Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-05-13

mont. Our armies are on lie flax and
rear, and our heavy pieces acrossthe riv-
or on It's front. About evening they rush
ed on our right, aud for n long tine the
battle was holly contested, each party al
tentatively gaining the advantage. Fis
nally our force vas obliged to rdire, aud
during the night held a defensive posi-.
ton. Next morning Col. Hall crossed ais
brigade over tho river on the falmouth
side, and both bridges we're taken up. II
is suspected that the enemy haze pom
toons sufficient TO cross the river, and
lively watch is kept up to prevent raids
on their part.
The following is from the New York
Herald, which has advices up to Tuesday
morning, 2 O'clock:
After the struggle of Sunday, General
Lee detached a large body of his main ar
my to 90 down and meet Gen. Ssdgwick.
1t is also known that Gen. Longsreet was
rapidly getting into his rear ut that time,
Early Monday morning large masses OF
rebels appeared on the heights to the east
of Fredericksburg, which had been par
TALLY evacuated by our forces border to
strengthen Sedgwick's column Those
remaining made but a brief resistance, and
~reiinqulshed the position to the enemy,
having first removed ali their guns.
Some lighting occurred above Freder~
icksburg, the particulars Of which have
not been received, but it is supposed to
have been an effort TO hold the rebels
from moving up to reinforce the tody eus
gagged against Sedgwick. In this, howeV,
er, we were unsuccessful. 1t Is generally
understood that this force was Long
streets column, just arrived from Suffolk.
On Monday Gen. Sedgwick was holly
engaged throughout the entire day, the
enemy pressing him at all points, and
cutting him up badly. His men we're
obliged TO give way beforethe overHhelm-
ing masses of the enemy constantly, and
his discontinue seemed certain, when the
gallant Vermont brigade made a noble
charge, REFUSING the rebels in fine style,
and securing the safety OF that portion OF
the army.
The slaughter of the enemy in this &C.
tor, which occurred in close proximity TO
Banks Ford, is without a parallel in the
history OF warfare, considering the number
of neu engaged. Whole brigades OF the
reoels we're wiped out; but their force
was so many times greater than that at
the command of Gen. Sedgwick that it
was impossible that he could hold his po'
sition, and he therefore concluded TO ex'
%tricate himself by recrossing the river.
This hazardous expedient was tempt
ed and successfully carried out between
midnight ana two o'clock or Tuesday
morning. The enemy held positions with
their artillery, raking our bridges over
which Sedgwick was obliged to move his
men, necessarily creating some confusion
in our ranks as the columns moved over,
and causing considerable loss oflife, They
also pressed holly upon his rear, and har'
assed him necessarily. But he succeeded
in getting his force over as above stated in
wonderfully good order,
On Monday morning at daybreak the
rebels obtained a position on the hills on
the south bank of the Rappahannock
scarcely two miles below the United
States ford, and commenced q vigorous
shelling OF our trains lying on the north
side of the river, close to the ford. Sever
al men were injured by these shells and
one or two killed.
Some of the shells entered a hospital or
the south bank of the river, killing sever
al of the patients. One poor fellow wa:
just reading a letter from home when {
shell exploded close by him, tearing of
the entire upper portion of his head, Kill
ling him instantly. A panic was immi'
nent among our teamsters, and wonlc
have been general and disastrous but fol
the stoppage of hostilities by the enemy
The Washington Star referring to the
attack on Sedgwick, says
Our loss was about 1000 killed, wound
ed and missing, making the total loss o
Sedgwick's and Gibbons commands Tin
Guiding those lost on the previous day
about 5000, or half the whole loss Of Hoo
ker's army in the four days fighting. Or
that monday night Sedgwick recrossed
his own and Gibbons force 10 the north
bank Of the Rappahannock.
1t is evident here that the Confeder ate
played their old game Of massing thei
troops in crushing force on our exposed
points with rapid change of position, anC
that after throwing themselves with al
their weight on Hooker, they with grea
celebrity moved off TO repeat the blow up
on Sedgwick's detached force and thi
fact explains that mysterious silence in
front of Hooker, while they were thus oc
cupied with Sedgvick.