The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-02
BY TEL EGRAPH
TO THE FREEMAN
4 O'CLOCK, p. M
FROM HOOKER'S ARMY.
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
Lees Communication Mem
aCed.
The Crossing below Fredericksburg
only a Feint.
stonemans Calvary in the rear of
the Rebels.
Three Corps moving to the rear of Freder-
icksburg.
a Great Battle Imminent.
Further from the Peninsula.
THE REBELS DRIAEN FROM WILL
LIAMSBURG

New YORK, May 2. The Tribune says the
movement down the river was feint Last
Wednesday night the Sd corps which was at the
four mile bridge marched up the river again,
and joined the End corps at Bauls ford, and
early Thursday morning the LIST 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
straight on the rear of Fredericksburg by way
of Charlottesville, village twelve miles
distant from that city, and three more at
Baulis' ford with the road to the United States
ord open and connec ton established with the
advance column. All six are in position to
move directly upon the rebel line of eommuni-
cation. The 7th corps ia still with a formidable
display of force threatening to cross below and
assail the other flank of the enemy. 1t may
be believed that Lee evacuaeed Fredericksburg
precipitately and fell back towards Richmond
kilograms to that effect were received yesterday
but were based, perhaps, as much on the pre-
sumed necessity of the retreat as upon any d.
rect information. II it is not true SO much the
worse for Lee He had no alternative but 70
march out of fredericksburg to fight with the
certainty that bis 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 possibly
have fallen back, and we shall probably next
hear that both the Va. Central, and the Rich
mond and Fredericksburg railroad are severed.
In that case Lee must fight with what forces he
already has, for no reenforcements can reach
him before Hooker falls on his isolated forces.
We regard great battle as not merely ineyita-
BILE, but imminent, perhaps even already fought.
The groundlessness of the rumors received
in the city yesterday may be judged from the
tact that no kilograms of any kind except
official are suffered to pass out the lines to the
North. Those which allege that battle was
fought below fredericksburg, are manifestly
exaggerations of the skirmishes which occurred
when the troops were first thrown over on
Wednesday morning. and are circulated in jg.
norance of the fact that the whole of that move
ment was feint. 1t is impossible to suppose
that Hooker has divided his army meaning to
attack the rebels on both TANKS at once, and
without communication between bis two wings.
The inevitable result of such strategy would be
that with small force Lee would hold half in
check while he hurled his whole force on the
other and destroyed it.
There are no Eastern names in the list of
casualties published to-day.
The Herald learns that Col. Robert NJ. West
commanding Fort Magruder, made an attack
with infantry and cavalry on the enemy at
Williamsburg, and succeeded in driving them
two miles beyond the town. Our pickets are
at present stationed there and ordered to main
tain their position at all hazards
NEW YORK, May 2. The Tri6une's special
dispatch from Murfreesboro of the 10Th inst.
says dispatch to the Hon. John FORSYTH, OF
Mobile, from the citizens of Brookyiile, Ala.