Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-11-16
Fight on the Rappahannock-Two
OF our Brigades reported Captured
"A General Advance Expected

y ooA ol1Sau reported Captured
"A General Advance Expected
The Richmond Wing of Monday brings
the following very unwelcoms intelli. |
gence:
About 3 or 4 o'clock on Saturday eve /,
nlng, a force of Yankees, a portion of
hisaoes army, varieusly estimated at
irem $4,000 to 90, 600, advanced on Hays.
LOUISIANA and Hoks's North Carolina bri-
gades who were picketing on the northsiae
81 the k~appahannock, near Kelly's Ford.
n enemy being in overwhelming force.
the two brigades were cut off and over
powered, and most of them taken prise.
hsrs. A small number were killed and
wounded. Gen. Hays, we understand.
saved SEINE six hundred man. while a
small number of the North Carolina bri-
gade escaped. We also lost four pieces
OF artillery, but saved the horses and
equipments.
Our loss in prisoners is estimated bv
some at 900 or 1000 and by others at a
much larger number. The numerical
strangth of the two brigades will scarce
ly exceed 5000 men. We learn that
General Hays himself was captured at
y time, but subsequently escaped
Gen. Hske is on detached duty in North
Carolina, and his brigade was comman
ded 10y the Lieut.. Colonel, whose name
we have been unable to learn. Although
encounterlng an overwhelming force, our
men are represented to have fought most
Eallantly, and pilsd the ground with large
Plumbers OF killed and wounded Yankees.
W The foregoing are substantially the
iacts as correctly as We could ascertain
them from officers and men who left the
army yesterday.
1t is believed that the greater portion
OF A0ade's army has crossed the Kappa
hammock, and is probably advancing, in
which event a general engagement of the
two armies may occur at any time soon.
Ot our own movements it may not vet
be advisable to speak. Suffice it to say.
Gen. Lee is as wall prepared now for u
fight as when he lately chased Meade to
Bristes Station, and that he will fight
him, if it is necessary 70 fght, in a po-
sition of his own choosing. 1t will DE
seen from the news frem the Herald Of
the 4th, in another column, that Meade
has been preparing for an immediate ad-
vance.
The following from the Examiner is
worse still, as IL says that official intelli-
gence Of the disaster has been received :
Official information was received by
the Wa Department yesterday, that two
b~rigadss of Lees army were, On Satur-
day, captured by a sudden and unexpec.
ted advance of Meade. The dispatch
bringing this intelligence gives none OF
the particulars Of this disaster: but it
was believed in Official circles that our
loss weuld fall littleshort of five thou
sand men. Governor Lstcher and others,
however, who arrived here last night, d.
rect from the army give not SO sad an
account Of the affair, Their report is, that
on Saturday, about noon, Hoke's and
Hays brigade being on picket, were at.
tackled by about twenty five thousand Of
the enemy, and after one of the most des-
perate. fights on record, part of which
was'hand to-hand, our men were sur
rounded, and all of them except some
six hundred of Hays brigade killed el
taken prisoners.
The number of our men taken prison.
ers is variously stated at irsm fifteen
hundred to three thousand; the latter
figure is probably the nearest the truth.
We also lost four pieces Of artillery.
We have not been able to obtain any
information of our loss in killed ant
wounded, bat it is confidently asserted
that the enemy's less was very heavy
some say as much as two thousand.
The Sight is reported to have occurred
at or near Kslly's Ford, on the Kappa.
hammock bat whether north OF south @
that stream there are two opinions
One account is, that the brigades wer'
beyond the river, and in a manner out OF
from the main body the other, tina
they were on the south bank, at Kelly
Ford, and were SURF ounded by the en-
envy, who crossed above and below
them
Hays brigade is composed of Lousi
lanians and Hoke's of North Carclinians
1t is believed that General Lee expect
ID Meade to advance upon him, yet h
Vas not prepared for SO early and Wig
orous an attack. He knew Meade hal
recsipod perepmtory orders to advanc
and give him battle whenever he fount
him, but thought it would take the Van
kees several days longer to bring his ar
my to the Rappahannock. 1t would nov
appear that Meade can advance as quick