The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-10
second nattle ed FrederIcl,.hnrr.

SeCoua bAAtle OF EfeueFtckbbuFgs
On Friday, May 1st, at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon, the. army was drawn up
in battle line, having the Fifth Corps,
commanded by Maj-Gcn. Meade, on the
left, the Second Corps, commanded by
Mai Gen. Couch, next on the right, the
Twelfth Corps, commanded by Mai Gen.
SlOcum, on the right Of the Second, the
Eleventh Corps, commanded by Maj
Gen. Howard, on the extreme right, and
the Third Corps, commanded by Mai
Gen. Sickles, held in reserve. The
center and headquarters Of the Com
manding General were in the brick
house known as Ohancellorsville, at the
junction of Ely's Ford Road with the
fredericksburg and Gordonsville Turn
pike, and ten miles west from the former
city.
Soon after the army had taken this
position, Gen. Sykes, with his division
of regulars, advanced on the Banks
Ford Road, for the purpose of feeling
the enemy, and also TO Secure the left of
Hooker's army. The enemy resisted
stubbornly, but was driven back about
two miles. Sykes was ordered TO dis
continue the advance, and to gradually
allow himself to be drive back.
Gen. Slocum made a like demOnstra-
tion down the Fredericksburg plank road.
On both the roads the movement was well
executed, and at least partially accom-
plished the object of the Commanding
General. IL was fret necessary to as
certain whether the enemy had aban-
doned his strong hold on the heights above
fredericksburg if he had not, he must
either be induced TO come out, with the
expectation of crushing a smaller force,
or the position must either be outllanked
or taken by direct attack. Gen. Hooker
attempted the former, and how well he
succeeded the sequel will show. In the
event the enemy came out to give battle,
il was Hooker's determination to receive
and resist the attack, purely on the prin-
ciples of defensive battle, until such
time as the conduct of the attacking
party would indicate that his force was
greatly spent, and the hope of success
was fast dying out, when he would bold
ly march out of his strong position and
astonish, confound, and conquer. the auda-
NlUu5 Nutuays WIN Jnlb NltM Ol kut
plan of battle the reader will readily
comprehend the connection of the sew
eral movements, and will be able to
reconcile the otherwise incongruous
changes made 10 the progress of the bat
tie.
AT o'clock on Friday afternoon the
enemy made reconnaissance in force,
feeling the entire line of Hooker's army,
from center TO both right and left ex-
tremes. The fighting in front of Gen.
Geary's position, and opposite HoOker's
headquarters, was for a time quite ener-
gctie. Whether from what he had
learned by the Reconnaissance, the enc
my would be induced 20 become the as
sailant, remained 10 be seen. The extra
pressure made against the center OF the
line developed the tact that the Rebel
commander we'll understood the key of
the position.
The topography of the country and
the direction of the roads made il neces-
sary for the occupying army to hold and
defend certain points, the most promi-
nsnt and important of which was the
intersection of the United States Ford
aad Scotrs Dana roads, with the Ely's
Ford road. With this point as the CEN
ter, ScotPs Dam on the extreme left and
the Ely's Ford road held by the right
wing, made a line difficult TO overcome.
This doubtless the enemy knew and
made his plan Of attack accordingly.
Early on Saturday il was discovered
that the enemy was moving his trains
westward, on the SpOttsylysnia O. Ii.
road Gen. Slocum was ordered TO push
his line forward on the Fredericksburg
plank road, and Sickles 20 move forward
on Slocum's right and occupy the road
on which the enemy was moving
Geary, of Slocum's Corps, moved down
the plank road until he came upon the
enemy's rifle pits, from which his regi-
ments were repulsed, aud withdrew a
short distance In good order, and en-
gagged the enemy until Gen. Williams
moved his division on the right and out
flanked the position. Meanwhile, Birney
aud Whipple, of Siokle's Corps, moved
forward on Slocum's right, aud seized
the road to Spottsylvania @. ii. Gen.
Whipple's right being somewhat ex-
posed, Gen. Barlow's brigade from How
ards Corps, was pushed forward to pro-
tect the right flank IL was now
about o'clock in the afternoon, and
thus far all the movements undertaken
had been successfully executed. Sud-
denly a most firm and heavy charge was
made on the right flank and rear Of How
ards Corps. Regiments, brigades and
divisions broke and fed in the most ter
rible confusion. One brigade alone,
fought brAvely until 30 attempt longer to
hold position would have been mad
ness, then il stubbornly withdrew. TO
Col Buschbeok, with his brigade, COM
prising the 27th and 73d Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and the 29th and 18th New
York regiments, is due the credit OF
having saved from capture the train and
artillery of the corps.
The casualties among the men are
slight Thirteen pieces Of artillery were
left to the enemy; most Of them by some
unaocountable accident were spiked
The retreating train, the Withdrawal OF
the artillery, and the jumbled and con-
fused mass OF slragglers aud frightened
soldiery that blocked the road aud occu'
pied the fields aud woods, produced 4
degree Of confusion thst was truly alarm
ing. Hooker's line Was broken aud de-
ranged; the advanced position Of Berry
and Whipple's Divisions and Barlow
/ u.;,rosta mazda tha aituatfOn qver rnor.