The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-11

llooker-An Important Order TO His Troops
The Enemy just Where He Wants Them
An Open Fight or Retreat the Only Al.
Tentative
Under this heading the correspondent of the
Chronicle states that the Army Of the Poto-
mac has crossed the Rsppabaunock, and "car.
ried the war into Africa" He feels everv
confidence that the Yankee army will be vic.
torious; but he does not know, he says,
whether Gen. Hooker will march on to Rich.
mond, or, bya flank movement, compel Gen.
Lees army 10 retreat lie feels confident,
however, a. II Joker has sueoe ssfully crossed
the Rappahsnnock, the army will be victo.
1ions ~ the approaching battles, and do much
The CAyonieie publishes the following order
from Cen Hooker,
HEAnQ'ks ARMY OF PoToxAc,
Camp near Falmouth, April 3O
General Orders, No. a..
1t 10 with heartfelt satisfaction that the com.
mandirg General announces to the army that
the operations of the last three days have de-
termined that our enemy must either inglori-
ously hy or come out trom bshiaa his aefencss
and give AZ battle on our own gronnd, whore
certain destruction awaits him. The operations
Of the 18TH, 11th and l2sh CORPS have been q
succession OF splendid achievements.
BY command Of
Major General HookER.
S. Hsuiams, Asst Adj't Gen.
Tho New York Herald publishes long and
very ciscumspect account of the crossing Of
the Rappahannock by the Yankee army, and
says "the enemy was everywhere taken by
surprise, and nearly every picket force was
captured.
Tho Army of the Potomac has been accus.
toned to have it's headquarters afar off; but it
was yesterday april 36) electrified by know
ing that the headquarters Of this army
auspiciously begun will end we shall soon
see."
The Chronicle contains not one word about
the defeat of the Yankee army at Chancellors.
vile aad fredericksburg, but though silent
under official orders has found courage enough
to publish the fact that the nation is in cher
great agony" 1t says Lincoln has issued q
call for 500 900 men, and adds: "This cal of
the nation in her great agony should reach
every heart"
We give the letter below from our oorres-
pondent at Fredericksburg, which gives some
further particulars Of the great defeat of
Hooker:
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, May s, 1863
Doubtless you have already received the OIL
cisl reports giving the gre At facts these glori
ous seven days battles around Fredericksburg.
Day by day have aent you the history of all
that has occurred. My account Of Saturdays
performances the Yankees got at Ashland, and
other letters have no doubt been lost from mail
irregularities. Let it be remember ed that the
distance over which the b Attle ragged and fluc-
tuated like a sea of fire from Wednesday morn
ing until the "Wednesday following was fifteen
miles. Commencing it's mustered thunders at
Daep Run, its real storm broke forth above
Banks's ford. and eliminated in the splendid
fight and triumphant victory a. Cnancellors-
vile. Gen. Lee said the enemy 'sposition could
not have been stronger They had three lines
of entrenchments 1t is said Mcclellan was
there experimenting the di,chipgs. In every
attack our men were successful. The enemy
were driven in panic from their breastwOrke
General Posey's command clone took three
miles of entertainments. On Friday, McLsws's Q
troops attacked aud drove the emery from
point seven miles from town and commenced
the attack at Chanoell0rsville, ten miles
from town, ON Saturday. The night at
tack was made on jackson by the enemy. Their
repalse was complete and their destruction
immense. 1t is eaid four Yankee Nj Msjor Gene
rails were killed The prisoners captured,
the stores destroyed, &c i sn unable to ct ate
accurately. The most desperate fight, how.
20 900 Yankees who crossed below and at
Fredericksburg, and got Marye's Hill after
lOGing three times as many as the force which
defended IL, swept up the plankroad and met
their fate on Monday, whom Eary's, Ander
sons, and MeLaws's forces enclosed them in q
crescent Of fire ard swept them back towards
the river. That closed the debate. 1t became q
bannGck. At Banks's ford McLsws alone
took GU0 prisoners and l9 officers. His horse
was struck as we'll as himself on Sunday
His staff differentiation Goggin, Major E. L.
Costin, Capt Lamar aud Capt. E. Taliaferro-
discharged their duties nobly, and escaped
harm in the storm of bullets which fell 60
thick and fast. have not epace or time ex-
cept to give you now few hurried sentences,
which may help 10 give You some better idea
of the battles. TIE enemys loss must be 25,.
600. At least 40 900 email arms and 26 can
non we have taken. One good result is the
proof afforded Of our improved artillery
Major Latimer, with two batteries, drove the
men from a Yankee battery opposite the Ber
nard House and made them abandon their
guns. Major Braxton, at Charlottesville,
twice compelled tho Yankees to leave their
guns. McClelian's boast of superior artillery
IL exploded l regret to state that John Hall,
of TINS place, Of Brax, ION 8 battery, was killed.
James Forbes was also killed. 7. and ID.
Cunningham were also slightly wounded. l
hear Of no other casualties among our towns
men.
lam promised several reports Of wounded
and killed in different commands. 1t il best
to be accurate at the expense OF delay.
To-day we hope to get Yankee papers with
their report of the fight. l have seen one
which speaks of Ho0kers successful advance,
his getting Lee in the right place, the rebels
would be compelled to fight, could not escape.
&c. 1t 10 said Lincoln and Hxlleck came
down to persuade Hooker not to cross over
Hooker was obstinate. Lincoln got gloomy
and Hslleck got drunk, and Hooker carried
out his plans and got whipped.
The letter We give below is ono from our
correspondent which was intercepted, but
has sincs come to hand. 1t fills place in the
history Of the battle:
NEAR THE RAILROAD
A. NJ, May 4, 1863
Ny letter yesterday furnished full proof OF
the difficulties which I'D environ the duties
Of correspondent under present circum.
stances. The first information l gave was
correct-that our troops retired from Freder-
icksburg Saturday night, and the Yankees oc-
cupied 1t early Sunday morning The "shen.
ing" consisted in firing orer the town ut
Marys's Hill. The Yankees came over on
pontoOns Immediately below town, and at tho
tag of truce station ut the upper end Of town.
But for the crippled condition of my pedal ex-
tremities, IN consequence Of severe aud pro-
trscted pedestriaBism, / should have gone into
fredericksburg Saturday night, and thus %.
cured the most accurate information on the
subject. Whether l could have got out il
questionable. The able and accomplished cor.
respondents Of the Enquirer, Wig, and Ex.
emsner, escapsd by the skin Of their teesh.-
I ls