Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-08

r HUM 1HE ARMY or THE POTOMAC.
The Tribune's bulletin announces the ar
rival Of a special correspondent with news Of
the advance of Gen. Hooker's army. The
Rappahannook crossed in four places the
enemy confounded capture Of their pickets
aud reserves; 400 prisoners taken.
The Tribune's account from the Army Of
the Potomac states in effect s' follows;
Monday morning, the l1th, 18th and 5th
corps moved to Kelly's ford. the former in ad-
vance, reaching there at Il o'clock Tuesday
morning. A brigade from this corps had
been guarding the ford two week. Pontoons
were ready. The crossing was superintended
by Gen. Howard. The first to cross in pom
toon boats were 255 men from the 73d Penn
sylyania and l54th New York. The rebel
pckets, 20 in number, attempted to fre, but
taeir powder being wet they only snapped a
few caps. Skirmishers deployed in the right,
left and front, but no enemy was to be founu.
The bridge building was pushed forward
and early in the evening the lth corps com
menced crossing and the 10Th bivouacked on
the bluffs surrounding the ford Next morn
ing the 18th corps crossed, followed by the
9th corps, and finally Stoneman's cavalry
corps, which reached the bridge at a. m.
The wagon trains were all packed near
Banks Ford, and it was evident that connec-
tiOn would be forced from Banks Ford to
the troops at Kelley's Ford
From II to l o'clock irregular firing was
heard in the direction OF Germania, on the
Rapidan, and it was supposed that the enemy
were trying to check the rapid march Of our
troops.
At ~ o'clock Tuesday the Ist, Sd and 9Th
corps broke camp, and when daylight broke
Wednesday morning the picksts and reserves
were captured and two bridges crossed the
Rappahannock four miles below Fredericks-
burg. Some twenty men of the 10th Penn
sylvania Regiment, who before the bridges
were built led the advance in boats, were
wounded Col. Ellmason reported severely,
by an irregular volley from the rebel pickets.
With this exception none Of the enemy knew
of the movement.
The third bridge was subsequently con-
structed. A sufficient force was stationed 70
hold the bridges crossed while the several
commands on this side were adventageously
posted to await orders. Two miles further
down Gen Reynolds first corps constructed
a bridge in the face of the eneny's rifle pits
and effected crossing.
Resistance was stubborn and short. The
fire Of the artillery was too severe for the
enemy, who fled leaving in the hands Of the
party who crossed in boats eighty-seyen pris-
orers from the 18th Georgia and 9th Louisi-
ana regiments, attached to Jackson's com
mand. They report Jackson as commanding
the riyht vino nf tho rchal army
The ID Corps, Gen. Couch, was in position
in the rear of Banks Ford, with full facili-
ties for crossing. A good road has been con-
structed between Banks and United States
Fords, and only orders are needed to put all
the departments of the army in motion.
The Tribupe's report estimates the number
of prisoners taken at from 400 to 500.
The corps which crossed at Germana, or
Kelly's Ford, was moving in fine order to-
ward Chancelorville, south Of Fredericks burg.
Stoneman's full corps of cavalry was NOV
ing down in wide circle to restrive the lost
laurels Of the past fortnight.
General Hooker intends crossing at Kel-
ley's, United States and Banks Fords, and
then give his cops commanders a plan of his
movements.
His headquarters are now In the saddle.
The Tribune says the movement down tho
river was fcint. Late Wednesday MI BIT
the Sd corps which was at the four mile
bridge, marched up the river again and joined
the 2nd corps at Bsulis' Ford, and early
Thursday morning, the lst corps followed in
its path and also halted at the same ford, so
that on Thursday morning there were three
corps across the Rappahannock marching
ufr fftL thn ,r olys -
way Of Charlottesville, village twelve miles
distant from that city and three moro at
Baulis' Ford, with the road to the United
States Ford, open, and connection established
with the advance column. All six are in |
position to move directly upon the rebel line
of communication The 7th corps is still
with formidable display Of force threatening
to cross below and assail the other flank Of
the enemy. 1t may well be believed that Lee
evacuated Fredericksburg precipitately and
fell back towards Richmond. kilograms
to that effect were received yesterday, but
were based perhaps as much on the presumed
necessity of the retreat as upon any direct
If it is not true, so much the
worse for Lee. He had no alternative but to
march out Of Fredericksburg with the GER
tainty that his whole army, if defeated will
be destroyed or captured, and in any event
Stoneman with his cavalry corps is in the
rear of any position to which Lee can pos
sibly have fallen back, and we shall probably
next hear that both the Virginia Central and
the Richmond and Fredericksburg are sever
ed. In that case Lee must fight with what
forces he already has for no reinforoements can
reach him before Hooker falls on his isolated
forces. We regard a great battle as not
merely inevitable, but imminent, perhaps even
already fought.
The groundlessness of the rumors received
in this city yesterday may be judged from the
fact that no kilograms Of anything except Of
fetal is suffered to pass out the lines to the
north. Those which allege that battle was
fought below Fredericksburg are manifestly
exageratons of the skirmishes which occurred
when the troops were first thrown over on
Wednesday morning, aud are circulated 10
ignorance Of the fact that the whole Of that
movement was a fent. II is impossible to
suppose that Hooker has divided his army.
meaning TO attack the rebels on both TANKS at
once; without communication between his two
wing The inevitable result of such strategy
would be that with a small force Lee would
hold half in che ok while he hurled his whole !