St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-28
MAY q.

Dawn Of the fourth and last dav Of the
fighting ct Charlottesville broke. Hoo.sars
head troubled him Gil the afternoon of May
and all May SO greatly that it is not fair
to hold him responsible for all that hap
pened. At times he scarcely knew what he
was about. All day of the 18th, although he
had resumed command, his orders wero cen
Trajectory and vacillatins, now telling Seds-
wick to hold his ground and now to retreat
back across tic river. Early in the morning
he directed E.s, not to attack ito Confede1-
ates at Salerl church, lut to assume the de-
fensive. Al Gay there was sl-irD7ishinc be-
tween Sedswick and Larry ard the brieatc
that had REINFORCED him. At & o'clock il
the evening tho Confederate generals, Andeg-
son and Early, nadc furious attack q
Sedgwick's lei, under Gen. Howe. How e
getreated to strong position in tie dircc-
ton OF Banks ford, and there resisted srd
beat back the Confederaees
During the night of May i Sed-wick re-
crossed the RappahannoclS with bis whole
force. Hooker had ordered him to cross,
then countermanded the order, but tho latter
command was not received till after the
crossing was effected Lee immediately re-
occupied Fredericksburg.
During tho night of May 4 Hooker held q
council OF war with his corps commanders,
WIZ ssCkC olcSpf Silio cAuftUslGC, lie Resolved
to cross back to his old headquarters on tie
left bank of the Rappahanncck.
On May Lees army, oil ted, numbered
no more than $4,000 men. Hooker, including
Sedgwick's corps, had $4,000. ANY time dur
ing that day determined attack against
Stuart, who, with Jackson's cd corps, frortel
Hooker at Charlottesville, or against Nc
Laws, who, with Early, fronted scdgwick en-
the east, could have resulted III a Union
victory, and Lee could have been whipped in
detail. But no such attack was made
Tuesday, May S, q great rain storm arose
in the afternoon. Under its cover tho GREAT
Union army passed back over the swollen
Rappahannock to its old quarters. Wednes-
day morning, May 6, Gen. Lee looked about
him for his enemy, and found mono there.
In the battles of Charlottesville the Union
army lost 17,197, the Confederates 1860.
It only remains to note the events of Stone.
mans Raid. After crossing the Rappahan-
mock, he divided his cavalry into two col
urinns. One, under Averill, 1000 strong. went
to Rapidan Station, on the Orange railroad,
had brief encounter with w Fl. F. Lee,
and returned to the main army. Eooker,
himself sent Averill the order to return.
Stoneman himself, with his main column.
moved south and westward to destroy the
Virginia central railroad. He reached
Louisa Court House, May q He sen out
raiding parties in various directions. There
was a fight with one of w. H. T. Lees reri-
ments near Gordonsville. This regiment
was driven back by the arrival of Union re-
endorsements.
A party, under Col. Wyndham, attacked
the canal at Columbia. A third, under Xii.
patrick, dashed across country and cans
within two miles of Richnond He de-
stroyed bridges and portion of the Fred
ericksburg railroad. Then be turned and
went to Gloucester Point Other detach-
ments, under Col. Davis and Gen. Gregg, did
considerable damage to railroads at Various
points.
May 5, Stoneman recrossed the Rappahen-
mock at Kelly's Ford. June 3, the cavalry
from Gloucester Point, under Kilpatricki
also reached headquarters, bringing III
among other spoils of war, 1000 freed slaves,
il thos, days called contrabands.