Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-28

IaE following letter from young gentleman, ma
i've Of this town, but now serving in Georgia reg-
rert written to his father residing here, has been
rlce at disposal 1t is hurredy but intelligently
written and gives good idea ofthings in the battles
90 the Rappahannock, as seen by intelligent young
soldier who, believe is SergeantMajor of his regi
usLt -
CAMP NEAR FREDER1CKsBURG, VA,
May 10th, 1868 !
Dsu Father
Another great battle has been fought, and with the
t-p Of God we have been gloriOusiy victorious. The
Yankee army of the Potomac after eight days hard
marching and fighting has again been badly beaten
We have driven Hooker back across the Rappahan
.ock with the loss of about thirty thousand men, to-
-her with immense quantities OF stores OF all kinds
Our loss | think has been comparatively small. Our
brigade did some hard fighting and lost heavily. We
bad been picket in the city of Fredericksburg ten or
Twelve days when the battle commenced The alarm
bell gave warning the morning of the 18th of April
that the enemy lad driven in our pckets below the
Uwu and crossed. There were various rumours ID re
gard to their numbers but nothing reliable. They cap
urtd one company OF a Louisiana regiment then on
picket As it could be done, our regiment was
Tmcd and marching above the town where our pick
e5 were stationed. formed IN line OF battle awaiting
urther Developments. Nothing, however, occurred to
disturb the quiet above and just after night, six COM
panes of our regiment were marching back to town
1lT Of the companies having been left to strengthen
the pckets-we received orders to march, and proceed
l- several miles below the town occupied the heights
which were entrenched, all next day, April Both. AS
Lght approaching, we again received orders 1.-THE
elemy having made no further demonstration in our
front, their crossing below being a mere feint to at
tact attention from the movements OF their main
army which crossed aboVe,) and getting in motion
marched to point about miles above town, between
The plank road and the river, to confront the immense
force there. The enemy below town recrossed that
1ght SOth April. We arrived at our new post some
time In the night, and laying on our arms IN line OF
battle remained until about 10 o'clock, A. Nj, May
LIST. when we received orders to proceed still further
above. We had gone but few miles when we met the
Yankees, and hastily forming line of battle skirmished
With and sheed receiving ourselves terrible shower
OF shell, grapeshOt and rife balls by which the 5lst
Georgia of brigade lost about forty men, including
their Colonel, VIM Slaughter killed, and Lieut.. Col.
Ball. wounded. The Others lost but slightly; our re-
Sment lost two or three wounded slightly After several
hours of stubborn lighting the enemy retreaed up the
road and stopping at and In the neighberhood OF Chan
corsville entrenched his position heavily They had
gone but few miles from Moss Wilderness Church. the
position they had just LETT We followed late in the
day arriving Immediately in front OF his position aoou
dark, bivOuaced on arms for the night. The next
morning, May Ind, after moving backwards and Tor
wards to the right and TO the LETT gained our place
line. Three OF our companies under the command
OF Capt. Mcbride, sent out as skirmshers to fee
tie enemys position, while the batteries which hao
been previously posted right and left opened or
sarmishers became sharply engaged, and all thai
day the booming of cannon and the shot of small arms
rang our ears sometimes almost defeaning and appar
entity very Our artillery and skirmishers were doing
brave work. During the forenoon Of this day. md May
line after line of skirmishers and brigade after brigade
passed US, first moving forward then falling back, ther
moving to the right, again to the lett, until immens
lumber OF men (Confederates were massed IN our VI
entity. Our fellows began to wonder where old Lee
got so many men. Again rumors started that tn
tnemys batteries and works were to be stormed ant
our brigade was to go in front-be the leading column
The firing IN our front continued aths time everything
being curiousy quiet right, fronting Anderson
division, and our left occupied by Stonewall's braV
boys. A. 2. Hills division, believe was on our i'm
mediate left the rest of Jacksons corps extending
lhe same line. Towards noon the troops that had bee
masslng, marching and concentrating around an
about roselessIy disappeared and we four division
McLaws' with the exception of Barksdales MississiI
brigade who were lett to take care of the stone enc
and Maryes Heights together with part of the Wash
'1gon Artillery were left alone in glory to hol
lhis the 'front.' line We now learned the secret of tb
various manElVres and demonstrations that had bee
maze mere THIS morning and the unaccountable que
90 our right and left 1t proved to be this jackson
lad received orders 10 flank the enemys right and W
10 front were to keep their attention fred on u.s. Will
Tins was being done. About an hoar before sun dow
heavy CannOnading in the OF Hookers right prov
Cd to US that old Stonewa had gained his object an
was laundering In the of our stubborn foe The
came the building and strengthening of breastworks
we were ordered to hold line at all hazards shout
M enemy, hard pushed by jackson, be driven back an
a.Cempt 10 break through living wall. There is q
1e IN teLing you that our men worked with will
UDFHS