Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-14


Having been Up the river Chancellor svllle yes.
terday, where general and the maiu conflict between
the two armies promised TO occur, admonished
by tie heavy and rapid cannonadng which began early
10 the morning, returned Frederick b1rg where
arrived about 10 O'Clock this morning Here / beg o
to record the events Of the day and had not been en-
gaged at it fer than oDehal three quarters of
ali hGur, hen was Interrupted by sharp skrmiehIa e
Oh the right CT Fredericksburg, between Ha I'll Run +"
and the town, which proved, subs qutntly to be the
prelude to the battle fought upon the heights this
morning.
THE ENEMVs ADVANCE AT FREDERICKSBURG.
Going out to ascertain the stu alton of af. irs,
found tha pckets had received orders to fab back
from the river the heights this side of town at the
first demonstration of the enemy in 'front.' aud that the
latter had hrOwnspontO0n bridges the river and
were crossing. Proceeding towards the river and re-
turning about ) O'Clock, on my way to the heights
where our men were posted discovered brigade of
Yankees advancing towards our works, though, from
the darkness which prevailed the column could scarcely
be distinguished. After Guiding them and succeeding
by crcultOus route, IG reaching our works, went
down Stone Wall. situated on the right of the
road just before it enters Fredericksburg he position
occupied by Cobbs brigade the 18th OF D. cemberl
and awaited tie coming OF daylight. At the first grey
sreaks ct dawn, TIE enemy were discovered drawn up
in line of battle this side OF tie canal which they
had crossed in the darkness. and their skrmishers
thrown out aud confronting ours. BlrksdAe's Misss
sippiaLs occupied The position b. hrd the Stone W all
aud some dis TO the right aud left but without any
support IN the rear. Presently the enemy began to
advance to the attack, and the lines Of sktrmishers
sharply engaged. Fiudlng the Minnie balls
whistllng rather uncomortaby uad him, your
respondent withdrew to position in less dangerous
pr, xmiIy Presently the raain body advanced IN beau
Ii ul Order and when With proper distance were greet
cd with v0liey from men behind the Stone w all
which caused item 10 turn and f. in every direction
About forty Fifty felt at the ST FIRE. They rallied
and again advanced TO the attack delivered their fire
aud again fed before the fce from our men. This was
repeated third time.
PROGRESS OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FIGHTING
Meantime the batteries OF the enemy on the heights
the other side OF the river opened uriOusy u.s. and
replied TO by batteries OF the Washington ar
tlery planted on tie heights TO right The enemy
fired necessarily from hast twenty 10 and FOUNDER
Napoleon and Parrott guOs, soon getting the range
and throwing nearly every shot and shell into our po-
sitcn. The contest continued With musketry and
nOnadDg until nearly | O'Clock, when numerous col
umue advanced and succeeded 10 hankng right on
the wall and getting in Notwithstand e this,
fought them, fl queny locking bayonets, ard
with their muskets cubOrd. Having no support, and
numbered by at least 20 to l, and having done all
that small body could do against such oyerwhem
iGg odds, men fell back and retired The enemy at
the time made charge in true Confederate style,
on a battery of the Washington Artillery, and after
fight tie guns succeeded in capturing FIVE
SIX pieces
SLAUGHTER CT THE YANKEEs-THE CONFEDERATE LOSS.
Here again Te were compelled to succumb to the
power Of erwhclming numbers. The enemy took
nearly oil our wounded, AID oil but two companies OF
a single rrgimsnt prisoners, about two hundred il all,
from Tie b~s data to be obtained now. Notwithstend
Ing ali this we piled that ground with Yankee slain
'npd tie boncs OF hundreds left bleach on the
heights and the plain below
All bat seven of the fist company of the Washington
Artillery taken prisoners in the charge their
battery including CAP tain Sq1res, Leat. Galbrath
and others, whose names ! have vet ascertaiEeG
Eyacuatng the works the heights, cur men we're
rallied ard formed into line again about mile dis,
tant, and here resisted the advancing enemy driving
them back.
During the night before the fight, Yankee crossed
the liver ard deserted to our side, He turned bis
blue Uniform inside out, and worked faithfully 81 one
OF the guns OF the captured battery during the fight
until, fndipg bis whilom associates thick end
fast around him. fed rapidly his legs could Carry
him.
Oar loss in killed and wounded far can now be
ascertaDed is covered by about 100 That OF the
my notwithstanding their success was heavy, and little
less than the same spot On the 1911 Deem Der Ga
the right, tending to HamoD's Cr0ssing there
aso some lighting, but not general. The whole line
from Fredericksburg to amlltons is under the com
maud OF Gen. Esgly, with a small force.
HOOKERs STRATEGY.
1t is sad-that Hooker the opposite side du.
ring to engag CEMENT He succeeded in eff citing his
cherished OF act-the capturc of the Marie heights
Dy sTeWd 5uSs de gusrrs. On Wednesday evening
and night he sent al immense Ouma ct men up tie
river as if intending to reinforce his army above but
sent then back agaG during the night. Had our small
force defending the Marye heights been supported at
ALL the enemy would never have succeeded in breaking
lLes there. 1t reported last night however,
that they had fallen back to the river again; that Nc
| Laws down from above last night with Semmes'
| aud keTshaws hrgades as renforcements, and met
,hem the plank road up which they advancing,
and cut them ap severely driving them back We ex-
pect TO recover tbe posi- ion during the d4y. must
/ refer to this adair il future letter
| TIE FIGHT zoAR CHURCH.
But the great bulk OF both armies up the river,
this sidt the vicinity OF Charlottesville, and there
has been Of c.ded The issue OF the f3ht. After being
driven back Thursday evening at ar Church, mile
above town. by portion of McLA VS. and Henderson's
Divisions, tie enemy made stand about mi eS inr-
tier On our troops pursuing. In this brief engage
ment OF which | have already written you, we lost
| valuable officer in Colonel W. M. Slaughter of the
| 5lst Georgia Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Ball,
| wounded Ihy regiment drawn up in line OF bat
tie, tie enemy throwing Shells Colonel 8. at the
bead of his column Ia a reclining position, and was
rising to his feet, bis right hand resting bis knee
when shell struck him. cutting Of the right arm
above the elbow and one leg above the knee. He was
fully conscious OF his situation, and directions as
| TO The disposition of his remains He was Irominent
citizen of Southwestern Georgia, aud gallant officer
| General Semmes' horse was shot from under him.
! Capt Waddell Ct Petersburg aud Lieut. Garter, OF
the 81 Virginia Casary XIII: I'd. he f0rmr by piece
of shell driving his sword AID scdD6 RI through both
thighs The enemy carried Il most OF their dead, but
LETT then scattered here Ltre-horrd looking crea
lures. The ground was streEn with their knapsacks
oyercoats &c, which they Invested themselves OF IN the
retreat.
II THE BATTLE CHANCELLoRsvILLE-
| On Saturday morning heavy and rapid cannoladlne
showed that army were confronting the enemy who
had made stand about nine miles above Fredericks