Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-06-16
THE GREAT CAVALRY FIGHT nv
THE RAPPAIEANNOCK.
A BIscdy and Terrific Combat.
WASHINGTON, June 10.

WASHINGTON, June 10.
Yesterday the greatest cavalry battle Of
the war was fought on the Rappabanpock,
The result has been the defeat of tie reb-
els, whose captured cJrrespondence shows
that they were ahou. to make a m, ST cx.
tensive raid into Maryland and pennsyI.
vania, under command Of Stuart. with
some $1,000 cavalry.
1t was known ut HO0ker's headousrtors
that Gen. Lee had assembled his cnr,Iry
supported by his artillery and ipGantry
between CulPepper Court House and Re-.
erly's Ford, designing soon to send them
upon raid, and Gen. Pleasanton was
sent, with a portion If the divisions of
our cavalry commanded by Generals Bud
ford ard Gregg respectively, to intereept
them. The forces under Budford-ror.
tons Of the lst, End, 9th and 9th regular
cavalry, and the 9th Pennsylvania cayal,v
T.Teached Beyerly's Ford on Monday eve.
ning ana crossed the river unCpposed short
lg alter midnight
The force under Gen. Gregg-portious
otthe Sth aud 9th New York, 9Th illinois,
and third Indiana caVairy-reachei the
ford at midnight, and commenced to cross
at 4 a. m,
Budfod force, which was on the right,
first met the enemy's pickets half a mile
south Of the ford. when a severe engage
ment Immediately commenced, the rebels
being In heavy force, ard resisting the ad-
vance of our troops with continuous hand
to-hand fighting. When Gregg brought
his force up to the fight, and became en-
gagged, the enemy gradually gave way,
disputing every inch Of ground desperate
ly. However, in this way, the Federals
made more than dozen charges in ;he
rebel ranks, relying upon the Saber, which
they used with terrible effect. The enc
my. on the other hand, repeatedly charged,
relying on their revolyers for the most
part. however.
Both sides were repeatedly driven back,
in the course Of the battle, though we sue
ceeded in driving the rebels-Fitzhugh
Lees and Wade Hampton's divisions of
cavalry. with tartillery, all commanded by
Gen. Stuart-back to point about FIVE
miles southwest of where their piekets
were first encountered, where Pleasanton
found the enemy so heavily reinforced
with infantry and artillery, as to make it
prudent to return TO this side of the river,
The return was commenced about 1 ..
M, Gen. Pleasanton bringing off about
2OU prisoners, his own wounded, and the
bodies Of his officers who had been killed
II the engagement.
The 9th Pennsylvania cavalry, which
was IN the advance, under BuGford, lost
heavily, including six officers killed
wounded, or missing. The Sth New York
had the advance under Gregg, and, under
the command Of Col. Davis, who was kill
ed on the field, after slightly wavering, &C.
he oil w. itl d.
On the reJurn to this side If the river.
the enemy skirmished frequently with our
rear guard, doing US DO damage to speak
Vi, however.
As yet our loss has not been definitely
ascertained. The proportion of hsrses
killed on both sides, ia this almost unex-
ampled haGd.to-haud cavalry b, tile. was
very large. The field from where Budford
and Gregg first became engaged, through
out the whole distance Of five miles, over
which the enemy were driven before get
ting back to their reiufOrcements. was
SfreWn with dead and wounded rebels.
Two batteries Of federal artillery were
engaged, and the enemy had the same
Nj uch credit is given to our artillery for
bravery and efticisacy.
From documents that fell into TIE hands
OF Gen. Pieasantoa, it was ascertaiped
that Stuart was to have started on his in,
tended raid within an hour or two of the
time our forces came up with him.
The following are wounded officers who
have thus far arrived:
Adj. D, S. Taylor, 81 Indiana cavalry.
right leg; Capt. A. CLARK, 8th Illinois,
left hand Cap. j. G. Smith, do. left thigh
Capt. q; A. Forsyth, 5th Illinois, right
thigh; Major j. S, Bcreredge, 8th lii
nOIs.
The enemy on the Rappahannock has
ceased his forward and retrcgrade move
ment, and is now in the rear at and be-
low fredericksburg, in considerable force,
though showing no activity beyond build,
ing few rifle pits.
1t is thou ght thar the large force which
necessitated Gen. Reyes to eyacuate West
Point WAS detached from Lees army for
that purpose, as well as to defend Rich
mond.