Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-09

,tnnanQ OF ueneral hOue5. -OnWaru, rlBnL onward
they press they have gained the edge Of the torn
and riven woods they burst into the open and here
for the first time Heaths division alters under the
tempest of shot rained upon 1t from the heights At
this critical moment the Stonewall DIVISION which should
have given Heath instant support neectively handled
as Is alleged TO me, by is commanding general failed to
advance and disaster and repuse teemed not imposs
BILE. But man found equal to the perons emer-
gency as Gen. Rodes animating his men with voice arc
gesture commanded the third reserve DIVISION to ad
ven over FIJI nd foe and storm the heights Nobly did
they respond to his call Under the inspiration of eir
presence aud example Heahs division slowly and stern
ly recovered ITSELF and together they swept up the SLOPE
ard rested till the well known battle flag Of the
rebels flying from the earhworks torn from their
foe. r-
Shortly after one O'clock for the first time encoun
tered General Lee, calm unruled, evenly balanced but
not even at that time, wholly devoid of that quaint
humor Of which rich vein runs through his compo-
ston In answer TO my hearty CO gratuations he an
swered that they premature, that things were not
going everywhere he wished them, 'for," said he
eve have lost Maryes Heights" then learnt that at
early hour upon Sunday morning the federsls had made
two or three abortiye temps TO storm the heights
which were held by one Mississippi regiment (the 2lst
on the top, and another Mis- iIipp regiment tbe 18TH
in the lane at their base. flag OF truce was sent in by
the edera asking to be allowed to bury their dead
carry off their wounded. To this consent given by
Colonel Griffin. 1t is scarcely necessary to add that
the real object of the flag of truce that its bearer
might ascertain tue strength Of the Conederates hold
ing the hill. Scarcely had the flag got back beloIe
three heavy bodies of Yankees in oil not less than 90
900 men, burst from the town OF Fredericksburg from
the river road leading towards Bowling Green, ar
from the west of Tayors Bi and made at the double
quick for the heights One large body came across Ber-
nards Flats in front of the eminence known to your
readers Us Lees Hill and assembled Maryes Heights from
the rear another column burst up the plank road and
were on the defenders before eecua resistance was pos
defend themselves until their ammunition was exhausted
and their retreat cut off, In addition TO the larger
these Mississippi regiments, the Federas captured
FIVE guns of the Washington artillery and two OF Par
kers battery, these being, believe, the only guns cap
tured by them during their dence south Of the Rap
pahannock Upon the capture of Marye's Heights and
Lees and Taylors Hills Gen. Early fell back two milSs
from the first line of bills, where be was hardly fol-
lowed by the enemy who retired when he commer ced
to shell him. The was quickly carried to General
Lee. He lost not moment in detaching Gen. McLaWs
DIVISION and sending them back toward Fredericksburg
Meanwhile the 10000 Yankees, intoxicated by the con-
seriousness of their stupendous valor in having
powered two regiments upon Aaryes Heights and loud
ia their self-exAtation sreamed along the plank
toward Gen Lees In one OF the houses adjoin-
ing fredericksburg Federal officer caught up Rich
mond newspaper, and after re ding for few moments
tossed it from him with superciious disdain eIcaming
"They say We can't 6ght" Five six hours later the
same officer and many of his companions returned to
the house. objected, mortified and chagrined. -Four
miles oil they aud their followers had encountered Gen.
McLaws and his division at Salem Church. and had been
driven back before him. smitten hip and thigh At
Cbance orsvle although match for the burning ell
thusasm aud fiery zeal of the Confederates the Fede-
rails had at least not disgraced themselves; at Salem
Church the corp, which fought under Gen: SedgWlck
scarcely made any show of valor. Vastly superior
numbers untold siueDce Of artillery, the aduation
Of their officers powerless to get hearty
effort out OF this portion OF the SOi-dstdn FINEST army
on the planet"
MONDAY, May
General Lee satisfied that Gen. Hooker would give
him no more trouble at Charlottesville, repaired TO
Fredericksburg and 10 person arshaed the three br
gldes of the three dvOns in that part Of the field The
attack as have said, commenced at in the evening"
The resistance OF the Federas contemplate in the
extreme. Thtir. shattered columns made for Banks
Ford pursued, but scarcely With sufficient vigor, BY the
ConlCderates II the length Of this letter was not al
ready nordnatc many details Of the local circumstances
Of this portion Of the fight how Earlys men leapt down
from the hei hts behind Maryes Hill upon their shrink
ing foe; how LAwton's brigade Of Georgians command
ed in this instance by gallant young officer named
Gordon specially distinguished themselves might be pro-
Rably given suffice il &c say that night fell upon the
Pederas hurryng down to the river Banks Ford and
thar during the night under Of another dense fog
they threw pontoon across the stream, under heavy
aud damaging fire from McLAws, and broken, discom-
feed, demOralized got back to the northern banks.
Wednesday, MAy6.
The morning broke misty with rain, heavy and lower.
lag. The reader will anticipate my statement that it
found Hooker and his army the northern bank Of the
river All night long had they been streaming across
poutooDs over the United States ford IL found
that they had thrown up works and trAverses which
we're marvels Of industry and indeiagabe energy, but
which, fresh from the memory of tue slope at Chsnce
lorsve. and Of the intrenchmens and abattis in the
black jack thicket, they dare not attempt to hold
Further comments upon the incidents which hurredly
and imperfeAly have attempted to relate will, in
mercy 70 the reader forbear The bloody repulse of
the enemy at every point the Illustration Of every move
men the spectacle of at least 900 men hurled back
in three places across the Rappahsnnock alter paying
fearful toll for its passage, constitute ensemble which
requires nothing to be added to il.