The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05

needed. In the movements to be made in the
execution of these measures, the Twelfth Corps
was to advance by the Plank road and take
position nea. the Tabernacle Church. and was
to be followed by the Eleventh, which was to
be masked along the Plank road about milo
in rear of the Twelfth, rs support to the latter
and to cover that flank in the event of the
right being turned. The Fifth, Eleventh, and
Twelfth Corps were to constitute the moving
column, and were 10 take the offensive, while
the remaining corps were to defend Chancel-
lorsville and the United States Ford.
At II o'clock on the morning of May !. Gen.
Siocum commenced the advance on the Plank
road. At the same time the whole rebel army,
excepting force left in the intrenchments be-
forc Fredericksburg. commenced its march
towards Charlottesville, and by o'clock a. m.
had reached tho fortified position at Taber.
nacle Church. Thus the two opposing armies,
scarcely three miles apart, were moving toward
each other In a short time the skirmishers of
Slocum met Wright's Brigade of the enemy,
and warm engagement followed. Gen.
Hooker, upon discovering that he was encoun-
terng tho whole Of the Confederate forces, de-
tcrmined TO arrest the movement and withdraw
his moving columns to the position about Chan
cellorsvile which they had previously occupied
and partially fortified.
The three divisions Of the Eleventh Corps,
in the order of Steinwehr. Schurz, and Devens,
Second, Third, and First, were posted along the
Plank and Germanna Ford roads, its extreme
right, and the right of the whole army resting
upon the crest of the ridge overlooking the
west branch of Hunting Creek, where it was
anticipated a general battle would be fought.
Upon reaching the Union front at Chancel-
lorsville Gen. Lee pushed vigorously up on all
Sides until lie developed the exact position and
strength of the Union lines. The night of the
LIST was passed in quiet by both armies.
The right of the Union line, as before stated,
was held by the Eleventh Corps (Gen. How
ard) and while the most of the corps formed
line of battle along the Plank road and faced
southwark, the extreme right brigade was
faced westward, from which direction. toward
o'clock the enemy burst ont with impetuous
fury. They emerged in close columns from the
woods but for while their progress was
checked by the men of Bnschbeck's Brigade,
who fought with great determination and cour-
age. The enemy, however, soon gained both
wings of the brigade, which, after about one
third had been killed or wounded, was forced
to retire. Gen. Deycns was wounded early in
the battle and was carried to the rear.
During the night Of the Cd Gen. Hooker con.
tracted and reformed his lines, and the Eley-
enth Corps, recognized, was placed in the in
tronchmcnts on the left, ana other dispositions
were made to meet the expected attack Of the
enemy next morning.
Although the attack was renewed at day
light it was soon arrested by intelligence re-
ceiyed from Fredericksburg, where Sedgwick
had engaged and driven Early, compelling Lee
to withdraw from Hooker's front large force
to rein force Gen. Early.
On the 4th further reinforcements were sent
to the troops in front of Gen. Sedgwick. in Or
der if possible to drive him across the Kappa
hammock, leaving the three divisions of jack
sons Corps to hold the position at Chancellors-
Vile. That night however, Sedgwick withdrew
across the river, thus relieving Lee, who at
once began preparations to assail Hooker's
position at daylight on the 9th but when day
break came and the Confederate skirmishers
ad yanced, it was found that Rockers army had
during the night withdrawn across the Kappa
hammock.
The composition and loss of the Eleventh
Germs Mt the battle Of Charlottesville May 1-3
1863 is shown by the following table: