The New York Herald Newspaper, May 7, 1863, Page 4

4 to be considered by him in the light of etrifle, With the coolness and skilfulnegs of a veteran of a hundred cam paigns, he set to work making his dispositious. He bad ot a single regiment within his reach to support his arttl- lery; Whipple was falling back, and must mest the ap proaching stampede with his own force in retreat; Hirnoy was far out in the advance, in imminent danger of being completely surrounded snd ax lated; the rebel forces were pressing hard upon the flying Germans, who could only escape by rushing across his tines, with every pros Pest of communicating the panic to them. It was & eritical moment indeed, and one that might well stagger sven the dravest hearted. But it did wot slagger the citizen soldier. Calling to one after wer of his sta, he sent them ail off, one after tho other, lest any should fail of getting through, to warn Birney of bis danger aud order him to fall back, ‘Then, turning to Gen. Pleasonton, be directed him to take charge of the artillery, and train it all upoa the woods encircling the fleld, and support it with his cavalry, (o bold the rebels in check should they como ou him, and hin dashed off to meet Whipple, then just emorg'ng (rom the woods in the bottom land. He had scarccly turned bis horsé about when the flying Germans came dashing over the Seld in crowds, meeting tiie head of Whip column and stampeding through his lines, ga Only men do rum when convinced that sure ction is awaiting them, At the same moment large masse3 o; the rebel infantry came dashing through the woods ou the north and west close up to the field, and opened s tremendous fire of musketry into the con- fused mass of men and animals, To add to the confuston aud terror of tho occasion, night was rapidly approach. ing and, daykuess was already beginning to obscuro all things The PANIC. ‘ankly confess that I have no ability to do jua- ene that followed. It was my lot to be in the centre of that fleld when the panic burst upon us. May I never be a witness to another such scene. On one hand was a solid column of infantry retreating at doub'e quick from the face of the enemy, who were already crowding thoir rear; on the other wis dense mass of beings who had lost their reasoning faculties, and were flying from a thousand fancied dangers as wel! as from the real crowded so close upon them, aggravating the of thelr situation by the very precipitancy they were seeking to eseape from it, On. the jousand of # memy, pouring their mur- onfusion; hundreds of cavalry horses, lert ridov'less at vie first discharge from the rebels, were dash- ing frantically about in ali direetions; a score of batteries of artillery were thrown into disorder, some properly manned, seeking to gain positions for effective duty, and others flying from the field; battery wagons, ambulances, Dorses, nen, cannon, caissons, all jumbled and tumbled together in an apparently inextricable mass, and that murderous Gre still pouring in upon them. To add to the terror of the cccasion there was but one means of escape from tho field, and that through a little narrow neck or ravine washed out by Scott’s creck. Towards this the coufused miss plunged headlong. For a moment it gcenied as {f no power could avert the frightful calamity that threatened the entire army. That neck passed, and this pan'c- triken, disordered body of men and ani- mals, permitted to pass down through the other corps of the army, our destruction was sure. But in the midst of that wildest alarm there was a cool head. That threaten- e! calamity waa averted by the devermined self-possession of Major Genera) Daniel F. Sickles. Spurring his horse forward be forced his way through the tangled mass and enter ‘4 this narrow neck, Across this neck there runs a |, behind which the forces of Generals jams and Berry had already thrown themselves pre- paratory to meeting the enemy. On one flank of the “‘walk was tho deeply sunken bed or the creek, impassable for any apecics of vehicle, and scarcely safe for men, At the upper cad of the wall was a narrow gateway, the only opeting to be found. To this point General Sickles Picked his way, and there, drawing his sword, blocked tho passage with himself and horse. On came the panic stricken crowd, terrified artillery riders spur- ring and lasbing their horses to their. utmost; ‘Wierless horses dashing along regardicsa of all obsta- cles; ambulances upsetting and being dashed to pieces “agaimst trees and stamps; men flying and crying with alarm—a yerfect torrent of passion, apparently uncon- troable. But against it all the brave General threw himself, and by bis determined’ bravery brought the first heavy muiss—a cannon drawn by six horses, well mounted—to a halt, and Dlockaded the passage. Others dashed up behind and crowded upon the first, their drivers cursing and swearing and calling to the foremost to go on. Tho loose horses jumped the stone wall, and the flying men scrambled over it, utterly oblivious to the ‘act that the opposite side was crowded with men whose lives were this doubly endangered. But by the blockade of the main passage the stampede of the artillery and cavairy had been principally checked. Once halted, reason be- gan to return to those who had previously lost it, and much of the artillery, properly manned, was quickly brought k upon the fleld. e PLEASANTON OHBCES THE REBELS. In the meantime, Pleasanton, in obedience to the orders received from General Sickles, bad mustered two or three of the batteries and was busily employed pouring grape and canister into the woods that were filled with the rebels. Every movement his effective force of pieces was tnereased by cannoniers recovering from their frigut and returning to duty, so that by the time the stampede was finally checked he had at least twenty-fve pieces bearing directly uyon the enemy fm all directions about the field, and at so close a range that every discharge ‘The took effect, not upon one of two but upen dozens, sianghter bere must’have been beyond count. We reason to belive that nearly the whole, it mot the entire body of Hill's force was tm the attack upon that little fleid, which must have filled the woods, Such an Inces- sant fire from so many pieces, and into so dense a mass, could pot have produced apy ordinary limit of slaughter. Hat it being now quite dark,and as we never regained entire possession of the woods, where the enemy were the thickest, we have no means of knowing how the great the s!anghter was. It was sufficient to know that the enemy was beld in chock, nd Sickles’ gallant corps had an op portunity to rally from the disastrous effects of the shamo- fu! stampede of the Eleventh corps. END OF THR PANIC. Lot me here finish with the Eleventh corps. They did not all fy across Sickios’ line. They dispersed and ran im all directions, regardless of the order of their going. They all seemed possessed with an instivetive idea of the shortest ond most direct line from the point whence they started to the United States ford, and the majority of them did cot stop netit they had reached the ford. Many of them, ov react ’ng the river, dashed jn and swam to the north side, and are scpposed to be runfilhg yet. As soon foo .cr heard of the panic he established a tine nse the reads and stopped all who were to be fen upon the highways; but by far the greater portion never thought of the roads, but dashed on threngh the wo is antil they reached the river. It was no worse with privates than with officers. The stampede was universal; the disgrace genural. The fugitives were picked up the noxt day, wherever found, and the corps was reformed, Dut has not stave been taken into action. : TURNEY Saye. In the midst of the confusion incident to this panic the brave Birnoy and his gallant division have been forgotten. Almos! +imultansousty with the reception of the Informa- tion sm: him by General Sickles of the rout of his sup- ports on the right, be begam to have practical evidence of it by the fight of the demoralized Germans ‘across his lines, and before he could prepare to retire his force he found his tine of retreat cut off Dy the repossession by the rebels of the road by which he had advanced. In thts ditemma be bad no other reoourse but to make @ road oat His colume wile therefore ordered to loave the lane and move quietly down into the ravine, This was suc- coasfully accomplished. Even the battery that Bed besa taken up to the foundry betng brought down the bill. In the ravine he bad a slight skirmish with a portion of the rebels who bad beon pursuing Whipple, putting them to flight, and then moved his column out through the ravine ia the most perfect order. wairruy fare. General Whipple, when attacked in bis rear by the rebels aod on his flank by the demoralized ana fran. tic mon of the Eleventh, wag im the utmost danger of losing bis entire command. [ Bave never yet ascertained how he saved 4t; but I do know that he bronght them of io emparatively good order, and bivowscked that night, with Birney and Pleasonton, on the Wetle farm in the woot. OPERATIONS ON SUNDAY. Aftor (he disaster to our right wing of Saturday and tho manifestation the rebels made of their position and in. tentions , Gen. Hooker determined upon a radical change ot fromt, Hitherto, asthe reader has ge6n, hie line faced *@ast, south ahd weet. Tt was ow cortain that the Hilla body of tho cvemy Lad got around to our rigut, or on the NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY. ‘MAY’ 7, 18634TRIPLE Sawer, ~ Tt) west of us, and chat but small bodies of thom fo- mained between us aud Fredorigksburg. Actiag upoe this supposition, and witn the Cull confideace thal be would be powerfully assailed the next morniag on bis rigus, the commaudiag general detormined-at midnight of Saturday to form a powerful ling of batile, (acing directly to the right, INTENDED LING OF BATTLE SUNDAY MORNING, ‘Tho organization vf this ling gave Reynolds the oxtrome right, -with big right flank resting on tho river, Slocum the centre, and Sickles tho left, bia left fiauk resting at Scott's creek. Couch and Moade wore loft 10 190k after the frout towards Fredericksburg, while the romuant of the Eleventh was to be used, if it @ould be reorganized, wherever it could be mado the most eifyctive. In the formation of this line I haye given par- ticular attention to those forces that were moat actively engaged. On the previous aight, during the confusion of the stampedo, Gon. Borry, of Sickles’ corps, had moved up the plank road and taken a position just at the edgo of the woods, where he met the enomy as they were a4- vancing to complote the discomfture of the right wing, ud bad hurled them back most effectually, He was thea ordered to retain the ground he had thus defended, which was on either side of the plank road, as indicated in the above diagram, which would give him theo left of our right wing. During the night of Saturday, Birney, having been an. noyed by the sharpshooters of the enemy lying in the woods about the cleared feld in which he bivouacked for the night, ordered out his division, and charged bayonets through the woods to the plank road, effectually clearing it of alt bodies of rebels. He then fel! back again into the field with Whipple. -——~ THE GRAND FIGHT. At daylight on Sunday morning the offort was making to withdraw both Whipple and Birney from this flold and put them in position on Yhe leit of our new line, half a mile back, Whipple to have the extreme left, Birney the centre, with his right on Berry’s left flank. This new line had been’ provided for during the night by the constriction of broastworks and rife pits along its entire front, and throwing up fleld works for the artillery in the rear. ‘THR ATTACK. A little before sunrise, while General Sickles was re- moving hia two divisions from the little farm that I have 80 often had occasion to refer to, the enemy fell upon him tm great force, the attack coming from the woods on the northwest of the field. The bulk of the corps had been withdrawa from the feld, and were already in position at the designated point, A single brigade, each of Birney's and Whipple’s corps, remained, and these set their faces. bravely towards the enemy and returned the fire that ‘was so unceremoniously poured upon them. Simultaneously with this attack the rebels pushed on down the plank road and fell upon Berry's division at the edge of the woods, and then upon French, lying on Ber- ry’s right flank, and almost ina moment the fighting be come general and intensely hot along the entire left wing of the army. The position in which the two divisions o| Bickles’ corps were placed, so far in advance of the rest of the army, and with uo breastworks to shelter them, was delicate in. the extreme, The enemy, for the first time, brought up several pieces of field artillery, with which they opened upon that little body of brave men wi ® vigor that threatencd their aunihila But there are no soldiers in the corps THE GREAT BATTLE ON SUNDAY. - The Position of the Union Forces at the Commencement of S fe q OU OSEA: AMM d SH} WATERS250N forced. Whole brigades would be swept away in the de- termined effort to force our lines, and still other brigades would spring up to take their places. And so they fought "7 us, and so we continuéd to Sight, until the cartridge boxes of our men began to grow light, and their powers pf en- durance began to flag under the constant exertion. In this frightful iife and death struggle the plain of Chancellotsville was swept by the missiles of one or the other party, and heart sick and weary of witnessing such sacrifices of human life, I turned my horse's head ever. submit to defeat. It te Hooker's old | NereOsher scenes equally effecting met my eye. Long trains command, and is now distinguished from the others by the Commanding General as the “Qld Guard.” It is one of ambulances ‘were constantly coming down the road, depositing their loads of suffering, mangled men at im- of the finest bodies of soldiers the world has ever oro. | Prombtu hospitals hastily fitted up beneath the shelter duced—-veterans of a dozen bard fought campaigns— scarred, ragged, trusty and brave—men that have never beendenown toquail under however so severe fire they | “tessing the ‘wounds. might be placed—doing and daring in every emergeocy of the woods, where large gangs of surgeons were occu- pied “to the “utmost limit of their ability in The road swarmed with those not sufficiently wounded ‘to necessitate car- fas though always sure of the success that. bas hitherto | Tage td an ambulance, yet for whose sufferings as invariably rewarded. thoir efforts, Such a body of men deserve @ distinguished position, and always feel badly hearted must bleed. used when not permitted to occupy the front ranks in time of battie..” they went hobbling and groaning along the stoutest And still ‘the carsage went on. It was nine o'clock. Since five o'clock that deafening, borri- Hero is the famous division of Shields’ whose ex. | dle roar of agreed gprs lage oor ploite i the Suenandoah vailoy gave them a name that | #24 the loud _ booming a cannon will ever be glorious. And here, too, is the magnificent | Sent the sound only to a greater distance without adding division of the lamented Kearoy~men who never fal- | ¢© its volume. And yet our men held their position, Could tered under any_fire, however galling. And here, also, is ph est seared — sce vend Bebe —_ the veteran column led by Hooker through the peninsu- ; not st : enemy, A lar campaign, and with which he established his reputa. | but théle ranki were sogsibly thinaing. Half-post nine tion as a fighting general. Such material may be ‘o’clock—our column is growing weak , 10 o’clock—the work equalled im the ranks of American soldiers, but the world | Of death still goes On, Jen thousand brave men bave bas never, and never can produce their superiors. ‘The | Closed their oyes in death during thé past five hours. “Old Guard” is an appropriate title togiventhem ,and | TWO thousand ‘an bour slain! Ten thousand more. the distinction is eminently meritorious. have been mangled and crippled for life. The ratio On the oecasion of this Sunday morning attack the | f deaths to the simply wounded was never equalled colors of the corps were stil! upon the field, as also the | 2 war. One to one. We~mowed the enemy down corps commander. Their brigade colors were also there, ‘and he is but a poor soldier who deserts his flag when it ig tm danger. There was danger now. They were assailed by not less than twenty thousand of the enemy, against whom they could oppose scarcely more than five thousand by brigades; they wounded us by dozens and scores. Could. we endure the exertion long enough? Even though they did so greatly outnumber us we should finally destroy them. But our men were exhausted. ‘past ten o'clock. Our ranks are broken. From men in both brigades combined. Fortunately there | ®beer fatigue our mea have given way, One en- were one or two batteries yet remaining on the field, which were 80 efficiently worked as to check the ad- vance of the rebels. Gallantly they fought, those two brigades, many of their number falling upon the field under the merciless tire of the sheltered foe; Dut they would not run, however severe that fre might be. it was impossible that they could stand long such odds as assailed them here. For half an hour they held their ground, and then fell back in good order to tho shelter of the stone wall that divides this field from the Chancellorsville opening, dragging their enunnon after them. And here they made another glorious stand. If some of their numbers were left upon the upper field, ten times the number of the foe, who now advanced from his shelter and occupied the ground they bad vacated, were Inid there to keep them company. The position was changed mow. Tho weaker party had the shelter while the stronger were forced to fight in the open field. And coming into this fold the rebels also exposed themselye: to a most severe raking from sevoral field batteries planted on the other side of the neck close by the position of Whipple’s division. It was. truly astonishing how lavish they were of human life and biood, Regiment after regi- ment were completely swept away by our musketry and the grape and canister of our artillery, and yet fresh regi- ments were as often pushed forward to take their places. At last, gaining possession of the woods on the right of the stone wall, they got an enfilading Ore upon our little band of heroes, who wore compelled to abandon their position. Bat if the enemy had driven them back it bad cost him dearly, That little fleid was strewn all over with the mangled corpses of the slain rebels, telling the silent story of the desperation of the struggle. ‘THM GENERAL Figur. The determined obstinacy of this little band of two small brigades, in holding the rebels for more than an hour in check, had given General Hooker opportunity to perfect the formation of his mata line of battie on the lino he had intended it to take, and with the exception of these two brigades, who were too much exhausted te renew the action immediately, the line was formed pre. cisely as desired. The two brigades that had thus far done the severe fighting fell back to the rear, leaving the field open for the enemy to advance up to our rifle pits. THE POSITION. By agiance at the diagram that heads tho account of this day's proceedings, it will be seen that along the rear of the ling of infantry we had a large number of Geld bat- We had up to our lines, and wore aitacking ue in great force, de. fapite our artillery. We filled the woods with shell, cross. ing Gres in all directions, but still the masses of the enemy crowded on. It seemed as if they were a denge mob, those ia the front of the entire Third and Second corps, coming up in dense masses, climbing over the heaps of the falien, firing heavy volleys, and going down among the slain ag the response broke Our ranks. It was frightful to contemplate the slaughior to which these men were trance into those rifle pits and the still dense masses. of the enemy make but short work Of clearing them. But though repulsed, we are not dis- ordered. Like veterans, every column falls back in order, and the line is re-established at the old brick house, Chancellorsville. THR e1088 OF THE DaTTLA. The old house had been taken early fm the bat- tle for s hospital, and was now crowded with wounded. Our lines were reformea along in front of ft to hold, if possible, the cross roads. The enemy halted om the edge of the woods, as if to breathe, and there was afew moments ofsilenee. That horrible roar has ceased. The quiet is painful. But it lasts but a few seconds, The enemy brings forward bis guas aad com- mences to shel! our new position. NARROW ESCAPE OF GRNG@RAL HOOKER. And bere the Commanding General met with a very Darrow escape. He was standing upon the porch of the old brick house, leaning against one of the pillars, when a shell etruck the pillar, shattering {t to splinters. The General was thrown down ana somowhat stunned; but otherwise was unhurt. It was not his fate fo be in- jured in this battle, He had been on the fleld throughout its continuance, everywhere present where the fight was the hottest, encouraging bis men to renewed efforts, and had escaped ,without a scratch His safety was mst miraculous —* ‘TAN BRICK HOUSE RURWED. vigorous shelling of the enemy riddled mansion in all directions, and some of «he wounded who had already bad their wounds, dressed, were killed. At ast an incen- diary sbeli burst within the buildmg, and soon {t was enveloped in flames. Some of the wounded were re- moved. How many perished { bave urt been able to | ascertain. The that gold A RENEWED ageactT. { Botween eleven and twelve o'clock the enemy mustered their forces and revewed the assault. They came down upan ys in aolid masses, against whieb it seemed like folly for-our comparanively sma! force, wearied and exhausted as they were, to contend. But they did con- tend. They accepted the challenge of bartle, and though overpowered, fought like heroes, contesting every inch of ground back to the White House, Balt @ mile on the road to the Ford, and here the contest ceased. Bore we had a powerful array of artillery that drove the | rebels back as rapidly as they advanced, and they were glad to the Opportunity of resting from the fierce struggle. DRFRRRED. ‘There is much of incident and personal experience and observation thas 1 am reluctantly compelled to omit in this communication, owing to the lengik to which it bas been extended. items may furnish the matter for another letter.] Let me simply add bere that, savea is evening on the left, the particulars of yet received, there has been no fighting eince ls the groat struggle cannot be told, The woods have ended the torture of many while the bulk of our owm slain and our worst wounded were left upon field irom which we were driven, We lost ground; bnt our lines are now circumécribed that we shal! bave n» trouble in holding ‘We have taken about five thousard prisoners, in to which we havo weakened the enemy by He 3 FEE % twenty (housand killed aod wounded. Our own loss will be Got far from twelve thousand killed, wounded and iminsing. CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. L. W. BUCKINGHAM, May 3, 1963, / ‘The followtng is correct an far aa |t goos :— At six o'clock P, M. 00 tho Q4.0f May (be Firat diy! sion, under General Williams, of the Twelfth Army corps (Slocum’s), was ordered to leave its intrenchments, which fronted Howard’s, to support General Geary, one half of whose line was ‘then actually engaged ‘with theenemy. The division moved promptly, and in Jess than ten minutes were both engaged. JACKSON'S ATTACK UPON THE ELEVENTH CORrS. General Howard’s right, commanded by gCarl }Schurz, was attacked by Stonewall Jackson, and held its ground for about an hour, when bis corps §broke in the greatest confusion dashing to Williams’ rear and over his intrench- ments. AM ATTEMPT TO CHECK THE RBTRRAT. _A small regiment from each brigade of Williams’ divi- sion bad been left to support asection of Lieutenant Cros. by’s battery, (F (Fourth United States), and hold the works. These troops formed across the woods and en- deavored to check the flying columns of Howard’s corp, Dut were unequal to the task. The Twenty-eighth New York infantry, Lieut: Col. Cook, held their ground till after the flight of Howard’s command, and kept the enemy en- gaged. Colonel Cook, Lieutenants Chaffer and Kenyon, and bout 100 men were flanked and taken prisoners. ANOTHER CAVALRY GHARGE—CAVALRY LOOKING UP, At about ten o'clock in the morning of the 2d inst. it ‘was observed that the enemy wore sending heavy masses of infantry by the roadj about a mile;and a half in front Of Birney’s headquarters. This force was followed by @ long train of wagons. General Birney shelled them for a while without any apparent effect, when be sent for a aquadrop ofthe Kighth Pennsylvania cavalry to recon. noitre and see how the enemy laid, which was done after The enemy drew up in line of battle in rear of thoir skirmishers, and our men, reinforced, met them,/when, after a smart engagement, principally with cavalry, there surrendered.to us sixty-five prisoners of Georgia troops, including a major and four officers. Afterwards several hundred were captured by those dashing boys, the Fifth Wisconsin, 4 CHARGE ORDERED—THE CAVALRY DIVERTED FROM THBIR Pata. All went well till about five P. M., when General Plea- santon ordered what remained of the gallant Sixth New York cavalry (now terribly cut up) and the Eighth Penn. sylvania to the front, for the purpose of charging down the Fredericksburg plank road. After arriving at the front word was received from Gen. Howard, of the Eleventh corps, that he needed imme- diate cavairyjpuppert, and these two regiments, reinforced bya battery of heavy artillery, were at once counter. marched, and proceeded rapidly toward the Spetsy!vania Court House road. OUR CAVALRY COT OFF—THB CHARGB, And fnow I can mention another cayalry charge—a thing that has been so unusual til! of late that it ought to be chronicled, Before reaching the destined point our boys found themselves cut off by the enemy lying both sides of the road, having already driven the unfortunate Howard from his position; but the cavalry charged through to our lines with only a loss of Major P. Keenan, wounded; missing. Adjutant J. H. Haddock, Jr., missing. Captain C. K. Snaith, supposed killed. —— Carpentor, bugier, Co. I, wounded. First Sergeant Jones, Co. B, wounded slightly. Sergeant Benee, Co. K, woundod slightly. Philip Foy, Co, H, wounded. Sigmond Crismon, Co. D, arm and side. Charles Case, Co. D, foot; since amputatede Samuel Johnson, Co, 1, lower jaw; shot. And fifteen missing, whose names I cannot yet learn, These are all from the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry. The loss of the Sixth New York cavalry I sent you to my letter of yesterdays In Tu Savoie, May 4, 1863. LOCATION OF MOSPITALE, ETC, On the bigh land to the east of United States Ford, which w on the Rappabanndck, and Gfteen miles by road (rem Falmouth, sre ¢itaated tbe hospital camps fer the wounded of the Weventh aad Twelfth corps. In close proximity thore.o ia the Quartermaster’s Department of the Tweifth corps, and other depots which i cannes nwwe without being “ expeiled from the lines.” IX SBaRCD OF PRACE AND QUiztiuRe.”? Last evening 1 rode down to this pisce for the sake of « few moments of peace and quietness, that 1 might endeavor te describe the events of the day; but, to my disappointment, tents were scarce, and even those of our busy quartermasters and commissaries were crowded with wounded. In one of them I took shelter for the night, with a conscious feeling of selfishness that 1 should be my poor comrades, tired, to the deadly fire of our enemy. 1 retired quite late, forthe stream of wounded constantly arriving kept me at work. There is no rest for these times. Sleep may creep over us, but shots, chells and musketry make music in our ears, and our dreams are battle feds. OUR PONTION GUBLLED, Just before daybreak we were aroused by & sho!l soreaming over our beads; then another and another. A pretty roveiile thir, thought I, ran ecexe wae awful, but at the some time comical. The wounded bad to lie and bear it, and us of sound limb were scram. bling in the darkness ffor boots, and repeatedly laying claim to thowe on the feet of our neighbors. Ofeers hur- ried their servants to harness their horses, and every. thing waa confusion. MY PoRY comm Having boon present. at several panics, 1 knew the value of a caddie, and ent at once for the Huran's black pony. He was non et. On foot I proceeded down the road towards Btoneman’s switch, segrehing for him fn vain for about a tile, when I retarned, The shelling continued but a short time, but still 4 PANO GAD COMMENCED. Some of the teams, according to order, were remoged ‘out of range, over this narrow, rock: ddy, hilly and steep road, which was soon packed cursing team. sters and excited meB, in a grand national skedadiie, During a fright a train of wavous is worse (hin «charge of cavatry, the rumbling, rattling noise always increasing (ao cownga’s tear, ‘This state of things did not continue long, for after the cessation of artillery the men commenced aconsing each other of, and putting the question, ‘‘What did you run for?’ Soon put back. ‘THE SHELLS AND THE EFFROTS. On my retura to camp I examined the marks of the shoits, and found that one had gone through four hospital tents, striking a tree and going off at an angle struck the Ground without exploding. Another killed one of our horses, In the last tent that the shell went through was ‘& wounded corporal of (he Que Hundred and Forty-ninth * New York infantry, in @ sitting posture, reading a letter from home. lg Shale perry ad by it, and he was dead: Wha riblg thing to obatem- plate, Men wounded so badiy as move, lying exposed to instant death, with a soul just going be- {gre thom—where? 1 could not learn his name. aE ZSP on, iv ‘a wiaterurathwi ee tesa nak ‘@ humane man had ridden him off that he might not be killed. Somehow or Other, I always Aud friends, ‘TUR RAEMY’A OBIKCT was probably to cause what they pretty nearly succeeded in doing, a derangement of our wagoners’ camp, &c. Re XN Sult,fone man and two horses killoa and weak norvestriod. | 4 MARROW BSGArR, On Friday afternoon a shell struck the roof of a house ‘at Chancellorayille, used as the headquarters of Brigadier General Williams. The house was filled with wounded at the time. Another shel! struck the chimney and (ell down to the fireplace in the first story; but, fortunately, the fire was out, so it did not explode. ANOTHER SKEDADDLE Occurred on Friday afternoon, about sundown, at Hooker’s headquarters. Tho evemy succeeded in getting a correct range for both artillery and infantry, Some of the shelis flow like lightning directly down the ceutre of the road running to the United States Ford, killing two men anda horse. Cavalry,toams and infantry at once.decided to imitate a “Bull run,” and it was with great difficulty that the officers could puta stop to it. Somebody at headquar- ters was respousible for this. ‘THR GENERAL'S HEADQUARTERS were ina fine, large brick house, which might be sald to have constituted the.village. 1t was surrounded by ma- Jostic oakay On one of the uppermost branches stood an officer viewing the contest. The fashion spread and be- came contagious; other tall trees'were climbed by other foolish men. The day was bright and lovely. These men could not do the enemy a more signal service than to ‘become their beacons. The rebels probably found out from prisoners that Hooker’s headquarters were iv this dwelling, and these men in the air were the pilots for thelr shells. THE CAMP OF REBEL PRISONERS. Our camp of Georgta and Alabama prisoners contained last night about six hundred in number, These men are in good spirits, healthy and enthusiastic. In conversation they are quite laconic, and know how to hold their tongues, Whiskey and come coffee these men tong for, but as for food they have plenty. They carry floyr ine stead of bard bread, cooking itas required. These prison- ers are from Alabama, Georgie and North Carolina. When they see a shell coming in our direction their enthusiasm is immense. ‘THR REBEL GRNERALA, T know that some of the Generals in command of our foe are Stuart, Leo, Longstreet and D. H. Hill. TUR DIGRACRFUL BEEDADDLE. T now take a ride to the front, after sending you an apology for a stupid letter. I bave abstained from saying anything about that disgraceful skedaddle of part of the Eleventh corps, which all with whom I have conversed diame Schurs’s division for; for it was a matter of such significant importance, not only to themscives, but also to the gallant Eleventh and Fifth corps, that I cannot state what I have been told till I am gure of its entire truth. ORDER ALOUT CORRESPONDENTS, THB Referring to GeneraOrder No. 48, I would state that 1t is discouraging for correspondents to have their names paraded before the public as. authors of carefully. written letters; for sometimes the letters are written on horse- back or in the woods, and often with shells screaming to us “Burry up.” i “What is ‘injudicious corres; Can you say as shuch as the Chronicle or Tribune?” was asked me to-day. I suggested Ike Partington’s composition on the seasons: as @ model:—‘‘There are four seasons—Spring, summer, autumn and winter, Some like summer the bess, and some like winter the best; but as for me, give mo liberty or give me death.” THE CORRESPONDENCE OF MA. 8. M. CARPENTER. Cuancmuionavitia, May 4—4P. M. GENERAL WHIBFLE WOUNDED. Everything remains quiet along the front to-day, with the exception of occasional shots from the sharpsbooters. General Whipple, while examining the lines of defence this morning, was sbot bya rebel. rifeman, and it is feared mortally wounded. One of our sharpshooters, ‘who saw the rebel fire, shot him before he bad time to reload, ‘TUE HOSPITALS SHELLED. About sunrise this morning the enemy planted a bat- tery near the United States Ford, and shelled the hospitals and baggage trains. Considerable confusion was created; but the battery was speedily silenced and quiet restored. Some of the be. prisoners were killed. One shell passed through four hospital tents, and a few moments after another carried away the head of a wounded man who ‘was reading a letter just received from home, ‘THR SUPPLY TRAINS, None of the trains are allowed tocross the river, all supplies being sent upon pack mules, The enemy's line extends from the vicinity of Banks’ Ford, around by Chancellorsville to Ely’s Ford. A renewal of the engage. ment is momentarily expected. Our position is strongly intrenched, and can be held against a vastly superior force. OUR Loss {8 yet undetermined. An unusual number of officers bave fallen; but the hospital arrangements are good, and every- thing that could be done to alleviate their suffering has been performed. GRNRRAL PATRIOK PREVENTS STRAGGLING, Very little straggling has occurred, General Patrick with bis staf tas labored indefatigably in preventing the soldiers from falling out and strolling to the rear, and ad- mirable order prevails throughout the entire army ‘WIHERS THE REDE! ATLACE if AXPECTED. It isexpected that the enemy wil: attack ugon the right. The troops are in the intrenchments eager for a reuewal of the engagement, and conLdent of success. THR SUFPOSED BERRI LOseES. From captured officers we learn «bat the enemy’s loss bas been terrible. In Jackron’s corps the casualtics are coprecedented. Jackso m wounded in the hand, D. H. 5M) severely and removed from the field; Roach and Ranscm are kiiled, acd Nichols wounded. TRE REBWS FIRE THE WOODS. Many 0! onr ited c.v¢ fallen nw the bands of the eoemy. avd are st:l. Iwas 90 che Geid. Jt is feared that some vf our woundea were burned 10 deal, 48, after our troops fell back on Sunday, the enemy firod ‘be woods. Last evening Generel Sedgwick had ® severe aight with Jackson's corps. Our forces were bard pressed; butafter gallant charge by the Vermont brigade the firing ceased and the rebols retreated. ‘Two hundred and fifty prisoners were takea, lncluding three colonels, two majors and @ large oumber of line officers. 4 SxIRuren. About five o'clock yesterday evening the First division of the Fifth corps moved out of the intrenchments and advanced down towards the Wilderness road. The enemy immediately opened upon them; but our batteries quickly replied, and after a sharp Sight of a few moments the rebels retired. During the night there was considerable cannonading, Dut without effect. This morning General Sedgwick's corps recroseed the giver and is now near Banks’ Ford. AD quiet. THE CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. L: A, HENDRICK. May 4, 1968, ‘tae ‘‘aerimT DU CoRrs’’ OF THE TROOFS About nine o'clock Inst evening I visited the Ninth Mas. sachugetts regiment, supporting @ battery in the rear of the house where General Meade's headquarters was yee- terday, in the rear of where stood, but now stands bo more, the Chancellorsville mansion, and the Fourth Michi. gan, Fourteenth New York, Thirty-second Massacha- wetts and Sixty.secoad Pennsylvania regiments—Seoond brigade, General Griffin's division—lying i Close prox. imity to one another and to several batteries massed in the vietsity. I found alliquiet, and the boys in exostiont apirita, heightened, no doubt, by the fact, notwithstand. tng tue want @ sigag Cor We past few aights, that they ‘bad been oaly slight sufferers ia our ‘thus tar, { had to keep one eyo in semi-open state to watch after the reramers 4 qome nagar ExPscrm. ‘It was the general impression that we should have a quiet night of it; hence my temerity in visiting the trenches, which, in case of romewed attack, would bo am x |, and some apprehension wes || felt for this safety, as he had been away several hours. If the rebels get the Major they will deprive the service Of ® gallant and invaluable officer. i ‘IN THE TRENCHES. _Fening 1 wn Sard Wien, Doe. Rosen af thanding, occupying the trenches near by, 1 make atili further oireuit of the corps,all of whigh were to a @ portion of General Sykes” divi- sion, When I abandoned my visiting project skirmishers foported the éhemy Wiassing infront, aud » deserter brought in news of an attack about being made. NARROW RSCAPE OF YOUR CORRESPONDENT. Having enjoyed the unpleasant felicity of c behind » medium sised oak within reach of tha onemy’s, Gnillading shells the night previous, I cared not to repeat my experience, and conclutied I'would: fall back to the vicinity of the United States Ford; for the double purpose Of getting out of reach of the enemy's oxplosive missiles, and, if possible, got afew winks of undisturbod sleop. {/ had hardly ‘soated myself in my saddle when, crask, | crack, went muskétry behind me. It’ continued severt® minutes, and was protracted along our line for considera- | Die length. I thought the ball bad opeved’ agata: sure. enough; but soop it was quict, and remained eo during the aight, except occasional oxchange of shetw between the pickets. The enomy did advance, | evidently purposing agaia an attempt to pierce centro, but the vigorous volleys from beliind our paid buried thom back in quicker timo (hau they came up. ARTIELERY FIRING—SHRLIS FLYING ABOUT. From a tolerably comfortable night’s sleep on the | ground across the United States Ford, consideriyg that {, | seféty of my horse, I was awakened et daylight by booms- | ing ofcannon, It did not take a second report and Glimpse of belching dame from the erest.of hill oppo- | site, to develop the fact that the enenty was pouring | shells from a battery upon the wagon trains, soldiers and | hospitals located here.- For a fe tninutes the shells came bursting over us with a rapidity as lively as it was dangerous, NOONB PLACE SAYER TAAN ANOTHER. A theory that had +been gainidg strougth ta my mind ever since our préSent “crossing, of tho Rappahannock, that no one caa count upom | | any place being safe, received ‘the culminating clinch of assurance—or to its correctness or assurance—made more forcible by the burdting of a sheli within forty toot of where I was standing. For a time thore was unusual celerity of movement among the teamsters. Some of thems started off their wagons at peli mell pace, to seck more | Serene quarters, Ono quartermastor started off s0 fast that {¢ ts barolv probable that histedms have overtaken him yet. The commotion tasted but a short time, aad fortunately did! but little’ damage, only one tan ‘being killed and two wouhded. The trains bolonged principally | tw tho Eloventh and/Twelfth. Army corps. , SKULKERS UNEARTHED. i This artillory domonstration, with a rumor quickly set {a motion that the enemy was in our rear and prepering to.come. upon ws at once, coupled with the fact, that ||| Bring was then to be heard in the front, sent skulkers! | from their hiding places and iwto manifesting patriotia | eagernéss to got to their regiments. Taking this fact into; | consideration, the fring, on the whole, was attended with beneficial results to our side, “Meantime the rebel battery disappearod. TER FIFTH ARMY CORPS: ’ ‘At ten A. M. I returned to General Meade’s headquac- ters, and found this corps occupytug, the same position aa when I left, which: position .it isi still occupying. The change in the programme of fighting, bringing ar- tillery more into active play sfid leaving the infantry 1°88 exposed, is generally approved and believed to be the most judicious, safest aud wisest coures that could be adopted to ensure victory over the enemy. DRBPERATION OF TOS REWELB, It may seem strange to Northora readers and those’ away from the scene of contest to read of the repeated at- tacks made by the enomy, who, it would naturally be supposed, would put themselves almost wholly oa the de- fensive.. The fact. is they sever fought with such despe- ation before; they feol that they are being hemmed ta, thotrali is at stake and It is victory or death with them. Tamm caution. ‘They are more cautious than our mon are end more secretive. We can learn but little from prisoners or deserters; many of ours tell at they know. Our men not only must have camp Gres and their bot coffee, but they set the woods on fire, thus unwisely revoiling their position and making thomselves | the target of the enemy's shells, The enemy use oxceed- tng caution about camp Gres. Our men are curious and Climb trees to see what is to be spied out ia the evomy’s land, and are more seen than seeing. The enemy, sorpent like, craw) along the ground and keep out of sight as much as (bey possibly can. GENERAL BOOKER. Whatever may be the issue of the preseat Gghting, one thing is certain: that General Hooker has made himself known to the army as one of the bravest and most daring men (bat ever was on a field of battle, There is no fear tm him. He rides anywhere and everywhere, and at ali times , of the day and nigbt. Having occasion to visit his head- quarters shortly after my returo this morving, an@ learning that he bad changed them from where they bad been, 1 asked Lieutenant Colonel Weld, of General — Meade’s staff, bis preseat locality. “Goto the very front,” said the Lieutenant Colonel, “then go to the line of skirmishors, and from there ad- ‘vance to the Grst house further in front, aod you wilt find Geveral Hooker's headquarters.” Of course this direction is mot to be taken ta the literal sense; but it shows the fact that General Hooker | spends his timo in the front, aud is not afraid to spend it there. While our batteries were shell- jog tho enemy yesterday, ia their concentrated movement to pierce our centre, as described in my las letter, Gen, Hooker stood by one of the cannon, and, fel- lowing the rebound after being Grod, took hold of the | wheels himself and helped te put it {m position. A story ie prevalent that be rao bis eword through a ekedaddling | officer yesterday, but I do not belive tt. TUR SEIRMIsE OF THURSDAT—CRN. AYRES. Jo my report of the hoavy skirmish in which Geseral Sykes’ division was engaged on last Thursday | mcattoned General Aimes as in command of ous of the brigaies. I should have written General Ayres, who deserves oredis for all the gallantry ascribed to the former, Tau PROSPECT OF 4 POT. As quiet as the day bss been far, it is oot probabe that it will remain 0 all day. These are excitiug days, and the history of an hour may tell ibe winding up story of tho campaign. q Ta WEATHBR—OUA LOCATION. In the crowding multiplicity of moro important iteme, Ihave not stopped in my letter thus far to speak of the weather or describe the country ia which we are ca ted, No terms of eulogiem would be wastoi on the woa- ther, for it is indeed very fine—warm aud mild, with refreshing showers at intervals, and the trees ‘eneh day more and more puttiag 08 the vernal roves of — spring. Tho countey, particularly where wo ar: Weawe® | just now, is indescribably sbom|nable —constant woods for miies, lled with underbrush, mew and stumpy roads and marsh. ‘4 PICTURE OF tua SCENE. Atrue map of the scene of the preseut fight would be Aropresentation of a piece of woods with explanatory annotation that the troops and bavterion are hidden from view by the trees. A partioutarly dingustiog feature to ‘8 vewspaper correspondent—and Jam fraak to coofemme Although the new order compels signing ones tame t ones letvers—ig the absence of s spacious, sccere and elevated van, where, out of range of shele and Minne balls, ome can ooolly Gad accurately note the varying fortunes of each succeeding battle. Here one can bardly turn around without liadility of plungiog upea some rebel battery, oF at beet becoming the unwilling target of their cross-firing. ae ARTILLERY DUEL, Just aftor closing my despatch, ebrxt an hour ago, am artillery duc! opened near the left of our line, Some re. bel batteries had boen shoved into the wuote frosting oer troops uakidawa 10 our meu Uur batteries soon began @ response, and the counter fring continued some half hour. Jam unable to give the full result at the time of sond- | ing this dospatch, but our loss was only slight Our batteries silenced their guns, att in @ shorn timethe | | latter, guoners, and all had disappearot. } PRAT OF CAPTAIN WAED, OF Wuao's GATrRRT. Lam paiged to rovord the fot that during the Age Captain Wend, of Wood's baiery, Sykoa' division, was Kid {lo was a moat gdiadl ded lovwtanble O@eur, ~~ CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE. }