, with thousand fower men In its
ranks. aud much larger number unfit for duty. The
heavy rain of Tuesday night and Wednesday and the chill
ing atmosphere has severely impaired the health Of the
men, who were wholly without means OF shelter. The
tnts left behind, and many Lost their knapsacks in
hattie.
1t was known at headquarters that Stoneman's cav.
airy had succeeded In breaking TIE enemys communication
with Richmond, by destroying bridge the Frederick
burg and Richuond railroad Saxton Junction The
Uy however received his reinforcements via Gorduns
vile.
soneman bas returned the Rappahannock with
his command, and is scouting tho country on Hookers
RICH. j. r. SYPHER."
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The writer in another letter, gives additional