The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-08
The Advance of Rockers Army.
They Cross the RappahannOck.
ATTEMPT TO FLANK THE REBELS.

! ATTEMPT TO FLANK THE REBELS
The movements of the various divisions of
Gen Hooker's army indicate general inten-
ton to get in the rear of the rebels on the
Rap2ahannock, and to compel them to come
out of their detences and fight. The only
doubt of the success of the movement, so
far as the reports up to Thursday indicate,
lies in the possibility that the rebels may
have retreated too soon, and that they are
still between Gen Hooker and Richmond
Our forces on the peninsula have also made
an advance, and diversion is making from
Suffolk in the direction of Richmond ali
which seems TO show design to close in
upon the rebel army and capital and bring
matters to quick Issue.
TIE CROSSING ABOVE FREDERICKSBURG.
The Tribune's special correspondent, writ
ing on Thursday. gives the following account
Of the crossing of both the Rappahannock
and the Rapidan:
On Monday morning, at ) o'clock, the
llth, Maj Gen Howard's corps; the 18th,
Mai Gen SlOcums. and the 9TH, Mai Gen
Meade's corps, struck their tents and march
ed westward on the several roads leading to
keliys Ford, distant from the line of the
Aqua Creek and Fredericksburg railroad
about % miles The llth corps being in
The advance, reached Kelly's Ford at l o.
clock on Tuesday morning. The position is
an admirable one for the exercise of little
strategy. Marsh Run enp,ies into the river
just below the lords, after stealing its way
round high bluff; in Il boats 30 men
from the I'D Pennsylvania volunteers and
the l54th New York regiments. suddenly
darted from the shadow of the hill, and
pushed vigorously across the river, and siez-
I'd the bank. The rebel pickets, about 90 in
Number, attempted to fire. hut their powder
being wet they succeeded only in Swapping a
few caps at the men in the boats. SkirmiSh
ers were deployed to the right. LETT and front.
but the enemy was nowhere to be found.
The remainder of the two regiments crossed
in boats, while the bridge building was push
ed forward with a most commendable vigor
Early in the evening the llth corps COM
menced crossing, and the 18th bivouaked on
the commanding bluffs that surrounded the
| ford.
At 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, Gen
! cLouctldH = CiNdIlN lci pS alive dt lHe
( bridge and commenced crossing. Following
these cam the 9TH corps. the 10Th having
already crossed. The wagon trains were all
sent back from kelly's Ford and parked near
Banks Ford and to those VITO study the d.
rections of strawS. IL was evident that con-
nection would be forced from Banks Ford
10 the troops from kelly's Ford. From II
o'clock till irregular firing was heard ia
the direction Of Germania on the Rapidan
and it is supposed that the enemy was there
endeavering to check the rapid march of the
national troops.
Later intelligence brings in the cheering
news that the lth and 18th corps crossed
the Rapidan at Germania at o'clock We'd
nesday, and that Gen Mead, with the 9th
corps. crossed at point lower down at j
o'clock. Tho enemy was everywhere taken
by surprise. and nearly every picket force
was captured. From three to FIVE hundred
prisoners and wounded had been taken UP to
t O'Clock, and the command was moving
down in fine order, bouyant with hope and
overlooking with ecstacy. The line Of march
is in the direction of Charlottesville, south OF
Fredericksburg. Stoneman, with his full
corps Of cavalry, is sweeping down in wide
circle. determined. with skill. energy and
dash, to retrieve the liquidated laurels CT the
past fortnight. With the reinS of his COM
mand well in hand, Gen Hooker rode along
the entire lines, and witnessed the crossing
at kelly'S Ford. Then and there. and doubt
less not until then, he gave to his corps com
manders the plan Of pending movements.
. n no mo nf tbo bo
eral corps moved like men-of-war, sailing
under sealed orders; when all were well out
at sta Hooker himself broke the seal.
THE CROSSING BELOW FREDERICKSBURG.
At II o'clock on TUESDAY, the camps Of
the first corps. Maj Gen REYNOLDS; the Sd
Ma Gen SlcAies, and the 9th, Mai Gen
Sedgwick, were abandoned, and the troops
were pat in motion. When daylight bro e
on Wednesday morning, national brisades
/ had surprised, surrounded and captured the
enemy's pickets and reserves, and the aston
shed rebels beheld two bridges connecting
the hostile shores OF the Rappahanncck, four
miles below Fredericksburg. As at Kelly S
Ford, SO here, there was no waiting for pom
toons; everything was in readiness, and 50
skllltully and quietly was the launching Of
the boats and the crossing Of the men con-
Quoted. that the first notice the rebel outros,s
had OF what was going on, was the approach
OF the boats filled with men. They fred a
volley at random, which wounded some 20
men of the 10th Pennsylvania volunteers.
that regiment having the advance. Col ELL.
maker is reported severely wounded.
L.
reynolds, with the first corps, constructed a
oFiase In the face of the enemy's rife pits,
ana enected crossing. The resistance was
Stubborn but of short duration. The fire of
the artillery was too rapid and severe for the