Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-05-13

FtSdNgh Lc6 Di fyNtei tbS'
Under tho above head the New York
Tines Of yesterday publishes the following
details of news from the army of the Polo~
mac. To tho letters, it will be seen, are
attached the pames OF the writers, in pur~
suance Of the la;e order of Major General
Hooker
TCvrrespondenoe of the n. Y. Times.l
Details of the Important Operations at
Ohancellorsville on kriday
I4ADquARrERS ARMY OF Tas POroHAC,
IN the Pisa near ChdAsellorSUsAe, VI. 7
Friday Evening, May l.IOP. IN
Jpon ny return from United states
FORD this mo,nIng the first news that
preetoG NY ears was the death ut thai gaI'
lsnt and ldyG4ltuule officer, LteUt Co..
McVIcar, commanding the SIatn y. 1olk
Cavalry. 1t occurred last night dunnga
brilliant and daring reconnoissance to"atd
Suottsylyania COUrt House. Ine suair
was the boldest acJ Vi tne advance luGs
far. The charge Of less nan ~ vi our
men upon The Whole Of Fhtshugh Lees
brigade, and the successful escape o! our
force WAS q fit ana SURFING event loF 1Ae
opening Of this grand battle.
Iae second army corps came up during
the night aud encaiuped near tue lett OF
our position. The thlrd corps lay between
banks aud United States Fords during
the night, aud reached the 'front.' aoou.
noon.
We hold lbe Gordonsvilie road securely.
81 Going half mile TO The rear we find q
.y,.1 l.N.l,r.. N &FAtI-ylN a
Courthouse four miles To the rear is an
other. Their flank is thus dangerously
exposed, for il they retreat they are har,
assed by flank and rear i. they tight they
must dghtIn Gn open field, on equal terms,
with IerhoIs Ieat advantages IN our la
Vur.
Evidences hourly accumulate Of the fact
that the enemy is totally surprised at our
vigorous operations, and IN a great meas
,1nprepared to meet Us. That he Is very
nervous is evident from the manner IN
rhith lie fulls to digging rifle pits in ev.
eff convenient locality If any further
sIdence Of tho fact were needed, 1t IS
found in the capture at this point yester
day OF Dispatch from Gen. Lee TO an ems
sineer officer here, saying in substance
,hat he MAS very much surprised al tins
17crement, had not anticipated it, and
was anprepsred to give Mm instructions.
Ibis dispatch was dated April 20. One
moro fact: McVicar captUred, IN ms
charge last night; a dispatch from General
Lee TO Filshugh Lee, ordering his cavalry
brigade 10 be at Spottsylvania Courthouse
on Anil 30 Thus Lee came in on Nc
.vicar's rear, who was also bound TO Spott.
sgiyGnia
Has.iliues among the pickets were car
riod GU during the night with slight loss.
Wstsons battery, in Mehde's front, thus
lost two mcn and eight horses. Our lines
rere not developed last night, the troops
being massed ia proper locations.
The forenooa was mainly occupied by
Gen. Hooker his staff, and able corps
commanders, in consultation, and IN max
ing disrositiOns of the columns. AT about
y o'clock, Gen. Sykes division was sent
forward on the left, by the Banks Ford
road, to make an attack, and compel the
enemy to develop his strougth on that
bank. lie moved promptly into position,
with Weeds tuow Watson's) regular batN
.ery. The 6rst gun was fired by the ene'
nv about twelve o'clock. Heavy skir'
mishipg commenced, our men entering
,hs field with much enthusiasm. The Sth
pennsylvania Cavalry skirmished in the
very front for some time, and sustained a
calling FIRE from the enemy's infantry, but
behaved with great intrepidlty. lhey
charged AID recharged upon the infantry,
only to be in turn driven back. General
sykes then threw forward two companies
OF infautTy, without knapsacks, on khe
'double>ouick, who supported the cavalry
and checked the further pursuit OF the
enemy.
The action now became quite general
hstween the two forces. each seeming to
be about the same etrength. The rebel
division thpS engaged was that OF Ander-
son, part Of Longstreets old corps, and
consisting OF the brigades of Pasey, Ma,
hone and Wilcox, Sykes fought the latter
brigade at Gaines Mill. The rebels con-
tested the ground vigorously, giving way
only when pressed very hard. Our troops
fought for fully an hour with great spirit,
and drove the enemy from two successive
and strong positions upon ridges OF land
which run parallel with the Roppahan.
mock. The distance thus gained wa
nearly one mile, aud some fifty prisoners,
mostly belonging to Virginia regiments
we're captured. They gave themselves VI
readily, many of them manifesting pleas
ure at their position. About y o'clock
lust as Col. Chupmsn. commanding bri'
sade OF regulars, had expressed ades.re t'
Stake another ridge. an order was receiv
BY Gen. Sykes from Gen. Hooker to sus
pend the attack, and retire nearly to hb
formar position. This appeared inexplca
ble 10 both officers and men, and as h'
1,.tay o.n,n hall alnwlv and in good order
frequent mntteringS were neard amongs'
them about being ION the retreat again
But the sequel proved thai there was
mind over all, who directed what was best
for them.