The Opelousas courier., 1863-12-12
THE DISASTER IN LEES ARMY.

(From the Richmond Examiner Of Norsaaber 9Th. J
ar Official information was received by the War
Department yesterday, that two brigades OF Lees
army were, on Saturday, captured by d sudden
and unexpected advance of Meade. The dispatch
bringing this intelligence gives none of the par
tieuar Of this disaster; but twas believed in Off
cial circles that our less would fall little short Of
five thousand men. Gov. Letcher and others,
however, who arrived here last night direct from
the army, give nos 50 sad an account of the affair
Their report Isl, that on Saturday, about noon,
Hoke's and Hays Brigades, being on picket,
were attacked by about twenty five thousand of
the enemy, and after one of the most desperate
fgnss on record, part Of which was hand to hand
our men were surrounded and all OF them except
some six hundred Of Hays brigade killed or
taken prisoners.
The number of our men taken prisoners is
varionsly stated at from fifteen hundred to three
thousand the latter figure is probably the nearest
the truth. We also lost four pieces Of artillery
We have been able to obtain no information OF
the extent of onr loss In killed and wounded, but
it isconfdently asserted that the enemy loss was
very heavy, some say as much as two thousand
The fight is reported to have occurred at Of near
Kellys Ford, on the Rappahan but whether
north OF south Of that stream. there are two op-
ions. One account is that the brigades were be-
you'd the river, and hi d manner cut OFF from Che
main body; the other that the were on the south
bank, 1T Kelly s Ford, and were SUR rounded BY
the enemy, who crossed above And below thelnsgs Z
Hays brigade is composed of Lauji
and Hole's of North GaroIinians.
1t ii believed Chat Gen Leo sxr
to advance upon him. KIT b VA
for so early and vigordas iii atlasaz n H
Meade lad received pefesn nptDIy ordaz IA n
vance and give him battle IN heTerer Till 5a
him, but though Il would taka fhes YanlSee ses
eral days longer % bring his army to the Kappa
hammock III would now appear that Meade
can advance as quickly as be retreats.
There was no fighting YESTERDAY
/ From the Examiner, 9Th
About one hundred and fifty of our men, who /
were wounded in the battle at Kelly's FoTd, on
Saturday, reached this city On yesterday morn
ing. From their reports, and information Sderi.
wed from other sources, we make up some ac-
count Of the aafair
\ Hoke,s and Hays brigadss Of Earlys DIVISION
with two batteries Of artillery, were on picket |
north of tie Rappahannock, at Kelly Ford. +
The two bIigades numbered only about two thou /
sand. About I2oscloek the enemy made asudden /
md unexpeeted attack Iii such force that their I
skrmishers alone seemed Ie ottnumber our whole +
1 force, and 20 oqnietly had they approached, that /
they seemed ID our men to have risen out of the
ground. They were evidently well informed Of /
onr force and position, and had come down to /
sI snIfoand ana capture s shs i1ssnl their
Our men fought WITH the greatest GOODNESS and
gallantry, and main ained tho fight for several
hours with good prospact of victory. and it ~
thought would have replllse1 and driven oH The
enssInY but tnr The giving out off their ammuni-
ton. both fpf cannon aud small arms.
Our artillery is said til haye played terrible
havoc IL THE heavy columns of the enemy, but
the ammunition heing entirely xhaIstad nothing