Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-21
Letter from Virginia.

May ID, 1868.
A great deal Of anxiety prevails through
ont the North, at the present time, about the
brave army of the Potomac, so lately engaged
in one of the deadlie8t conflicts of this rebel
lion, brought on by a crazy faction Of The as
pir.ng " Southern Chivalry.'
The failure Cor defeat if you wish to callit)
came rather unexpected to oar brave army,
which had all confidence in Fighting for
HOOKER" Two years men and nine months
men whose time of service had expired, went
into the fight like good fellows, and many q
man whose heart beat high with the expecta-
ton of reaching home and meeting bis friends
and relatives. fell, only hoping. in their last
moments that we would be victorious, and the
Union preserved
Great courage and daring was shown by
the commanding officers, especially BY General
HOOKER, who was in The hottest of the bat
tie, cheering bis men or.
The cause Of our failure has been attribut-
ed to the right pIace--the eleventh corps
which fell back almost panic stricken, similar
to the Bull Run affair, when our cavalry brig
ade came Cd at that critical moment and turn
ed the tide of affairs and saved the retreatiDg
columns from utter annihilation The Dutch.
men that fights nit SIGEI," again rallied to
the contest, but with little effect Such
would not have been the state Of affairs if they
only had their fayorite General, (SICEL,) TO
have led them
The rumor here to night is that Gen. SIGEL
has been ordered to report to Gen HOOKER.
IF such is the case the eleventh army corps
will undoubtedly retrieve their good name aud
come up to the scratch next time.
ZEN. Sickles' and Gen. Sedgwck's corps
suffered heavily in the engagement, by press
ing too far into the enemy'S country. Fred
ercksburg and heights were taken by our for
ceS aud re taken again by the Rebels, not be-
ing in our hands forty-eight hours Most of
the fighting was done in the centre and on the
! right at Charlottesville small town at the
right Of Fredericksburg. ChanceIorVille is
now no more bnt will ell place in history.
! We took great many priSoners-one whole
! Georgia regiment captured at one time. They
were so drunk that it was sport to see them
com in, hardly able to walk. One of them had
| the kindness to tell us that he thought We
| could get to Richmond, if we would follow his
/ directions, which was this Two HillS to
/ 90 over, one L07gstrcst to go through, and
| StoncraH to get over, and then we would be
! in Richmond" but cur boys think that they
/ can get there without going over these
! impediments, for Gen. Stoneman's command
/ was within few miles of there, aud don't re-
/ port anv such obStcleS in the way.
/ The Hist Regiment, mostly from Bradford
county, suffered severely They only muster
200 men at present The Hath Regiment,
/ Philadelphia Zouayes), suffered also. They
are tigers to fight.
After trial of our skill with the rebels
and abont II, 900 or Is, 900 less men .Hg the
again across the Rappaho-4gb, nothing hav-
position we werasned on our side. The re-
! ing beer done in very good order, and all
ta1se to Gen Hooker for that. The most
Of the BOYS that are left feel weary and tired
after eight days marching and fighting, but
we are again ready for the conflict
Respectfully,
Pr. CLARK,
18th Pa. Cavalry.