, 1863-05-08


his communications arc already re established,
while theirs with Richmond must continue
unavailable for weeks to come, neccssitatins
them to scatter or FILL back in u body.
It seems TO us on the whole, indeed, it is
clear, that decisive victory was snatcicd
from our gallant troops only by the elements.
Hooker brought of with him, nc may add,
an aggregate Of $500 prisoners.
Before daylight, On Monday morning, the
Which sedgwick had left when proceeding to.
join Hooker. The light also discovered them
mas6ed heavily upon the hills to the left and
upon his front, their total force there aggre-
gated being apparently between $1,000 and
7O,0G0 men. Thus thcY were not only on his
left flank and front, but In the works between
him and Gibbons.
Everything was comparatively quiet until
aboyt 4 p. u., when the rebels attacked from
the left. and were replied to by single sec
tion of artillery Immediately In front Of where
thcy attacked. As their infantry moved,
Sedgwich's artillery opened from all
quarters, but could not check their
e]ov and steady advance, under which Sedg-
wick gradually fell back mile and halt to-
wards Banks Ford.
This Mas the main engagement Of Monday
afternoon, and lasted until 9p. m. In It our
loss was about 4, 600 killed wounded and miss
ing. making the total loss Of scdgw1ck's and
Gibbons commands, including those lost on
the previous day, about 5000, or half the
whole loss Of Hooker'a army In the four days
fighting. On that {Monday) night, scdgwick
rc-crosset his force and Gibbons to the north
bank Of the Rappahannock-
Il is evident that the Confederates played
here their old game Of massing their troops
in crushing force on our exposed points with
rapid change Of position, and that after throw.
iug themselves with all their weight on Hook
er, they, with great celcrity, moved of to re-
peat the blow upon scdgwick's detached
force, and this fact explains that mysterious
silence in front Of Hooker, while they were
thus occupied with SelgWick.
It is stated that General Ayeril, who COM
n,andcd the cavalry column sent in the direc-
ton of Culpepper and Gordonsyille, has been
relieved from command By Gen. Hooker, for
not tarrying out orders to push On to Cor
| donsyil1e, and after destroying everything
that would be useful to the rebcls, then to re-
turn and rejoin our right wing, but instead
Of doing this, It is said that after driving
| Fikhugh Lee across the Rapidan, he halted
for the night, and instead Of resuming the
chase next morning to Gqrdonsyille, he re-
turned to our army, which ho joined on Sun,
day. His cavalry division, it is said, has bcon
turned over to Gen. Pleasonton. Gen. Aver
i'll LAS shown himself gallant and daring off
Ger, and his friends believe TINT he will fully
exonerate himself to the fullest in the matter
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribuno.l
PHILADELPHIA, May s, 1865.
The n. T. Times Of this morning publishc:
IN elaborate account Of the military opera
tions on the Rappahanuock, up to Sunday
night, from which make the following alb
etract. The narrative commences thus;
It is Monday morning, and the army is al
in motion. Tho vast area 1t covers Of mile
nnd miles In extent, Is IN animated
scene Of hustle md stir. Tie camps AT
broken, and the comfortable log hutsand win
ter quarters in which the men hare beer
lodged for months arc abandoned. Column
Of troops are moving on dozen dlfferen
roads, carefully concealing themselves frou
the enemies view by marching through tn
woods and behind the knobs and swainps q
the broken ground along the Rappahanuock
Long trains Of artillery, pack mules an
arnbulances, add their OWL features Of th
imposing and the picturesque to the scent
The army in all Its aspects, material IN
morale, is In splendid condition. 1t is large
and the health Of the troops is better, than
ever Was before.
Great mobility has been secured by cuttiu
down the amount Of transportation, and b
employing pack mules, which 60 any vhe1
! In all Teathcrs, instead Of our heavy wagons
which are always stuck In the mud only tw
wagons are allowed to q regiment, The arm
is no longer encountered with tho ponderou
| I1npedementa which used to be the marvel (
all who behcld it. In fact re row approx
nate the French standard, which enables q
; army to carry fourteen days provisions, Will
ont A wheel behind it.
The moral transformation is not less con
plete. Nothing In this limo Of phcnomeu
was more striking than the admirable secree
; that excluded all knowledge in regard to tt
proposed plan and movements Of the opcnir
7 campaign. It WIS new and somewhat tn
taltzlng sensation, for any one who has "a
> lowed the movements Of the army In the tle
will testify that, hitherto, projected opez
= tions have always been known and discuss'
By nearly everybody, even the negroes al
=. SERVANTS in the camps, for days aud weeks
fore they took place. In this case, absolu
| fcrnrouct. nreyai1e6 Not eren tho cor