The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-08-13

worked at an early DAY near the nap
idaD, about twenty miles from Fred
erieksburg. They are mostly in Or
ange county. VIM. Harding, of New
ark, New J ersey. had just got to work
at the White Hall mine when the war
broke out. He abandoned it, and all
his buildi ngs and machinery were de-
stroyed. He told me that he worked
it twenty-eight days, and took out
s35, 900 in gold. Prof. Richardson is
experimenting the work at the White
Hall, Mitchell, Old Dominion and
other mines, and by September some
mills will be at work. think the
mines will be profitable. But [ dOn't
advise any one to 60 to Virginia on ac-
count of ''gold mines" as gold is the
certain badge of a poor people, and Of
bad society. This is, and has beer
true in all ages and in all countries
Iron makes country rieh-gold neU.
er does.
Within eighteen miles of the Rap
pahannock, four bloody battles were
fought. Fredericksburg, Chancel-
lorsyille, Wilderness and SPottsylya
MIA, are words emblazoned On the fold
ed banners of the Army Of the Poto.
mac with melancholy pride. The
Wilderness was one Of the twelve de-
cisive battles of the war. There were
but twelve such. All have heard Of
Charlottesville. 1t never was z
willie 1t was the early home Oi
a man named Chancellor. The vast
plantation had mostly been abandon
ed, but a large brick mansion was
kept up, partly as hotel and partly
as a private school for young ladies.
Hooksr's plan of ofcampaign in April,
1863, was faultless, and it was enter
ed upon with spirit and enterprise
Stoneman was charged with the cav
airy movements, and was not fit fol
the command, aud he then failed, as
he always did in the field. He was
among the dullest of our stupid cav
airy officers
BATTLE OF CHANCELLoRsYILLE.
Hooker broke camp opposite
Fredericksburg, aud crossing the
Ra2pahannocE at Kelley's Ford,
reached Germania and Ely's Ford
on the Rapidan, crossing there
without serious resistance, and NOV
ing part of his troops directly on
Charlottesville, met and drove back
a rebel force, establishing Head quar-
tiers at the Charlottesville House,
April Both, in the evening. In the
mean time, Sedgwick crossed $4,000
of the 9th Corps, three miles below
Fredericksburg, and thus Lee was
threatened in front and rear Cor
rectly diviniag the strategy of Hook
er, Lee led most CT his forces against
Hooker, leaving Early to hold the
works back of Fredericksburg, against
Sedgwick and Gibbon, who threat
ene6 him from Falmouth.
Hooker had over the Rapidan,
5000 men, whilst Gen. Sedgwick
with 24, 900 was before Eredericks.
burg. Thus far all was success, but
now Hooker's egotism overcame his
good judgment, and lie said 81 have
Lees army in one hand and Rich
mond in tbe other.'' Lee, leaving
Early to attend to SedgWick, led
most of his $4,000 men against
Hooker. jackson, the most brilliant
genius developed by the war, suggest
ed the idea of falling on Hooker's
right flank. Lee consented, and with
$4,000 men he marched along Hook
er's front, under cover of woods, and
reaching the plank road, followed it
far beyond our lines Hooker
thought this was retreat, and order
ed Sickles to follow and charge,
which he did, capturing a regiment,
Just as Jackson desired. Turning to
the right, he reached an open wood
into which he filed, and near night
Jackson halted on Hooker's rear and
flank. Howard's 11th Corps were at
supper, and rushing on DeVin's Divi-
sien, it was "wiped out in moment,
and Schurz in turn melted away ike
snow in the fire and though the 18th
Connecticut of Steinwher's Division
made heroic stand for a moment,
yet in a few moments the whole corps,
demoralized and panic-stricken, rush
ed back on the main body. Sickles
formed a square, and massing artillery
he checked the stampede and repuls-
ed jackson who rolled back bleeding
from Sickles' forty guns. Reform
ing his lines, Jackson fell, mortally
wounded by fire from his own men,
and Hill soon took command, but
quickly fell wounded, and Stuart, of
cavalry fame, took charge of Jack
sons Corps, but did nothing that
night. Jacksons death was most dis
astrous to the rebel cause.
The next day the battle was renew
ed, and gradually Hooker fell back
and retreated across the Rapidan,
the intrepidity, audacity and sublime
courage of Sickles and his grand Sd
Corps, saving the army from utter
rout and ruin. In the meantime,
glorious Gen. Sedgwick, with the 9th
Corps and Gibbons Division, with a
brilliant dash accomplished all that
had been assigned to him. Hurting
his impetuous masses against Fred
ericksburg Heights. which had de-
fed the assaults of Burnside the De-
cember previous, Sedgwick swept on
like a tornado, capturing the rebel
works, piercing their lines, and send
ing Early and his Corps bleeding
back to Charlottesville. Lee had
now whipped, demoralized aud driven
Hooker to his lines on the Rapidan,
and could do no more there, and so
with reckless enterprise he withdrew
most of his forces from that front
and moved to meet Sedgwick, who
was encountered at Salem Church.
He had fought triumphantly for nine
miles, and was within five miles of
Hooker. A bold dash from Hooker
then, as urged by Siekles and others,
would have brought certain victory.
But it was not made, and poor Sedg-
wick was forced to retire by his right
flank and crossed at Banks Ford,
bringing off every gun, ambulance
and wagon of his Corps. So began
and ended the battle Of Chaneellors-
vile.
Hooker's loss was over II, 900; Lees
over $4,000, the number ofthe rebel