Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-05-11

out COnSDlCuOISiT. duu every ous WIZ Quill =
the self-sacrifce with which he threw his own
life in the extreme Of peril TO restore the con-
fidenee of bis men and put an end to the pam
ic which hal been created.
But q little ground was lost IL this event,
vet all had an ill-boding sense Of tear that our
men would not prove reliable and that our sue
cesses thus far were but to prove t1ultless III
the end. This rout Of the Eleventh >former-
lv Sieel's} corps was the crisis. This was the
t1,rning noint. from which our succeeding mis-
fortunes can be most distinctly traced. nacur
dav closed the operations Of the first week
with doubtful prospects Of the final result, and
the previous successes Of the right wing SEEM
al destined TO end in disaster.
Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps, had at this
time Withdrawn to the east bank or the river,
taken up his bridges and replaced them again
directly in front Of Fredericksburg, and pre-
narad for al assault On the morroW q the
earthvorks back Of the town.
SUNDAY.-The assault of General sedgwlck
upon the heights of Fredericksburg was COM"
menced on Sunday morning A more deter
mined and desperate attack has not been mace.
No men ever attacked the tortltlcatlons q an
enemy with more enthusiasm or vlgor lf1e
bank was steep, the fire OF shot auu shelI was
terrific and the slaughter OF ten Sumner
corps, four months ago, gave itule PROMISE os
success. To almost certain deaJh ohe men
charged 10 and carried the works, drove the
artillerists from their guns, captured t"ei'S
nieces Of the best and heaviest artillery; a. anu
many prisoners Of war IN their trenches. N,rh
tha | 5apviest losses, Sedgwick followed up his
success with the boldest energy and pnrs1lea
the enemy towards Chancellorsyllle with the
nnrnose Of uniting with Gen. Hooker at that
place. H.
But this brilliant success came too late, Tor
tho enemy held the plank road which the rout
Of the Eleventh Corps had yielded to them on
the previous night, and the enemy was enabled
to throw any sufficient force against hlm 70
nrevent his junction with Hooker. This was
sneedilv done. and soon Sedgwick' 8 fine corps,
the largest and perhaps the best OF the army,
was c1t off from communication either Wltn
Hooker or with Fredericksburg, and, thus lso-
lated was COMPELLED to fall back upon the river
at Ranks Ford, where bridges had been thrown
over. by which, if severely pressed, ne coula
mako safe his retreat across the Rappahannock
aoain. Thus followed misfortune On mis1or-
tune, not for lack Of skill or bravery, pnt Tor
tha condnct of the miscreants who hao nen
from their position on the previous nlgnt allHo5e
nnon the first attack Of the enemy.
, But another repulse was sustained = on sun .1
aav morning by the army near arChancellorsV1he.
1ty re anemy renewed the attack, and again drove
back 5j our lines for half nile From the large
br;ck br(1 house which gives the name to this Vi
o;,;tr ~ ,;n tba lines Of the enemy could be seen
ewesnpg e1ne 9s sovIy iy but confidently determnedly
and surely, through the ciearlngs WHICH e1Iei!-
ded in front. Nothingcould exolte more aon1~
raton N tor the best qualities Of the veteran SOL
d;sr e than m the manner in which the enemy swept
out out as they moved steadily onward, the forces
wh;ch vI;n h. we're opposed to them. We say it re-
notantly. lt and for the first time, that the enc
nv have shown the finest qualities and We We
ar}knowledge al on this occasion their superiority