The New York Herald Newspaper, May 4, 1863, Page 1

OME AT oe ‘ NO. 9728, ARKY. F@reat Battle Reported to i Commenced on Saturday. Details of the Passage of Kelly’s and Ely’s Ferd, Have Skirmishes at Germania Joined to the Front. foe Artillery Still at Work on the ditional Lists of Killed and ; Wounded. of Mere Rebel Prisoners _—_——— ae. here in strong probability of trath in the re- $ that adatile commenced between the forces General Hooker and the rebels under rning, on both the right and left of our army. It ia stated that the cannonading on the left was quite rapid. General Sedgewick was engaged on sebele wore evidently determined to offer an obsti- he rebels wore falling back. in that direction, or Guneral Hooker bad not completed hie ar- nts for s vigorous attack. 7 of April 29. In Camp at Exy’s On tan Rarwan Rives, April Mustered Out’ Videdles Captured—'' Hotel de Serra Firma,” do. : ‘Ehse corps left their camp at Crittenden’s Mill, three miles | the other side of Kelly’s Ford, at seven o’clock this morn. | @up brigade, which did not cross tiM about dark, having | Seem Jeft bebind as the rear guard. After this brigade ‘qrcseed the river the pontoons were taken up, and subse- (quently followed our route of ;march, in charge of the (@ue Hendred and Twenty-sizth Penasy!vania regiment. Tus waaTure. ‘Mild showers in the afternoon, which in the night turned into a cold rain, threw a damper on tho men, eMhough evidently not on their spirits. The march (nme worst on one particular brigade, which did not leave ‘Kelly's Ford till the evening, having rain and darkness eombined to fo the march, ae ant thee ov y's voRD was made by two divisions after dark. The brigade of * quvalry assigned to this corps weut over first, and suc- ‘eceded im picking up thirty-six rebel cavairy, including ‘8 captain. The prisoners, who belonged to the Twelfth , Virginia cavalry, were on picket. The water was deomed too shallow to render it necessary to lay pontoons for in- fentry Ww cross; but its shallowness was waist deep to ‘the men, and, as a natural uemee , they were obliged ‘Wo submit toa protty good wetting. I should have stated ‘that previous to thib all the troops bad to undergo @ similar ordeal of water fording, iu crossing ‘Mountain run, a lively aed turbuleatly flowing «iream of wearily equal breadth of the Rappahannock, thee miles ‘thls side of Kelly's Ford. ‘Tee INCIDENTS OF TO-DAY's MARCH ‘were pretty much a counterpart of those of the two days {a to say, overcoats, blankets and haver- @ncks lined the road; overloaded pack mules fell, atrug- Ged and died under the superiucumbent weight of their @mcesvive burdens, and soiters who e@owld not stand the ‘march—happily few belong to this catalogue—were ‘@tiged to fall out and wait to be picked ap by some friendiy ambulance,’ Ouly two incidents eame to my ‘Mmowledge deviating from the ordinary course of army ‘marching items. “mommanao ovr.’ ‘The frst was the death of a soldior om the march, and it tm the only incident of the kind I have over had the in- Pelietty to witness. The same of th: soldicr wae William @ther, of the Oue Hundred and Fifty-ffth Pennsyivenia regiment. Mis courage, patriotism and regard for duty asa @okiter exceeded bis streagth. A surgeon wascalied; but he faad no medicine; his comrades flew to his reacue with their @nntocns of water ; his limbs were vigorously chafed; but *{0was too late. A greater power than the War Depart- ment mustered bim out of service. It is to be hoped that fhe ‘bad fought the good fight” spoken of in Scripture. AUT AALLY"s OrnmON oF Tas Wan. ‘The second incident was encountering a slave woman ‘einety five years oid. She bas always lived on the some plantation. A stroke of paralysis makes her artioula- Mon rather indistinct; but she remembered distinetiy.the (war of the Revolution. I ssked ber which she thought Whe worse war. “This be as worse war, | reckon, massa; for everybody fe wow Killing everybody,” was ber response. VIDETTER OAPTORED. On our march to-day two rebel videttes were captured, and4 an old man, giving bis name as Winchester, and said te be a resident of Fredericksburg. They were aver to the Commanding Genera! to-night for sach (peeal as be may order. At intervals for tires ra before dark we heard @mmponadiog from some of 1 fords, Weare told ‘@as cavalry, with artillery accompaniment, have been feeling tbe enemy in that direetion. FOR THR mame {20 Commanding General has his meadquariers at the ‘Barge and comfortable farmhouse of one Wm. Johnson and, family, nese the ford. A few brigadiors have #0- squred barns as headquaters; out most, as on the last two smights, witl have to sleepjon the ground, or, as this kind Jef lodglag ts fecetiousty called, bave to pat up with ac- rome mynd at the “Hotel de ‘Terra Firma.” 1 have the hote: two aighte, and, although the roms are fargo and well ventilated, there isin evident: dampnene 3 that ie 208 consonaat with comfort, and from protracted | stand with inp! prirenage Of ibe hotel must prove detrimental to bexith, gave him fair oppert ° Lv Scene of the Important Operations of Major General Hooker---The Rebel. Lines, Batteries WHE, SADR Pd Our Correspondence of April 30, Heapqvaarens, ARMY OF THE Poromsc, April 30, 1863. At length the long looked for advance of the Army of the bas commenced. Again our camp Gres il- Jumina' enemy's country, and our pickets inthe thadows of the forest listen for the footfalis of the fee. Everything {s quiet on the Rappahannock. On the hills, im the valieys, and out on the broad table laod, umroofed Duts and mounds of turf assume fantastic shapes in the silence and dimness of night, and thousands of acres, stripped of thefents and dros, and the multitudes that peo pled thera, weer an air of desolawon like that of the desert. ‘OR Wenns fast every fair day bas brought with it rumors of moying, and orders circalated among the several corps Kept all on the qui vive in saticipation of the final command— “March.” In the middie of April we thought every day that we should start on the next; but the days slipped by with us waiting in eur camps for the succession of storms to cease, and the seas of mud to become at least fatbomable. THR ONDER At LAgK Laat Sunday night the eagerness of the troops was gruified, and next morning they were off. The roads lending to the fords of the Rappahannock swarmed with eoldiery, Artillery, infantry, cavairy, baggage trains and peek mules poured in one coutinuous stream from the banks of the Potomac across the fields, through the foreste and gorges, all tending towards ‘the other side” of the Rappahannock, upon which we bad gazed #0 often ‘and 80 curlously throughout the winter months; and be- fore the enowy Know that we bad started, Or advance wan pelting bis pickets at the crossings. KELLT'S FORD, We expected a fight at the fords; but our cavairy rode down t the banks, and the rebels very cautiously left them tn our possession, scampering to the adjaceat woods With wonderiui celerity. The Kleventh corps reached Kelly's Ford first, and Col, Bushbeck’s brigade was soon over. The remainder of the command speedily followed, encamped in the meadows, and uext day fell in behind the Twelfth, which led the advance until to-night, while the Fifth cronsed Inter in the day, and by another route jomed them at Chancelk ravilie. Gen. Slocum was placed ja command of the three corps, Gen, Williams taking com mand of the I weifth. ‘WEDNBEDAT MORNING the right wing started from Kelly's crossing aad pushod vigorously forward. Stuart shelled the pickets thrown out op the Sank for afow mowents, and then, lnetening round to the froct akirmishod briskly with (be advanes wher: rer the (ppograpliy of the couatry evabied “Whit mak. but the Sith New York cavairy erffor facing we, and, bovering on his ear, picks! up his men bere and there, ronding i NEW YORK, MONDAY, MAY 4, 1863, and Rifle Pits. PO'TSYLVANIA \COURT HOUSE them Dack to the rear as evidence of the work they were doing. fometimes the skirmishing would bequite brig. The carbines would rattle merrily and the squadron charge gallantly through the Geids after fleeing graybecks, to come apon some terror-sirickea bousebold, whose only testimony was that ‘the enemy was fyin’,”’ and, after an hour's quiet marching, meet them again on the crest of a bill (or another display of rapid travelling. At nooa n GERMANLA FORD, on the Rapidan, was reached. Mere detachments from ‘Stuart's command were cag. ged in erecting a bridge, and were 50 ly surprised that many of (hem had not tune to get their arms before our cavairy were upon them. Stuart bad turned off on the Culpepper road in too great haste to warn them ; but, darting bebind the banks of the mili race, and into the gorge of the blu, they seon peppered us handsomely. Captain Thompson, of General Pleasanton’s staff, accompanied by Liewteuact Ramsey, of the cavairy, rode down to reconnoitre, only to be driven back, the Lieutenant with a ball in his teg, and leaving Corporal Martin shot dead in the road. THE INVANTRY WERE S00" DOWN, ‘and then the rebels discovered the trap they were in. A galling Gre was poured into them im front, and from the right and leftyalong the bend of the stream, a showor of bulkets enfliaded their ditches. A few ran, an@were shot down. Apother volley followed,and a dopon bandker chiefs appeared above the }, showing & ONAL OF SURRENDER. Gixty-seven came over, giad to get out of their last ditch” alive, and our cavalry crossed, Then came the task for the infantry. The river was up to the armpits, rapid and rocky. Cartridge boxes were hoisted on the muskets, clothing was stripped off, and im they went. Some went down in the current, to be picked up a dozen Yards down stream, half drowned; but all were jubilant, and filled the valley with their shouts and laughter. AVTER Dane the scene was magnificent. Hiige bonfires were kin died, and their light danced with the moooneams among the bayonets and on the water, and wrought fantastic pictures on the hilleltes, while the long, dark column Streamed down from the woods into the fleaming cur rents and up the gorge beyond. Slocum and Howard an! Williams and Pi@ranton were there, with their alts ar. Ullery, infantry smd cavairy offcers swarmed oo the banks, and everybody pushed forward, eager > give aw sistance and pull out the vulucky. PRFORE MORMING 411 WHE AcRORe Tt wae feared that thecammunition of the watieries | would be damaged, but no such misfortune befell them, | aod at dey light the eartridges were (ound ready for une A tow of the infantry let the contents of their chraritge boxes; bot the Amount wee insignificant, bet early ip (he morning the advavce was rerum 4 LAr on 8. RIVER a regiment of Staart’s cavalry, with two pieces of artil- lery, baragsed the flank of the columa for = short time; but General Williams speedily dislodged them, and the remainder of the command passed on unmolested. AT CHANCELLORSTILLE the Fifth corpa, which had advanced en the left without opposition, wag met, and the troops encamped. The Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, which led the advance of the Fifth from the Rappahannock, after « brisk skir mish drove the enemy from his earthworks at Chance! lorsville, and pushed on towards Fredericksburg, but, meeting two brigades of the enemy, with artiliery,on abil! about six miles from the city, were compelled to retife, but without lose. THE REBEL BRIGADES OF MABONET ax roseY fell back apem Fredericksbarg from the fords about ten A.M. yesterday, and probably compose the force now arresting Our advance. GEN, BOOKER sAxOUINE Thus far, a® the special order of General Hooker ud). cates, the moVement has beon successful beyoud the expectations of the most sapguive. All are io (he best of spirits and confident of success. What tomorrow may bring forth we know not. It is rumored that ihe ovemy are falling back towards Richmond; but « fight to-MROTrOW seems more than probable. We expect it, and we also expect to be victorious, |The loag ant rapid march of our troeps, thetr admirable order and the \uten sity of the ardor pervading every command, are mont en- couraging. All are eager for the decisive blow w be struck here gad now, We bare challenged the enemy upp open ground, Will be fizbt us? Should he do so the battle will be undoubtedly ferce #04 tong, and withe Victory OM Our side his shattered columns will searesly evcape the swift blows of the yurauer What the remainder of the army is doing It may be improper Row to state. Ib will be beard from, however, and to the discomftare of those in our frout. Owr ions trifling —two killed aod one wounded, Over one hundred prisepers have Beem captored among them t vers offers A nomber of the enemy's officers are known (0 be killed 20 fe Game ot Cuaron vom yr *, Va,) w, see. f mont oF 4 ren At Oto time to-day I did not expeet to make ap the day’? record without writing of a +0 ere battle, aud thas possibly ome of the severest confiie's Of (he wer Mare ing em, Ordering them to load thew plees ant (rming Tine of battle are (he genera! prolitiraries «ten: We Dive done everyting bet fight Ansther tee) four houre will fot pame, 10 ali homan protebity w rhe pontog Ont etremgih and arme again 1 the ooemy THE NEW YORK HERALD. ae E LINE OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK. MILFORD BRIDGET \ 1 THR REMY STANDS We SHALL OWT wim. If be runs away we shal) pursue him. And there was Dever greater confidence of victory. Our plans, thus far, have worked spleadidiy, amd exactiy,! am told, in se cordance with General Flooker's wishes, HLY'S FORD LAVT BAMIND—AEREL WORKS IN FRONT. At six A. M. this corps left camp at Ely's Ford. As we advanced the revel yickets fell back. Arriving ‘Within two miles of this place, we came upon @ line of breastworks about one lundred rode in length, forming | an obtuse angle by the road, and facing the roads through | which ovr troops must pass in coming this way, it was | evident they had been throwa up Goring the night. Freeh | | | | tracks of artillery wagons were perceptible. Mom kere WORE Before reecting this point ope division took a branch Toad. They sieo struck upon sume freshly thrown ap | earthworks abd eome of the enemy. Several shots were | fired from tbe refila upon the Goueral and staf They | must have Gred greatly st reedom, for only one show took eeet, killing an orderiy’s borse. The @ring party were cavalry pickets, aod made rapid movement in the tirection of Fredericksburg a8 soon as they had die charged their pieces. The Genera) sent some caveiry « short distance after them bet (be fugitives succeeded m Denting a secure retreat ARRIVAL AT OMAMER LONMTILLP. ‘We arrived ot ibis place a little before noon. It was evi dent the enemy bad been very recently, if they were not | now {very near ws. Our brigade ot cavairy kept upa lively skirmivbing, s04 brought in prisveers ia lively numbers. | Mont of them surrendered withost any attempt at de | fence or escape. They belonged to the First Miviestppt | and Twelfth Virginia cavairy. Soon oor trope manned 0d loaded their pieces, and line of battle whe formed in | the woods. crear emeETNO. About two P.M. (oneral Barnes’ brigade was sent down (0 ths intersection of the Proderichoberg sd Bate | Ford road, Sher; ng son being beard, Polone! swe. Drigude was ordered dows ot doable quick \ their pad General Barnes geet the Twentytth New York, Coleone! Joumeoo, and Pighternth Magnes hunetia, Iiewtenmnt Colonel Mayes, into the woode—for it wae wool nll the way—an eitieminbers, Botdenly Solenet Johoarn's regiment ame GpOD some earih@orke about bait a mile long. Pour rebel brigndes were betiod the works, Abost a bun@red shots were exchanged between the epemy +94 Col, Jotmaon's men before the lniter felt back Only ae of Gol, Jobuson's man wee bit— Jas, Bir minghar Co. F, Git in the lett showlder It was expects thar (he Ontire diviem word be ordered dows to clear om thee (elton) bat (ie Order wre Het given, as ft “ 1 om a general comp e A y prepared y THREE CENTS PRICE miles in the direction of Vredericksburg the two brigades came back to this pingo, and at dark, with the rest of the corpa, Went into camp, where we now are, in the wwods, ip rear of the Chancellorsville mansion, CHANCELLONBVIIS Why this place should have received the important Bame it bears would pusule auy oue versed in lowm Bo ‘Menclature out of Virginia, Chancellorsvilie @ made Of one house—a large brick one; but possibly ite makes up for the want of the biacksmith’s smop” aed? store ome would natureily look for, ar & Gimp bo that ite long uso in former years as ® may have given it the name. A family of Stilt occupy It, but have given up a portion to the P manding General as headquarters. It is ten miles to Fredericksburg, and tne Fifih, Kleventh and Twelfth corps have now formed a junction here. THB TROOPS coMNG IN from the bfanching roads was an imposing as well an war- like spectacle, 1 sew on the upper verandah of the house: some balf dozen ladies looking at the sight. Their eyes did bot sparkle with much seeming delight. Vory slight earthworks have been thrown up across the road from the Bouse, but they amount to nothing, GEN, NOOKER’S COMPLIMENTARY ORDER. To-night our woods have rung with the cheere of the men upon the reading of General Hooker's order complimenting the Filth, Eleventh and Twelfth corps for what ey have accomplished ie the past four days, The epirit with which thie order wae Peceived shows more than anything heretofore the greatest confidence in General Hooker by the rank and file of the army. 1 never saw the men in better spirite, One would not think we are on the eve of a battle. In a former letter | mentioned that Colonel McQuade had resumed command of his brigade. Colonel Sweitzer, oF the Sixty second Pennsylvania, however, sti!) commands the brigade, a8 he bas done ever since the commencement Of the present movement. LV. Umray Staten Foun, April 80, 1868, Your correspondent with this corps hae but ittletore- cord beyond the fact that “everything ts quiet aloug the Nines."” The First aud Third divisions left camp 06 Tese- Gay, und moved to thetvicinity of Banks Ford, akinga circuitous route to keep in the rear of the range of Bille skirting the left bank of the river, OM ARRIVING aT RANEH’ FORD ‘he enemy was found strongly posted to resist car at tempt to cross. Some little demonstration was therefore made, when the main body of the troops moved off farther up the river. The enemy were alao found in force at jie point, but during the night decamped from the fo: midatle earthworks which they had copetructed. Loring thedey the Fiftieth New York (Engineer regiment) threw « pam toon bridge across a few bundred feet below tbe ford. Upon ita completion the band of the Engineer brigade marched over it, playing ‘In Dixie's Land J’ll Take my Stand." Them passed over one of the divisions, which was fellowed by a ‘tinuous stream of troops until very late in the n} What the rebels tn- tend to do is something of a mystery; but the gemeral impression seems to be that they will (betr army at ‘& convenient point on their left, aud give us battle @ut- _ wide of their defences. $ The publication of information respecting the mere ments of the army,or portions of #, hax caused great appoyance, and necessitated in some cases & change of Programme. A Philadelphia journal recemtly commisted 8 grave mistake in the publication of custrabend ews, and the correspondent only escaped summary puntbment Dy being unknown. To prevent as far en possible publication of this kind of intelligence, and eles te © responsibility to the correspondence wih Fy Gevera) Hooker yesterday issued an order (whieh we Published om Saturday morniog.—Ep. Maney, 2°. running from Germania through Wilderness, lies the pleasant little village of Chancelicrsville. I is not feud 00 moat of the maps. ‘Tus TROOTS AND THER KIPERSAED YERUNUS, The night ts lovely, and the troops are m Que epirites. Cheering 1@ beard throughout our lines, and the lively strains of our banda give evidence of some important point gained. Why ie ali this enthusianm’ It arwes from the promulgation of General Hooker's complimentary Order, which Bas just been read atthe headef ench column 5 wnat we nave Doms. | will pow state ia what our splendid achiev ements con® siet, and regret that | have not time \o give ihe subject Justice On of about the 19th inst. orders were received 10 prepare eight days’ ratious and be prepared to mare ets moment's botice. But two teams were allowed to a regiment, men were required to carry additives ammunition im thelr knepescks, and & mule tram was w carry ao still further supply in panniers, Rations were dealt out liberally, ana what could moi be carried in the haversacks were put tm the knapeacks, If one ration were eousumed it was unmediately replacet, to keep up the necessary supply GBYERAL FLHARAWPOR'S /BOORMOUMACD. Jt was well known that General Pieasanton’s eaveiry | bad left camp on an important recouncimance towards Kelly's Ford, All were on the qué vise for news—longed | for the New York papers to learn if the cavalry had ae- cmyliahed anything, and were eager for the order— “ borward.” 1 ORDER 10 MOR. 1k wae long waited for, and did not come til! April 26, a8 four o'clock im the afternoen. It was to move at tve O'clock im the morning. THe eTanT. ‘The men bed breakfast at four o'clock io the morning. At twenty three micutes past fve they toot up thee line of march, ignorantof ie dextinmiiom, The dey was gloomy, rainy spd cold, but te men booyent beyond measure, The reade were simess impamable im many places, but sti! the men kept Oo Ul ordered to piteh their camp for the wight ot Hartwood chureb, having marched tweive miles. General Hooker pared through our bees inte © the Af Lernocn , Bud was weicomed Wh dealer ing CUMery ORIINON OF Tae TROGIR, Rolls were immediately called, and (he Bret b-igace re port received was:—' All present except winters, whe were given certi® cates of diwabiiity by toe surges aad Allowed to rest by the roadside.’ (These men ail arrived the next day.) 1 mention thin ciroumstance thos par- tioularly t cite the thorough condition f our woope, and ot the same time must acknowledge that | msy 40 the other brigadiers injustice; for all the cotumes kept well closed, and! Grmiy believe that oot bails domme | men of this whoie corjm were abeent from thelr compe y 20 WER Straggling bas sin. ye beeu wn frejaent, | might my cus. tomary, that the deviation from the regular rale caused geverdl remark. The acne were brought wp m rear of the corps, with « strong escort, aud arrived om the ground promptly. The Kleventh army orpe, under General Howard, wen (0 (he odvance end here we joined eompany nud learned thet ere wee 8 Simnltaneous movement of | (he Filth, Rieventh sad Tweltth gorge, the whole coder the command of the popular General of the Tweitth corya—Slooum. The clowes the frm day ven RET pay we marched w Grove chorch, shout twelve miles Day rainy—roads bet. making ow reeds in thers, The event of this day iw won bridge scram Kelly's Fora wore st work all aight, and by morning & rubriantal Dridge was formed, over which puemed im rafety infaniry, airy sod teume. ' EALLT'® POND COMRrED ‘The bridge wee crossed a1 five A. M. om the 2941 the way i the town of Keliyeriiie (north fork of the pabenncek), © fourishing litte place of « lerge town for thie section the fpriceipal feature of * mill, which has boom ree. tere 1 wee of your orresyontent, me, 1B. Voubors, the army. fe wae captoret org brigate mder (siemel Bustbeck, thet Sree oR Aemives 47 commer. Vion Kellyeviie we marched to Germania, gn the He, pidan river, whieh piece we renched at of ration had beam received, atl cae over . oem bed Delt 0 le ond Cerete path vant of tbe tore We mmowed CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGE.