New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-02
PROM TILE ARM7 OF THE POTOMAC
The Rappahannock Crossed at
\ Four Points,
SUCCESS EVERYWHERE.
THE ENEMY COMPOUNDED.
His Piekets and Reserves Captured.
FOUR HUNDRED PRISONERS TAKEN
A GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT.
Els Piekets and Reserves Captured
FOUR HUNDRED PRISONERS TAKEN
A GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT.
Ear Special Report of the Great Movement
From Cur speeiai Correspondent.

and the 5th Mai Gen. Meade's Corps, struck their
tents and marched westward on the several roads
leading to Kellys Ford, distant from the line Of the
kcouia Creek aud Fredericksburg Railroad about q
miles. The Iltb Corps being in the advance,
reached Kelly's Ford at IL o'clock on Tuesday
morning.
A brigade from this corps commanded by Col
Busehbeck, had been guarding the ford ever since
tie advance Of the cavalry, two weeks ago. The
position had been well recoppoitered and hence
immediate preparations were made for laying the
roptoons, which, strange as it may seem to strate-
sists," were in the right place at the right time.
The engineering was directed by Capt Comstock of
Uookers staff, but both the laying Of the bridges
j and the crossing were superintendent by Maj Gen.
Howard in person.
, lie position is an admirable one for the exercise
81 little strategy. Marsh Run empties into the
,;ve- inst below the fords, after stealing its way
,outd high bluff. The pontoon boats were meored
in tits creek behind the bluff ip seventeen boats
c55 men from the 13d Pennsylvania Volunteers and
the l54b Now.York regiments, suddenly dsrted
from tie shadow of the hill, and pushed vigorously
scross the river, aud seized the bank. The Rebel
pickels sbou, twenty in NUMBER attempted to fire,
but their powder being wet they succeeded only in
mapping few caps at the men in the boats.
Skirnisbers were deployed TO the right, lef. and
front but the enemy was nowhere to be found The
remainder Of the two regiments crossed In boats,
while the bridse.building was pushed forward with
a most eommeudable vigor. Early in the evening
the Eleventh Corps commenced crossing and the
Twelfth bivOuacked on the commanding bluffs that
iurrOund the ford. ~ -
On Wednesday morning, long before the day had
dawned tie tramp Of feet was again heard on the
floating way, and, when The gray light of morning
nse on the scene, long black lines were projecting
themselves in radia from the pOntOon landing, and
The plain beyond the river was soon covered with
poyiug aasses Of men. ~-
At O'Clock, Gen. Sonemsn's cavalry corps
arrived at the bridge, and commenced crossing. Fol-
lowing these came the Fifth Corp, the Twelfth
having already crossed.
The wagon trains were all sent back from heHys
Ford and parked near Banks's Ford aud 10 those
who study the directions Of straws, it was evident
hat connection would be forced from Banks's
Ford 70 t,e troops from Kelly's Ford. From ii
o'elo1k III irregular firing was heard in the diree-
ton Of Cermana on the Rspidan, and it is supposed
thst the enemy was there endeavoring 10 check the
rapid march Of the National troops, though nothing
trustworthy has yet reached US.
AT u O'Clock on Tuesday, the camps of the ist
Corps Msjor-Gen. Reynolds the Sd, MsJor-Geu.
Eekes, and the 9th, Msjor-G Gen. SedgwiGk, were
abandoned, aud the troops put in motion.
When daylight broke on Wednesday morning, ma
j hona Iizades had surprised, surrounded, and cap
Il tired the enemys pickets and reserves, and the
.GOnished ReLels beheld two bridges connecting
TIE hostile shores Of the Rsppahaunocs, four miles
below Fredericksburg.
As at Keys Ford, so here, there was no waiting
for popioons; everything in readiness, and 30
,kilfuy and quietly was the launching OF the boats
and the crossing of the conducted that the first
notice the Rebel ouposs bad of what was going on,
was the approach Of the boats filed with men, They
fred voIiey at random which wounded some 70
men Of til, 10Th Pennsylvania Volunteers, that
regiment having the advance. Col. Elnsker il re-
ported severely wounded.
The success of the expedition IL boat: vas 80 com.
tsete as u prevent al alarm. The laying Of the
ridges though in the very face Of the enemy, was,
terefore, carried 10 completion without his Euowl-
! dye.
Tie hazy atmosphere Of the ight was most favor
pile for the work. Though one could see perfectly
Te for space Of twenty feet around, objects more
tstsDt were wholly undistiDgushable through the
Mat Two bridges were laid near the same cross
ng-one by a detachment Of regulars, aud the other
BY volunteers. pleasant rivalry sprung up, and
the volunteer boys carried away the isurels by com
pleting their bridge 30 minutes in advance Of the
regulars. After this third bridge was constructed.
sufficient force to hold the bridges was marched
ever nd placed in position after which the crossing
ceased iofS he day. The several commands on this
nde were sA,~iageouEly posted to await further
Tders' Inc 'Ime'Sarport, aud execution Of these
orcsrs will appear siNe close of the drama.
Two miles further dow The river Gen. Reynolds
WITH tie hrst corps, constituted bridge in tie face
d he enemys rlhe-pits AID effected a croesing
ne resistance was stubborn hat Of short duration.
i'e IRE OF the artillery vas too RAPID and severe for
eeenemy, and be wisely abandoned Inc ear,h .o,,.s
e lied, leaving in the hands of party who c,o.sod
aoOais u prisoners from the 18th Georgia ana e,h
louisiana. attached to Jaeksons command ~, -
ftsoners report jackson AS commanding tie ,;oI,
wig Of the Rebel army.
yesterday the Second, COUGHS corps, took mo-.
y" a. e rear OF Bankss Ford with full facilities io
NVs'ng hls own corps and as many as might be-
,'uere' 10 follow him. A good road was constructed
~"een bsnkSs and United States Fords, and onl,
v'u',s were needed 70 put in harmonious motion al
"s departments of THE pea. army.
HAsf Intelligence brings in the cheering new
na' the Eleventh aud Twelfth corps crossed tn
Aap'dan at Germania Of o'clock Yesterday. an,
that Gen Mead, with the Fifth CORDS, crossed a,
S'iss %wsT DOWN q! sQslock, The enemy VS.