The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-09
IHt CORRESPONDENCE Of Mr, s. VI cla'tsrtR


Il II.
4raDovARIns. Asiay on rns PorrAe,(
h4H Nay 4. iSo3 IL
The Grand Army Of the Potomac is oroe mdFp N ia
camps safe from danger Tho second experiment. i2r tne
overthrow Of tue rebellion has been sitenpod ON the
bluff of the Rappahannook aud failed In our sbatc' "a
columns our declnated batteries scattered rsos
and tho wards Of crowded hosias We read tho PAIN
ful history Of this disastosa history unprecedented "a
Its character and huniliating 10 the ration. w w
~ A REVIEW Tim CAMPAIGN
bref skotch Of the principal features connected with
thus remarkable campaign. although necessarily moAsre
cannot this time prove undressing shall attempt
The narration. however conscou3 OF my inability 90
tho subject justice.
was commenced on the morning u .he 2ftb " April
The troops wers cstsd Evory cous!cnaacebeaned with
enthusiasm and condouco md the army ssreamed out
from It's camps among tho hills. glorious In The pride
OF Its power flushed with tbs prospect OF victory. Tho
ncvonth and Twelfth corps went first, and crossed 8sys
Ford whou. opposition The Fifth followed immoda.cy
after crossed At tho place. wheeled 10 the left ard
marching down along tho strip of land bstween
the Rapidan and the Rappshsnnock crossed the foer
at My'sFord and Joined tho Eleventh and Twelfth At
Ohanceorsville, uine miles from Fredericksburg
Every one was astonished at che rApdily Of Che
movement and the failure Of the enemy to resist II
Ia true they gave little fgh. at Geran!a NILS but
voIcy from infantry answered BY the white flag
Of surrender of tho strongest positions upon
line or march fell into hands with the loss OF but
single General Hooker, with his staff had followed,
and was at tho front The advance Of tho Fifth
corps pushed down the turnpike towards the city,
but was repused from strong position hold
by thesnemy at tho junction Of the turnpike with tho
plank road miles from Fredericksburg and fell back
upon the main column, while the Second and Third
corps hurried up from the United States ford TO join
In the battle expected on the morrow. That aighs
Con- Hookers order complimcntng the troops upon
their achievements received and read 10 the army
Cheers and shouts rang through the forests and swoed
up peal after peal from tho thousands Of camp fires in
the Zelda Tho bands Joined in the chorus of rejoicing,
the troops clustered their tents and talked extngs
Of their exploits and their hopes for the future and the
officers wandered from camp 70 camp, proud Of their
deeds and the history TO be read thereafter. ,se
irat AFTERNOON 1 CD
forces were agan thrown out the turnpike towards
Fredericksburg. The enemy mat hsrceIy, repused
and drove back the Chancellor House, where Hap
tons Pennsylvania battery opened upon them ana forced
them TO give up pursuit. Results uninpoEtaa,
General Hooker had strong position TAO mus
| fight him in it. The night passed quietly.
RpAy srRuccLx EgcosNAS,
The engagement. opened on tho turnpike ragged for
short time, ceased, and reopencd The plank al
| to the right. Geary's division went iowa into
the woods, drove the rebels from the thicket NTH
great slaughter, and again there was in Then bat
terry opened further to the right from hehnd the woods,
sheicd for half hour, evidentyto distract our at
tention from the principal movement OF their forces.
who lid DO through gap the forests stu fur
ther ,und the west hurrying along 20 tho plank
road and nassing on our extreme right. At this ns
line extended along this road, with the Eleventh
corps upon the right, and supported by the ''d and
Twelfth Suddenly the maskery opened tcrrnealy up
our aanl and the artillery joinin. in me roar. deaf
| eped the army, while The smoke from the
guns aud the burning woods drif;ed back il dense vc
Tunes, ondng the eyes and shutting in the engagement
| from view The Eleventh corps broke, fell hack in
most aayming confusion, with artillery, hosemen aad
infantry rushing pe uel upon The reserves but hs laird
and Twelfth corps speedily checked pursuit and closed
the Tight bravsy holding the ground So far the opera.
tons aside the behavior Of the Eleventh corps,
were not regarded Is Of much imrrtsncs The
| great battle yet TO come, and the engagements
Of Friday Saturday looked upon skr-
mshes compared with the struggle expected TO
the All night troops at work throwing
EMBELLISHMENTS and strengthening their position, and
on Sunday morning all felt confident that the decisive
| blow was to DO struck. AK fr ts,a..ssa +,
| SUNDAY MORNING .
at daylight the battle commenced II unnecessary for
mo to attempt description OF tho scene, the HsALD
having already given accurate account Of the engage
ment The Of the and the crash q musketry
| were awful Steadily lines pressed back until
they reached carthworks The artillery broke out
with redoubled vigor the infantry poured Their murder
voeys into the advancing columns and then
the charge with the sharp quick work OF the bayons.
wrought death among the enemy, and rebels learned
late for life the power Of the Northern The
| ing wore away with the tide OF battle dashing up
against lines only to be hurled back like
| the waves OF the sea, while our canister and
\ shot poughed through the columns Of gray aud
scattered line. like leaves in the tempest. About noon
the firing ceased. The stiffness was impr sssive
than ths thunder OF battle. We had the engage.
| ment the enemy had been reprsed victory crowned
our The woundsd who had ALLEN inside earth
works back TO the rear hospitals esab-
iished every available point and the dead were laid
away their last resting place The afternoon vas an
disturbed except by the riag Of the sarpshoo,es and
the opening Of the artillery but tue day
was xiousy booked forward 70 Cor reuews o. the
gassmsnt.
! MONDAY acaSTSs
Affairs remained quiet unusually While bcsc events
we're trnnsprine the Iirss and Sixth Corps were &c
tive at Irecoricksbura Bridges had been drown aero,
the river the heights taken the enomy pushed pack
towards chancelarvine. |, was expected that a
| simultaneous attack would be made 10y hooker
| and Sc dgewck Had this been down the two
| wings Of the army, distant frpm each ether only
four niles, wo,ad have beoa united, large force Of
the enemy on between the plaiIcad aud The
dircc; and safe line OF communication eslabshed'wlth
Falmouth several miles shorte. than that used and
,sn,re army have been enabled 60 push forward ike
wedge towards Richmond Bat the First cos recrossed
and moved up 10 the United So sord sedgevick
attaked by an overwhelming forces, crushed aud
driven back across IRE river A. Ranks Ford.
and Fredericksburg abandoned 10 the enemy
with the guns Of its captors defenders laundering %
the oars OF wall ns army In the inreuolmcnss q
Chancellorsvlc The golden opportunity lost but II
was not ye, TOO late 70 achieve victory and the snnhs
ton OF Ice. Our troops were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 10 al
vance The enemy bad attacked us, been driven back