The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-05-07
pm THE ARMY OF THE Poro.
MAC.
VILE FoRwARp MoYEMENr.

q Inc Army oil The Potomac, is given il
ltne following letter from correspondent
Of the New York Tribune.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,)
Thursday, April 80 1853. I
on Monday morning, at five O'Clock
The 18th Major General Howard's corps
the lath, Major General Slocum's ant
The 9th Major General Meade's corps
struck their tents and marched westward
on tho several roads leading to Kelley,
Ford, distant from the line of Aouir
creek and tho fredericksburg railro sd
about twenty, five miles. The 1lu
corps being in the advance, reached
kcllys Ford at II o'clock.
!, A brigade from this corps, commanded
BY Col, Buschbeck, had been guardinr
lho Ford ever since the advance Of tbss
cavalry two weeks ago. The position
had been well rnIonnOitsred and honco
immediEIe Preparations we're made for
laying the ponlooRs, which strange as it
may seem to "strategists," were in the
fght place at tho right time. The en-.
gineering was directed by Captain Com.
stock of HOoker's saiT, but both the lay.
ing Of the bridges and The crossing were
superintendent by Major General How.
ard in person,
The position is an admirable one for
the exercise Of a little strategy. Marsh
Run cmptios into tie river just below
the lords, after stealing It's round high
bluff. The pontoOn boats were moored
in this creek behind the blua; in seven
teen boats, two hundred and fifty men
from the 73d Pennsylvania volunteers
,ond the 18th New York regiments sud.
denly darted from the shadow of the hill
and pushed vigorously across the river
and seized the bank. The rebel picketu
abou; 90 in number, attempted to ERE,
but their powder being wet, succeeded
only in swapping few caps at the men
in the boats.
SkirmisherS were deployed to the right
left and front, bat the enemy was no.
where to be found. The remainder Of
tue two regiments crossed in boats, while
The bridge building was pushed forward
with most commendable yigor. Early
in the evening the eleventh corps com {.
menced crossing, and the twelfth bi.
voucked on the commanding bluffs that
surround the ford.
On Tuesday morning, long before the
day dawned, the tramp Of feet was again
heard on the floating way, and, when
the gray light of morning rose on the
scene, long black lines we're projecting
themselves in radia from the pontoon
lauachiug, and the plain beyond the riv.
or was soon GOV red with moving masses
Of men.
At six o'clock Gen. Stoneman's caval.
ry corps arrived at the bridge and com.
menced crossing Following these came
the fifth corps, the twelfth having alrea.
dy crossed.
The wagon trains we're all sent back
from Kely's Ford and parked near
Banks Ford, and to those who study
the directions Of stiaws, it was evident
that u connection would be forced from
Banks Ford 10 the troops from Kelly's
Ford. From eleven O'Clock till one ir-
regular firing was heard in the direcl ton
Of Germania on the Rapidan, and it is
supposed that the enemy was there en-
deavoring to check the rapid march OF
the National troops, though nothing
trustworthy has yet reached US.
AT twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the
camps Of Inc L.. Corps, Major General
Reynolds, the Sd, Major General Sickles,
and the 9th Major-Genersl Shedwick,
were abandoded and the troops put in
motion. When daylight broke on
Wednesday morning, National brigadss
lad surprised, surrounded and captured
tie enemy's picket and reserves, and the
astonished rebels beheld Two bridges
connecting the hostile shores of the
Rappahannock, four miles below Fred
ericksburg.
AZ at Kelly's Ford, SO here, there was
no waiting for pontoons; everything was
in READINGS; and so skillfully aud quietly
was tho launching OF the boats and tho
men conducted that the first notice the
rebel outposts had of what vas going on,
v as the approach of boats filled with
men. They fired a volley at random
s.slisb woua5sl ssms Twenty nreE Of the
iTo,a Pennsylvania volunteers, that no.
giment having tho advance. Colonel
EIlmasen is reported severely wounded
The success of tho expedition in boats
was so complete as to prevent an alarm.
The laying Of The bridges, thoughin the
very face Of the enemy, was, therefore,
carried to completion without his know
ledge.
The hazy atmosphere of the night was
most favorable for the wotk. Though
ono could see perfectly we'll for space
Of twenty feet around, objects more dis.
tant were wholly undistiuguiShablc
,hrnuoh tho mist. Two bridges were