Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-05-15
FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
The following is a portion Of letter writ
ten by Capt. j. j. Lamar, Of the 10th N.
Y, to p Melendy, of this place, The wri-
ter was formerly resident of our town, ard
is personally known to most Of our citizens.
1t may be of interest to his old acquaintance
here to learn that Mr.. Lamar is winning On
enviable reputation as soldier. He has
been in three battles, and has been wounded,
though not severely. We understand from
one of our townsmen who was recently in
Washington, that Capt. Lamar is great
favorite in his regiment, and that probably
ere this he had been promoted to the Major.
ship, which it was generally conceded there
he would get without opposition. The fol.
lowing refers to the operations of the first
few days: ......... ...a... .....
On the Battle Field near y. s. Ford,
On the Rappahannock, Va, May I'd, 1868
Since we parted we have had stirring times
in the Grand Army of the Potomac. On
Sunday the 26th ult., at P. NJ. our corps
(the 12th) received orders to strike tents and
be off. Where to, or for what purpose, none
knew. Speculation was rampant. Some
were of the opinion our destination was Cor
louisville; others, that we were bound to
Culpepper; and yet even some very wise
ones, that we were again to be marched back
to the Notifications around Fairfax Court
House and Washington. Not even Corps
General knew the place where he was to re-
port. On we went, through mud and storm,
propelled by the greatest excitement and en-.
thusiasm ever manifested by the army. The
course was led by one Of General Hooker's
aids, the only man in our corps who knew
our destination, and such was the case with
every corps. On Tuesday morning, in q
heavy fog and drizzling rain, we crossed the
Rappahannock at Kelley's Ford, about %
miles southwest of Fredericksburg. Here We
met no opposition. Taking the road to the
Rapidan we marched Is miles and came tc
the Ford at Germanna Mills, about Z O'Clock
Pm. Here we surprised 200 rebels build
ing bridge. Their commander called out
"What army is that?" Col. Colegrove, Of
the 9th Indiana, replied with volley Of
musketry, giving them to understand that
odd Fighting Joe Hooker" was round
Our bullets had the desired effect, and bro't
out white flag. We bagged every man,
that not even one was left to tell the tale. "
Wednesday noon the 10th having the ad-
vance, we came suddenly upon squad Of
about 80 rebels who were out on foraging
expedition. These were very easily gobbled
up and sent after their friends of the previ.
Gus evening. We arrived at Chancellorvillc,
about ten miles from Fredericksburg, before
the enemy knew of our advance, formed our
lines and advanced our pickets. Thursday
morning, April s0th, the ball opened. Long
street commanding on our front, threw his
whole force against our centre With the in
tention of cutting through. His columns
came up the plank-road in most splendid
style. -Four batteries of the LIST New York
artillery had been planted in an orchard and
small scrub.oak grove waiting for them
When the head of the column was within
ten rods of us they opened on them with
canister and grape from 81 guns. Did you
ever see grass fall before the mower? You
then can form some idea of the carnage and
slaughter. 1t was thought by the rebel COM
mander, about this time, best to change
front, which was very suddenly done, and
such skedaddling is not witnessed every day
Our brigade, which consists of the I'd Mas
sachusetts, Sd Wisconsin, 9th Indiana, 18th
n. Y. and 10th n. Y, was ordered after the
retreating enemy. When the order was
given to forward, such yelling and cheering
has seldom been heard. We bagged the
whole of the 43d Georgia, one Virginia, one
N. Carolina, and part Of Mississippi regi
ment, in all about 1900 men. Most o
them were well pleased with the exchange.
The 18th, Sigel's old corps, but now com
manded by General J. NJ. Howard, of Michi
gan, was placed on our right, and held tn,
rebels at bay all day, and at night pitched il
and drove them back two miles or within
eight miles Of Fredericksburg. The 9Th, com
manded by General Mead on our left, helt
the ford and the heights back of it, making
some most splendid charges, every time tlriv
ing the rebels and making the slaughter hid
eous. The firing was kept up until II p
NJ. on Thursday night, and opened again OF
Friday at day light, but seemed to lull befor,
10A.M. About P. NJ. the carnage agar
began along the whole line and was terrific
1t seemed that desperation had taken pos
session Of the rebels, but their assaults die
no good Our lines were still unbroken, ant
every charge they made was very disastrous
to them. am now writing beside log, ant
can hardly see. IT'S in the morning ant
we are expecting bloody fight to-day. Ye
every man is determined to die or here de
molish the rebel army in Virginia. Fightin,
10 Hooker is the man. He recognizes no flag
of truce to bury dead, under which the reb
els have twice got away from us. There il
now flag of truce in from Longstreet ask
ing the privilege of burying his dead.