Evening star., 1863-05-07
FROM HookER'S ARMY.
THE FIGHTING ON MONDAY.

The following is from the extra New York
Herald OF " edn' day III orniug:
Our messenger, from Hooker's army bring
Inc details of movements ON he Rappahannock X
down 10 Monday night rs relates to the main
army, and To Tuesday morning al two o'c, oyk
III relation 10 the detachment under General
Sedgwick.
GEN. HOOKER MAINTAINS HTS LINE
The withdrawal OF Hookers advanced col
umns beyond thancellOrsyili on Saturday
evening and the protrac teG and terrific fight
ing OF Sunday, had Left our line OF battle lying
on the edge OF the Nv OoGs three q uarters of a
miie north OF Chance:lorSyille. crossing the
main road leading to the United States ford
This line has been maintained with no impor-
tant change.
BRIEF ENGAGEMENT ON MONDAY. -.
Monday was very quiet dag throughout
the lines. There was no lighting whatever
until late i'll the afternoon when Hooker ad-
Sanced a division OF the Fifth Corps for the
purpose OF feeling of the enemy and ascertain.
The column moved out in line OF battle across
Abe fields and into the woods III the direction
Of Fredericksburg. Soon after our skrmishers
had entered the woods they met the skirmish-
ers OF the enemy, driving them back Our
main body then pushed ON and soon found q
large body of the enemy drawn up in a for
midable double line OF battle on a slope facing
our main position. ..-s
A brisk action ensu ued, lasting half an hour,
during which time the musketry firing was
nearly equal to that of Sunday. Onr batteries
also opened on the ascertained position of the
enemy, and they were soon compelled to fall
back, somewhat in disorder. Our troops then
returned TO the main line and rested.
Nothing further has been doAe in that direc-
Sunday night and Monday, intrenching his
present line, and is confident of his ability to
hold IL against any odds the enemy may hurl
upon him.
GEN. sEpGwIcK DRIVEN BACK.
The news from Gen. Sedgwick's detachment
is less encouraging. 1t would appear that,
after the struggle of Sunday, Gea Lee detach-
ed large body of his main army to 90 down
and meet G General Sedgwick 1t is also known
that Gen. Longstreet was rapidly getting in to
his re ar at that time. 70 "a
Early Monday morning large masses of reb-
els appeared on the heights to the east of Fred.
erieksburg, which had been partially esacuat-
ed by our forces in order to strengthen Sedg-
wlck's column. Those remaining made but q
brief resistance and relnquished the position
to the enemy, having first removed all their
guns. f-'
Some fighting occurred aboye Fredericss-
burg, the particulars Of which have not been
received, but it Is supposed to have been an
effort to hold the rebels from moving mp to re-
inforce the body engaged against Sedgwick.
In this, how wever, we were unsuccessful. 1t
is generally understood that this force was
Longstreets column, Just arrived from Suf.
folk. hiaa@ 2--' -A' 3" a = -
They interposed no objections to our holding
the pos session of the city of Fredericksburg,
which we still retain. = - 1891
BRISK ENGAGEMENT - 70 .i f
On Monday, Gen. Sedgwick was hotly en-.
gagged throughout the entire day, the enemy
pressing him at all points, and cutting him up
badly. His men were obliged to give way be-
fore the overwhelming masses Of the enemy
constantly, and his discontinue seemed Ger.
tain, when the gallant Vermont brigade made
q noble charge, repnlsing the rebels in fine
style, and securing the safety Of that portion of
the army. -r#Fss.tE s4- +.
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER
= The slaughter Of the enemy In this action,
which occurred in close proximity to Banks
Ford, is without parallel In the history of war
fare, considering the number Of men engaged
Whole brigades of rebels were literally wiped
out, but their force was so many times greater
than that at the command Of Gen. Sedgwick
that twas i'm possible that he could hold hls
position, and he therefore concluded To extri-
cate himself by recfossing the river. p q ~
a GRN. sKD0wIcK CRossEs THE RIVER sfsg
q This hazardous e1pedient was attempted and
successfully carried ont between midnight and
.two O'clock yesterday morning. The enemy
held positions with their artillery raking our
bridges over which Sedgwick was Obliged TO
move his men. necessarily creating some COM
fusion in our ranks as the column moved over,
and causing considerable loss OF life.
HK Goxs TO THB RKLIRF OF HOOKER. 49, 9
They also pressed holly upon his rear when
they discovered he was refreating, and har-
fassedl BIN iucessantly. But he succeeded In
getting hia force over as above stated, In won-
derfuI good order, and marched Immediately
A 20