The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-02
BY TELEGRAPH
TOTHE
Portland Daily Press.
Advance of Gen. HOOker'S
Army.
The Rappahannock Crossed at
Four Points.
Capture Of 500 Prisoners.
Reported Victory Beyond the Rappahannock

NEW YORK, May /.
The Tribune's Bulletin announces the arriv-
al Of special correspondent, with news of
the advance of Gen. Rockers army. The
Rappahannock was crossedi in four places,
and the enemy were confounded We cap.
tured their pickets and reserves, 400 being
taken prisoners.
The Tribune's account from the army of
the Potomac states in effect, follows -
Monday morning, the Ilth, 18th and 9TH corps
moved to Kelly's Ford, the former in advance
reaching there at / o'clock Tuesday forenoon.
A brigade from this corps had been guarding
the Ford for two weeks. The crossing was
superintendent by Gen. Howard. The first to
cross in pontoon boats were 253 men from the
I'D Penn. and 1876 n. Y. The rebel pickets,
twenty in number, attempted to fire, but their
powder being wet they only snapped few
caps. Skirmishers depoyed to the right, left
and front, but no enemy was to be found. The
bridge building was pushed forward, and early
in the evening the 18th corps commenced
crossing, and the 18th bivouacked on bluff
surrounding the Ford. The next forenoon
the 18th corps crossed, followed by the 9Th
corps, and finally by Stoneman's cavalry corps,
which reached the bridge at A. NJ. The
wagon trains were all packed near Banks
Fords, and it was evident that a connection
would be forced from Banks Ford to the troops
at Kelly's Ford. From II to l o'clock irregu-
mania, on the Rapidan, and il was supposed
the enemy were trying to check the rapid
march of our troops. At II o'clock Tuesday
the LIST, Sd and 9th corps broke camps, and
when daylight broke Wednesday the pickets
and reserves were captured, and two bridges
were crossed on the Rappahannock, four miles
below Fredericksburg. The third bridge was
subsequently constructed, and a sufficient
force was stationedto hold the bridges crossed,
while the several commands on.this side were
advantageously posted to await orders. Two
miles further down Gen. Reynolds LIST corps
constructed bride in the face OF the enemy's
rifle pits, and effected crossing Resistance
was stout and stubborn, but the artillery was
too severe for the enemy, who fled. leaving in
the hands of the party who crossed in boats
81 prisoners from 18th Georgia and 9TH Louis
lana regiments, attachments. They report
jackson as commanding the right wing of the
rebel army. The I'd corps, Gen. Couch, was
in position in the rear of Banks Ford, with
full facilities for crossing. A good road has
been constructed between Banks and United
States Fords, and orders are only needed to
put all the departments OF the army in motion.
The Tribune's report estimate the number
of prisoners taken at from 800 to 500. The
corps which crossed at Germana was moving
in fine order toward Charlottesville, south of
Fredericksburg. Stonemans full corps of
cavalry was moving down In wide circle to
retrieve the lOSt lduTeis Oh the past fortnight.
Gen. Hooker intends crossing at Kelley's,
United States and Ranks Fords, and there
give the corps commanders a plan of his move
ments. His headquarters are now in the saddle.
PHILADELPHIA, May /.
The Evening Bulletin publishes an extra
with the following M sAt
We have no dispatches relating to the
movements of our army beyond the Kappa
hammock, but are able to assure our readers
that everything is going on favorably in Gen.
Rockers army.
LATER-A VICTORY.
We learn, though nokfrom an official source,
that Gen. Hooker with $4,000 men has had a
battle with the rebels beyond the Rappahan-
mock. We have no particulars but the Union
troops were victorious.
WASHINGTON, April 80.
From the best attainable information from
persons arriving from the Rappahannock it
appears that some important movements took
place yesterday. There was no fighting of
any Importance.
The force crossed at Kelley's Ford. Pom
toon bridges were laid or miles below
Fredericksburg and we held possession OF
! those points last night.
The enemy formed lines of battle and plant
ed batteries on the nights in their rear and
| also fired few shots to get range. In cross
ing we lost or 2 officers killed and from 30
to 40 men wounded. Our men crossed first
in boats and drove the enemy out of their
rifle pits, killing and wounding many and
taking 100 prisoners, including several Off
Gers, one of whom was Lit. Col. Hammond, of
the 9th La. Reg't These prisoners arrived
here yesterday aud were sent to the old Capt.
! toll prison.
Another informant says the left wing, 35,-
| 600 strong, crossed miles below Fredericks-
burg, little below where Gen. Franklin
crossed previous to the first battle of Freder-
icksburg. They fought ~ hours and drove
| the enemy s miles out of their rifle pits ard
behind their entertainments.
The Sd brigade of the LIST division of the LIST
corps has suffered more than Others in the
fight Our forces have captured between
500 and 600 prisoners, who will soon be
brought to this city. Many OF these prisoners
have voluntarily come over to us, having
thrown away their arms in small squads and
begged for food They picked up what our
soldiers had thrown away on the march. 9th
er rebels, however, say they have plenty to
eat. The right wing crossed at Kelley's
Ford. and Gen. Stonenan's cavaly is reported
| to be somewhere in the rear of Fredericks-
burg. One corps remains at Falmouth as a
| reserve.
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