The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-10
BY TELEGRAPH
EVENING PAPERS.
Passage of the Rappohonnock by General
Meade-fredericksburg held by General
Ki{DotpicE,
THE

New YORK, Nov. s.
! Headquarters army of the Potomac, Nor.
| stu. L. Nj learn that army is well
over the river, and Gen. Sedswicks advance
has reached Brandy Station. This will be Il
I week OF hot work
The Heralds Washington dispatch says ad-
wees from the front are to the effect that Gen.
! fitzpatrick occupied the city and nights OF
Fredericksburg, and was in a position to hold
| Them until the infantry could reach him. 1t
Is probable that the army has already reached
him, and is now intrenehing itself on the
south bank Of the RappahannOck.
| Ihe following is taken from the Herald
Times and Tribune's accounts of the engage
| ment:
November 7M.-Major General Sedgwck
commanding the right wing OF the army, con-
sisting OF the 9th and 9th corps, left Warren
ton this morning, with orders to proceed to
Rappahannock Station and take and hold that
| position. The march was rapid one, and the
lst (Wrlghts) division OF the 9Th corps, under
Brig. Gen. ID. A. Russell, Gen. Wright being
in command of the corps, rest hei the nights
| this side of the river about l Z. NJ. and drove
i'll the enemy's pickets. Gen. Howe's (2d) di-
vision oil the same corps was on Russells
right and commenced skirmishing soon after,
| and drove the enemy before them
The 9th corps, under Mai. Gen. Sykes, found
their skirmsh line on the south OF the Orange
d Alexandria Railroad, stretching down tow
ards Normand's ford. Early's division of Ew
| ellis rebel corps occupied the nights on this
side OF the river, the works upon which they
had 50 turned as to make them deiensible from
attack in this direction. These works were
| captured last summer by our forces while we
occupied the line of the Rappahannock) The
enemy had strengthened them by digging a
semi-circle of rifle pits around their 'front.'
Such was the formidable position which Rus
sells brave boys attacked and carried to-day.
Col. Tompkins of the LIST X. |. artillery, and
chief of artillery on Gen. Sedgwick's staff.
posted Capt. Martins battery of the 9Th u. S.
artillery and Capt. Waternans Battery G, of
the LIST X. L. upon the nights, about three
| quarters OF a mile this side of the river
| These commenced to shell the works about 3
O'Clock, and shortly afterward Gen. II. &. Ty-
| Ter, commanding the reserve artillery, who
was on the ground, sent his Adiutant General,
| Capt. Z. III. Whttlesey, to order up Capt. e..
d. Tafts 5th Independent battery of TX 20
pound PARROTS, making in all eighteen guns
engaged in Smelling them at this short range.
The firing was splendid and the effect demon
alizing. That OF the enemy's artillery was al
so very fine practice.
While this was going on Gen. Russell was
busy with his musketry. He pushed his lines
of skirmshers upon both TANKS of the enemy's
works until nearly sunset, when his new brig
AIDE, composed of the 9TH Wisconsin, 9TH Maine
and l2lst New York, was ordered to charge
the rifle pits and earthworks upon both flanks,
led by Gen. Russell in person. They went
steadily and silently onward, fighting as they
proceeded, until nearing the works they fixed
bayonets and pitched in with cold steel. This
was too much even for the flower of the
Southern army, for it was the much Wanted
Louisiana brigade that they found there and
after a short hand to hand contest they turned
to flee toward their pontoons, Which were ly-
ing directly in their rear, but here they were
ila1- b.,.rg bad alr a
proach to the bridge, aud they had no alterna-
tive but to swim for it. Some of them tried
the latter, but it was no easy matter. and they
yielded. When those the opposite shore
found that we held this end of the bridge, they
set fire 20 their side and destroyed portion
OF it.
This closed at dark one of the most brilliant
actions OF the war. 1t was fought by the
same troops that SO calamity s,orIned and car
ried the nights of St. Mary's, at the second
battle of Fredericksburg.
Wdrreht0Uh Junction, Nov. s. Noon.
Upon the lifting OF the fog our forces com
menced crossing and found little or no opposi-
ton. They are now pressing forward toward
Culpepper.
The Second division OF the Third corps, I'M
der Gen. III. Prince, crossed the river last eve
ming at Kelly's ford, and captured 252 oil the
Second and Thirty eighth North Carolina reg
iments. The prisoners say their orders were
to remain and fight until ordered to retreat or
taken prisoners. General Princes boys waded
the ford, which was about waist deep, and the
prisoners had to wade back.
The wounded are arriving here, on their
way to Washington. Cars are also ordered
for 1900 prisoners, $50 OF whom were taken by
the left wing, under Gen. French. The pris-
oners are now arriving. They are chiefly
from North Carolina aud Louisiana, and they
say to our boys" You all could not have Ia
ken US If we had had bayonets like yours"
80 CANNON. thatss played out. We did the
same thing at Fredericksburg, and can always
do it. Our orders were to 20 into those works,
and we should have done it, bayonets or no
bayonets. We never thought ofsthem until
we got close up TO the redoubts, and then
fixed them"
Another account states: At dusk the 9th
Maine was deployed as a double skirmsh line,
the 9TH Wisconsin being drawn up in line OF
battle on the left Perhaps for the first time
during the war the skiuni>hers charged upon
the enemy's works, and the two regiments,
both belonging to the Sd brigade carried the
Qualifications by Storm dashing forward gal
antly and impetuousy in the face of MUIR
deruus fire and captured seven pieces OF ar
tillery.
The right of the line of the Notifications
was still held by the enemy, aud the glorious
duty of assang that point was assigned to
the l2lst New York and 9TH Maine of the I'd
duty. The 49th and 10th Pennsylvania reg
ments supported the already victorious boys
of the 81 brigade, while the % brigade was
hurting the enemy from what he deemed his
mpregnable position.
The enemy made several unsuccessful at
tempts to retake the works. during which the
right OF the 9th Maine suffered heavily. There
was no chance for the rebels to escape by
crossing the river, as we had the range OF their
single brigade. though few mounted men
managed To dash over through calling fire.
Among them was Gen. Early, il is said
The i2lst New York and the 9Th Maine
took $50 prisoners in one squad: the former
regiment at different times during the engage
nent captured 6S3 and the 9Th Maine $50
prisoners.
The ID brigade also captured battle flags,
Ills stand of arms and the Adjutant's desk
OF the Sih Louisiana Regiment with all the
books and papers relating to that regiment.
Sergt. Roberts, of the 9th Maine, captured
battle flag.
That regiment suffered very severely, losing
in killed and wounded II out of its % officers
who went into action, aud two-thlrds of its
enlisted men.
The regiments actually engaged in the cap
ture OF the prisoners went into battle with
only 800 men, and the excess of the prisoners
above their own numbers is therefore very
large.