Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-07

The military situation on Saturday
morning, stands as follows; Our
main force holds the position at Chancel-
louisville, confronting the main rebel army
now massed opposite US. Towards corps
has the extreme right-then a division of
Sickles' oorps-then Slocum-then Couch
then Meade on the left Humphreys di-
vision Of Meade's corps holding the ex-
IRENE Of the left. Working parties have
been employed during the whole night in
throwing up b~reastEorks, and the woods
have resounded with the strokes ofa thou
sand ax-men telling trees for the purpose
Of constructing abattis. We hear the reb-
els, not half a mile distant, at work with
the same view, and in the morning both
armies are well entrenehed. It will now
be who will come out and give battle.
Hooker is determined TO put forth all
resources Of the craft of which he is a con-
summate master to tempt them out.
Somueh for the Right. Another though
minor force, is working IN the left indie
p~endently, yet with its definite strategic
bearings on the main operation. This sub
ordinate operation is at fredericksburg.
Balloon reconnaissance show clearly that
the enemy have taken their main force
from the heights of Fredericksburg and
the line down the RsppahannOck, and
massed it against us at Charlottesville.
They have also removed the greater bulk
Of their artillery with the same end and
General Sedgwick, who commands the left,
thinks himself strong enough to carry the
heights. The Commanding General as
SCENTS, if there be good prospect Of success {:
for it is of the utmost importance not to
anticipate the golden moment to strike.
Still another cooperative role is assign
ed the powerful cavalry expedition under
General Stoneman. This is nothing less
than to cut the railroad bridges that cros1
the two afluents Of the Pamunkey-nsme-
", the North and South Anna-less than
twenty miles from Richmond. The bridge
over the North Anna is q hundred and fifty
feet long and eighty feet high, and cannot
possibly be reconstructed in less than a
fortnight. You can see how tremendously
this will embarrass the rebels.
Whether Stoneman has by this time ae-
tually performed his task, is not yet re-
ported. I have followed him only as far
as Ra~ppahannock Station, south Of Gull
pepper, through which he dashed on Thurs
day night.
This rapid survey will indicate how CO.
lossal is the plan Of campaign which Gen
eral Hooker has marked cut for the army.
It contemplates nothing less than the de-
struction Of the entire rebel force in Vir-
GINA. It is stupendously daring; but
Hooker is a man who thoroughly under
stands that in war, to greatly gain one
must greatly dare.
The active operations of Saturday COM
prise a series Of attempts in force on the
part Of the rebels to break our line at
various points, which were in oRe case
partially successful, in another complete
ly successful, and in all the others COM
pletely unsuccessful.
In the morning, as we stood on the bal
oony of Chancellor's house, the attention
was aroused by a sharp rattle by a sharp
rattle Of musketry column of rebels coming
up by the main Fredericksburg plank
road, directly in front Of US. Knapp's bat
terry, however, which was planted directly
in front Of the position, opened upon them,
and after 8 few rounds caused them to re-
tire.
Immediately afterwards q battery opened
from the height which Ihave mentioned as
having been gained by Sykes, yesterday,
and then abandoned by US. The position
was rather upwards OF q mile distant from
the cleared space, and its object wal to
damage our ammunition train which was
visible to the rebels from the tops of trees
the height. One OF our batteries was,
however, immediately opened in reply.
The third shot blew up one Of the caissons
and a subsequent shot blew up another,
and this settled their account.
Subsequently a reconnaissance was sent,
our part consisting Of the Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, (Csrr's brigade,
division, Sioklss' corps,) on the
same road by which the rebels had APP
preached in the morning, for the purpose
of feeling their strength. They went out
on the plank road, deployed on both sides
in the form of a letter V, chased the'rebel
skirmishers a couple of miles, till they
came to a heavy double line Of battle, with
artillery in position, when they retired,
bringing US that piece Of intelligence.
Another reconnaissance was next sent
out on our right, consisting Of Berdan's
sharpshOoters. They met the enemy's
drove them handsomely, and at 4
returned with fifty prisoners of the
T~Wenty-third Georgia.
"a = ~ LGG1AA &A1 LIZ aAMA ~ A0AkN 4
On the plank road, where We had a little
before made the reconnaissance. Geary's
of Slocum's corps is sent in on the
iOuble quick into the W~oods-their bayon-
ITS flashing in the sunlight. A sharp con-
ensues, and in a few minutes they |
zone back in disorder. Abortion ofKane's
composed Of raw troops, had
and thrown the column into cOnfu-
ion.
An aid from Slocum comes to ask Gen.
Hooker If he can have reinforcements. |
. mol he must hold his own. Howard will,
# course, support him from the right. Let
division, however, be thrown to
he right Of the road, 80 that the artillery
nay be able to sweep the enemy on the
eft" This treatment presently repaired
he damage, and checked the hope Of the
being able to pierce our centre,
Fooled in this, they now prepared to
make q still more desperate dash on our
flank. We were aware that they had
zen massing against that point all the
.fternoon, and the terrific treble of the
yell with ~hich the rebels al
Ways rush into battle, announced their sp-
roach from the woods by the Culpepper
flank road JscksOn's whole corps, rein
Orced by D. H. Hills division, numbering
. ell forty thousand men, had preeipitated
themselves on HoFsrd's corps, forming
ur extreme right wing. This corps is
ompOsed of the divisions Of Schurz, Stein
7ehr, and Devin, and consists in great
art Of German troops. Without waiting
Or q single vOlley from the rebels, this
orps digracefully abandoned their posi-
ion behind their bresstWorks, and COM
leneed coming, panio-stricken, down the
Dad toward headquarters. Our right was
hus completely turned, and the rebels in
he fair way Of doubling US up.
1t Wss q critical ~situation, and brought
the superb Of Gen. Hooker.
lie was in the saddle in a moment, calm
nd cool-the master of a situation ct to
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