The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-09
Details Of the Crossing Above
FrederickSburg.

EEeSACElCASDuESs
The Rappahannock is again crossed by
the Army of the Potomac, and this time
without the shedding of drop of blood, or
the firing of "a single gun.
The great movement which we have been
so long anticipating began in earnest at
daylight on Monday morning, by the
movement oc very heavy force up the
Rappahannock. The 18th Army Corps,
General Howard, had the advance on the
march, and still has it. At this hour it is
hardly prudent to enter into the minute
details Of the force and the march, as they
have, undoubtedly, great deal of work
before them. r8@@ ta@f Sae"
The weather on Monday was remarkably
fine-even sultry, and the men found
marching in overcoats too fatiguing. They
threw them away in large numbers, and
| the track of the column can be traced by
the abandoned clothing. s 1Hea. XXI.
Tuesday morning we had q cloudy sky,
| and before nine O'Clock drizzling rain be-
gan falling. Butour column kept steadily
moving, and by one O'Clock Gen. Howard's
advance arrived at Mount Holly Church,
one mile from Kelly's Ford, having march
ed sixteen miles since daylight. The rain
continued until the middle of the afternoon
when it ceased, it having at no time been
very severe, but just enough to make
marching heavy, and to stall one or two of
our very small number of wagons in some
of the chronic mud-holes. Otherwise, the
move prospered. The arrival of the troops
in the vicinity of the Ford was well mask
ed by Col. Bushbeck's brigade, of the 18th
Corps, who had been guarding the post for
two weeks.
The troops marched rapidly and in fine
| spirits. Slocum camped last night near
Hartroad Church, and Meade just east of
it-all we're well up by four P. NJ. to-day.
At 8 this morning, General Hooker left
T.: / j.. soI 1,x,h &c
personal staff, rode straight to Morrisville,
| twenty miles distant, and but six miles to
the ford. His passage through various col
| umns Of troops was marked for miles by a
tumultuous cheer, enthusiastically genuine
] At Morrisville he made his headquarters
for the day and night. A consultation of
)corps commanders, including General
junction, was at once held, and then and
there General Hooker first revealed to
these, his principal subordinates, a portion
| of the plan and nature of the present move
ment. Beyond what has been already de-
veloped, none but these officers know. Yet
there is reason to believe that it is startling
in the magnitude of what it contemplates,
noon, that if officers and men did one-half
their duty, it could not fail Of success.
| Howard rested his men four hours. and
they were then got under arms ready to
support operations at the ford. The pom
toon train for the bridges arrived with great
promptness; having come from Bealeton
Station, being transported thither by rail-
road from Alexandria. They are the usual
wooden boats, save being smaller than those
formerly used. The pontoons and timber
were all unloaded on the bank of Marsh
Greek, near its mouth, and the boats launch
ed before dark.
These operations, be it known, We're con-
Quoted in plain sight of the enemy, who APP
peaTed only in small force-afe struggling
pickets, who seemed to be there as look
outs only. They kept sharp watch, but
not a shot was fired. The work went rapid
ly on. The pontoons were at once showed
from the mouth of Marsh Creek into the
| Rappahannock. Seventeen boatloads of
men from Colonel Bushbeck' s brigade were
| thrown over at once, followed by REIN
| fOrcement OF as many more.
The bridge-laying began at eight o'clock,
and proceeded vigorously, under the direc-
/ ton of Captain Comstock, Engineer Officer
on General Hooker's staff. By 81 P. NJ.
one bridge was completed, and another un-
der way. Towards corps was put under
motion for crossing, Bushbecks brigade
then by Diven's, the balance of Won Stein.
wehr bringing up the rear. This force was
! disposed on the south bank for the night.
doing picket duty on the different roads,
Just before our forces landed, small body
of cavalry, numbering twenty, perhaps,
dashed down nearly to the river, and halt
ing for short time, leisurely surveyed our
operations and then retired.
/ That there was no resistance at the ford
caused much surprise. Not single shot
was fired. The enemy had rifle-pits, but
did not use them. We took no prisoners.
/ There is the best reason for believing that
up to noon to-day the enemy had not dis
~..As
the line of march was put, and will be kept,
under close guard, until they can do no
damage. We speculate freely on the events
of the morrow ere we reach our destination.
j which is Culpepper on the one hand, and
! Elys Ford, on the Rapidan, on the other.
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