The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-05-12
THE LATE VICTORIES.

wo publish to-day all the details we have re-
oeived of the recent great and glorious victories
Of and in the vicinity of Fredericksburg Va on the
% I'd and 4th May. Although the details are not
nc complete as we hoped to be able to give, yet they
ore sufficient to show beyond doubt that the Con-
f.dcrate army under Gen. Lee has whipped and
driven off the Lincoln army under Gen. Hooker 1t
Is the opinion of some well-informed persons that
We had but SIS 900 men, while the enemy certainly
had 100000 if not Our loss is estimated at
between five and eight thousand in killed, wounded,
&C. and that of the enemy at from twenty to thirty
thousand An officer who passed over The field on
Sunday told us that he counted ten Yankees to one
Confederate dead and wounded. From Saturday
morning to Sunday night the Confederates drove
the invaders steadily before them. and captured
eight to ten thousand prisoners, from 30 to so
cannon. and large number of small arms.
We are informed by soldier who was in the
feht that he heard one of the Yankee prisoners say
that Cen Hooker told his army, after crossing the
RappahannOck to make the attack, that they must
either go to Richmond to hell. 1t is supposed
that many of them went to the latter place, but
none to Richmond except those who went under
guard. This attempt of the enemy to take Rich
mond was one of the most desperate that has yet
been made, and think they have received one of
the most signal defeats of the
The only thing to mar the general rejoicing over
this victory the loss of many of brave and
gallant soldiers, among them the world-renowned
here, Lieut. len. ID Jackson.
The Richmond Dispatch speaks as follows of the
battles and results:
The mannuvres and achievements of our army
dafng the powerful contest are of the most brilliant
character. The enemy, in bis own efforts to re-
llxI
splemdor of the triumph. To Gen. Sedgwick one
of their ablest and most accomplished commanders,
was assigned the task of assailing the of our
army with large force of fresh troops. They
gained some advantages over our command at
Fredericksburg: but were afterwards repulsed, and
by a prompt and rapid movement by Gen. Lee
were routed and forced to retreat rapidly the
Rnppahannock, under cover of their guns on its
north bank. Saturday and Sunday amongst the
most brilliant in the annals of the Southern Con-
frderacy, already illumined with triumphs W hich,
for number and magnitude are not surpassed in
history.
This terrible defeat is sad finale for the thou
sands of men in the Yankee army whose terms of
service were on the eve of expiring. Hooker could
not afford to wait till they at liberty leave
him. He felt the necessity of bringing all the men
he could against the brave army of Gen. Lee, and
they were led to slaughter.
So far his reputation is concerned, Hooker
might well envy the dead. He obtained command
of the army he has led to defeat by defaming his
brother officers ana the aSSlduouS obtruSOn of his
own conceits of strategy the Government. He
gratifcd with the chance of winning renown by
retrieving the fortunes of the oft defeated Federal
army of the Potomac. He has met a well -merited
fate, and must now go to the Yankee Hades of all
defeated Generals
What our enemies propose next, and how long
they will extend the time for the capture Of Rich
mond shall perhaps learn. They have
displayed great perseverance in their object, so dear
to them, and may not be willing yet to abandon it,
1t is probable that Rosecrans will be the next star in
the Yankee heavens. Let US hope however, that
there will be time to sink him below the horizon be-
fore the new ION TO Richmond" be planned.
The blow on the Rappahannock will be salutary
in its effects upon the enemy and upon our own
men. 1t will cheer ours much as it will depress
his, and give tone to the summer campaign. If it
does, the situation of affairs will undergo a great
Improvement, both at home and abroad.
The glorious Army of the Potomac merits the
lasting gratitude of the nation 1t has won a re-
nown equal to that of any army the world saw.
F~ We learn that during the battles the enemy
had their sharp posted in the tops of trees
to pick off our officers.