The New York herald., 1863-05-07
OUR DE 8 PAT Oh & S !.
The CORRESPONDENCE OF II. M. COOK.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY or THE PoronAc,)
l..t.. MAR UNITED STATES FORD, p
MONDAY EVENING. Nav 1858

e rrm HEADcuArrERs, ARMY ov THE poronAc,l
.h MAR UNITED STATES FORD,
MONDAY EVENING May T. 1868.
write you in the midst Of lul In operations 10 this
vcnityperhaps the ull that pre- edcs storm VIC
lent, II that be ssibe. than that which ragged with
US for the past three days General Hooker congratulated
his army thas they had obtained position that would
compel the enemy TO out OF his intrenchmens and
give battle Tue enemy out OF his intrench
ments, and has given battle From fifteen 10 twenty
thousand slain and manged rebels attest tho ferocty
that battle. They attacked irst on Friday, though
more il feeling u than really 70 fight On saur
day pushed lines couple Of miles beyond where
they had been originally established when overwhelm
ing body or the enemy, under tho rebel General Hi
fell upon right flank with violence that
unable TO Withstand The Eleventh corps having the
extreme right broke in confusion under this attack and
led from the field 10 panic, nearly efectins the total
denorazaton OF the entire army Bit for the unsnr-
passed bravery and cooness Of General sckes the his
tory OF the Army tie Potomac would have terminated
with this disaster On sunday morning, at daylight.
they came upon left auk were changing front,
aud battle ensued that has surpassed obst
nate fighting and bravery In the history OF
the rebellion. The horrors Of the struggle were in
tenslcd by the miSeres inflicted upon the wounded.
who sheied and burned hospitals after their
wounds had been dressed-many OF whom who would
otherwise have recovered thus finding horrible death
Hundreds too of the wounded OF that desperate struggle
who left upon the field. burned up by the
agraon Of the woods caused by the incessant sheng
The movement Of the grand Army Of tho Po,om C
across the Rappahannock both above and below Fredo
rcksburg and the position secured by General Hooker
the attainment OF which ho congratulated his troops
and de6ed the onemy 20 assaii hm-has been fully and
graphically described by several OF the able correspond
Of Hrpt v,vitk, tha
opportunity anticipate in writing their
therefore reluctantly compelled abandon the idea of
giving detailed narrative Of the marching and counter
marching OF the particular column TO which especi
ally attached, and win attempt to give your readers
clear and connected narrative Of the operations OF tho
entire army since itganed It's position ~ Charlottesville
.H cHAScEILoRsvnIE
is one OF the many four settlements Of vrgnl
that dignincd with name though having moth
ing but the name 10 give them that character Like
most similar settlements derives It's from the
principal landed proprietor 10 its immediate vicinity It
is situated at the intersection Of the Fredericksburg
Orange Court House plank road--the principal line Of
communication between fredericksburg and Gordons
vlIe-and what known the Wilderness roai--an old
turnpike leading from Fredericksburg TO the village OF
wilderness There also road leading from this poilt.
starting of D northeasteriy direction, Banks Ford,
and directly north United States Ford-Ave miles
disantand by branches from both the Wilderness and
Banks Ford road two additional routes to the ntcd
States Ford.
The place itself, above intimatcd, amounts simply
10 nothing. Al tbStme OF our occupation OF II II
taned but single buding-that large brick house,
which Gen. Hooker took possession Of for his headquarters
This house which stands Immediately at the confluence
Of the system Of roads above m1ntiopei upoi cle
waited cleared and cultivated plain about mie square,
somewhat extended and broken in shape on its south .
westerly corner a. which point alone 1t Is joined through
anarrow neck, with other cultivated fields.
THE couSrsY ABOUT.
In all directions, excepting the southwest corner.
tho point is entirely surrounded by heavy timber. On
the east southwest tho land falls of into the
bed Of scotts creck which surrounds the plain thse
sides On all sides after icsving the immediate vicinity
Of Chanceorsvile the land Is rough and broken cut
with numerous deep and crooked ravnes having
directions, though the cast uniformly leading IN
northeasterly 10 the Rappahannock river The
timber that these hills and ravines is hl-d
with tangled masses OF undcrbrmh, thus com
petng tt ensemtk OF the most undesirable character
Of ground for military operations.
ADVANTAGES oF IiR POSITION.
BY the possession Of this point General Hooker obtained
signal advantages the rebels His operations rnder
General sedgwck the eft had interrupted, great
extent, the enemys communication with Bowling Green
them only the plank road leading through chancclors.
vile and Orange Court House to Gordonsville, and
thence by rail to Richmond, to move up their
supplies upon By getting possession Of Charlottesville
General Hooker broke this line OF Communication throw
ing the rebels upon Indifferent system OF wrctchedy
poor crossroads and byways by which to reach taer
bases o! supplies Holding this position, and al the
time Commanding thor routes the OF Fredericks
burg, therefore compelled the enemy to The alternative
OF starving his ntrenchments comm. to attack
us In the place OF our choice. In the latter event
Chancellorsyiile was. OF, all others, The most
desirable position could have. Its elevation
eaabled its posscssor 10 command the country
all Sides while accessible point left upon which
the enemy could bring artillery TO bear upon IT, could
only be taken by direct ASSAULT and from this sreces Of
attack General Hooker felt confident he had nothing
10 fear
THE FEDERAL ArrRoAcu
Having described the roads ccntering at Chancelors
vle the reader viii have no difficulty In compre
tho routes by which General Hooker relched Chan
cellorsvie with his immense army Making power.
fui demonstration on the right Of the enemy he
called their attention IN that direction aud thsn made
sudden cavalry dash tho fords above gaining posses
sion Of Kelys Ford the confluence OF the Rapdan
throwing the Eleventh aud Tweitn corps across at That
pont These troops moved with the utmost rapid ~ 10
Ey's and tho Germania ords the Rspidan whore
they surprised and captured body OF workcn engaged
in constructing bridge for j. T. b stuart, who pre-.
pairing for raid into lines thence pushed 70 viii
derness whence force detached 10 got possession Of
The unied States Ford, at which place the enemy
forthying Tho precpitancy of our advance took the
rebels by surprise, causing hem 10 retire vom this posi-
tlon without struggle leaving number Or prisoners
aud guns IN hands, and yielding undlsputed
possession Of this important crossiag.
Meantime the remainder Of the Eleventh. ana rwclnh
corps pushed by the crect wdtrucss roid took
Possession OF chancellorsyns without opposition. The
Tnih corps Immediately thrown the river a.
the unasd states Ford aud moved 40 10 tn sbe others