Further Accounts of the Fredericksburg battle.
The New York World and Herald, of the 7th, from which we yesterday published some extracts, contained further news of interest. The World describes the operations of Sedgwick's division as follows: The capture of Fredericksburg by General Sedgwick was the last principal item of news from that quarter. After obtaining possession of the rebel batteries he marched for miles on the plankroad to Chancellorsville, where he met a large force of the enemy, doubtless a part of Longstreet's division, sent to meet him, from Suffolk. It appears that a portion of the rebel army got between Gen. Sedgwick and the force menacing Gibbons, who held possession of Fredericksburg. Thus Lee was between Sedgwick and Hooker, and Sedgwick in turn between two parts of Lee's army — Gen Sedgwick had been reinforced by some troops that had before been employed on holding the heights east of Fredericksburg, and the enemy took possession of a part of those deserted works. On Monday morning Gen. Sedgwick was attacked near Buckford by a large force of the enemy, superior in numbers to his own. Pressed in front and flank, his men fought bravely, but were finally compelled to retire. As this movement was commencing the Vermont brigade charged furiously, and succeeded in driving the rebels from the ground. It was a bloody day for both sides, and the Federal command had done nobly in maintaining their ground against such numbers. A retirement across the river was determined on, with a view to recross at United States Ford and endeavor to join Hooker's main army. Accordingly, at a little past midnight he ordered the movement, and as silently as possible the troops took up the line of march over the bridge. The enemy soon discovered this movement, and opened a heavy fire on the bridge with artillery, killing and wounding a large number of our men. They did not succeed, however, in cutting off any portion by destroying the bridge, which was their principal object. It may be that instead of attempting to join Gen. Hooker, Sedgwick will return to the relief of Gibbons, as the rebels were discovered on Monday morning only two miles below United States Ford, and at daybreak commenced shelling our trains on this side the Rappahannock. How large a force have thus got in the rear of Hooker's army it is yet impossible to decide: The World gives the following account of Jackson's recapture of Fredericksburg: The morning and evening attacks on Monday, by the rebels, under Jackson, and Gen. Gibbeon's force at Fredericksburg, have resulted in their gaining possession again of the greater part of the place. It must not, however, be regarded as anything like a disaster Fredericksburg now is not one-tenth as important as Fredericksburg before Gen. Hooker's first movement. Our armies are on its flank and rear, and our heavy pieces across the river on its front. About evening they rushed on our right, and for a long time the battle was hotly contested, each party alternately gaining the advantage. Finally our force was obliged to retire, and during the night held a defensive position. Next morning Col. Hall crossed his brigade over the river on the Falmouth side, and both bridges were taken up. It is suspected that the enemy have pontoons sufficient to cross the river, and a lively watch is kept up to prevent raids on their part. Although it is believed that General Hooker is master of his position and able to combat successfully, yet, to make possibility, sure, Gen. Heintzelman, with 30,000 men, has been dispatched from Washington to his aid. The trophies of Sunday's a fight are just developing. It is found that a large number of rebel gun and flags were captured, and 6,000 or 8,000 prisoners. Ten guns of the famous Washington battery from New Orleans are among the trophies. Confederate prisoners are almost continually arriving in this city and turned over to the Provost Marshal. 850 Mississippians and Alabamians came yesterday. The Philadelphia Inquirer, of the 6th, has the following account: The news from General Hooker's army by the steamer Hero is of a very meagre and conflicting character. Instructions have been given to those in the Government service not to impart information to any one regarding the progress of operations in and around Fredericksburg upon their arrival here. Accounts pretty generally agree that the rebels have re-occupied Fredericksburg, and they held the town at the time of the Hero's departure. The heights below are jointly occupied by the Union and rebel troops. The position of the heights occupied by our forces on Sunday morning were retaken, after a desperate resistance, by fresh reinforcements from Gen. Longstreet's corps, and an enfilading fire was commenced by the rebels on portions of other redoubts occupied by our troops. The fighting Monday was not as general or very terrific in its character as was generally anticipated. I was thought that the shock of arms to day (Tuesday) would be fraught with highly important, if not final results. The general impression among the passengers from Aquia Creek appears to be that Gen. Hooker will hold his own; but still the news is indefinite from the front, and but little is known at the Aquia Creek station — almost within eye-sight of the scene of the mighty events that now create the greatest solicitude and most intense anxiety. Passengers by the Hero state that everything is in immediate readiness for a removal of our stores, etc., from Aquia Creek if by any possible chance the fortunes of war should turn against us, and an advance be made by the rebels in that direction. Up to the present moment, Tuesday, May 5th 3 o'clock P. M., nothing is known of a definite character beyond the fact that many thousands on both sides have been killed and wounded, and that the fight has been in progress since Wednesday last. A dispatch from Washington, May 6, says since Saturday nearly 3,000 rebel prisoners have been brought to this city. Seven hundred and eighty arrived here at 2 o'clock to-day, and were, like their predecessors, marched to the Provost Marshal's office, under a strong guard. Thence they were conveyed to safe quarters. The number is already to large for convenient accommodation. Additional prisoners are to be sent up from the Rappahannock, making in all 4,000 and over certainly in our hands. The prisoners present a shabby appearance. The much larger part are dressed in dirty gray, the remainder in brown, and generally in couched hats. Many of them have good substantial boots, while others are nearly barefoot. Not a few, instead of having blankets, show that they have made an extensive levy on carpets. The prisoners are nearly all young men. Their appearance in the streets excited much curiosity, but no rude or offensive remarks were made by the spectators. Ambulances were busy both last night and to-day conveying the wounded from the Army of the Potomac to the several hospitals.Some of the killed and wounded.
The following are among the casualties in the Yankee army: Killed.--Brig-Gen Mott, of Sickles's corps; Maj-Gen Barry, of Maine; Brig Gen Schmiffle brig 11th corps; Col Geo, 6th N J; Lt Col Walter, 12th Con; Maj Fakon, 36th N Y Col McKnight, 105th Pa; Col Lancaster, 125th Pa; Col Strafurock, 109th Pa; Col Stevens, 4th Excelsior Brigade; Lt Col Soots 3d Wisconsin, Lt-Col Chaplin, 85th N Y; Maj Keanan, th Pateav; Maj Strouse, 46th Pa; Capt Esworth, 80th N Y; Col Kugar, 21st Pa; Maj John Havelock, Maj Faison, 36th N Y; Maj Basket Wounded. Geo Mass, severely; Brig Gen Whipple Havman, 37th N Y; Col Sewell, 6th Burling, 5th N J; Lieut-Col Norton, N J, badly; Capt Fry, aid to Sickles, in Col Rose 21st Conn; Col Potter; Maj 25th N Y; Col Hecker, 82d. Ill; Col N 12th Cnn Col Font-Vosges, 20th N Y; Col Johns. 7th Mass, severely; Col Brown, N Y, knee shattered; Col Riley, 75th and a prisoner; Col Richardson, 25th N Y, severely; Col Van Gitan, commanding br Adjutant Stevens, 115th Penn; Col 1st N Y; Lieut-Col Coggewell, 2d Mass; Col Cock 149th N Y; Col Miles, 61st N Y, fatally; Col E M Gregory, 91st Penn, severely, Maj Auzelle, 5th N J; Lt Col Lownsburg, 5th Excel'r, severely; Maj Willoughby, 13th N Y, Maj Higgins, 86th N Y, Col Parker 2d N Y; Col Burlin, 6th N J; Col Willeta, 117th. N J; Col Potter, 12th N H; Maj Healy U S Chasseur, mortally; Col W H Noble, 12th Conn; Adj't Thomas, 20th Ind, badly; Col Resmey 8th N J; and 28 Captains and Lieutenants killed; and 52 Captains and Lieutenants wounded, many of them, it is feared, This is out a partite list of the among officers. Neon Carnallses.--The following rebel Generals are known to be wounded: Lieut Gen Jackson, slightly, and still in the saddle; Major-Gen D H Hill, severely; Major-Gen A P Hill, slightly; Brig Gen. Mabone, severely; Brig Gen Nichols, slightly; Major-Gen Ransom.The Situation.
The World says, editorially: The news from General Hooker's army is interpreted in official quarters as being favorable, but with the map before us we cannot so regard it. It is idle to say that Fredericksburg was of no strategical importance. If that was the case, why was a loss of nearly a thousand brave fellows incurred endeavoring to capture it? The fact is, it was of supreme importance to hold the heights of Fredericksburg. By their possession Lee's rear was constantly menaced, and the railroad toward Richmond rendered unavailable for his army. The mystery in connection with these rebel movements on Monday was the silence of Gen Hooker. The enemy must have detached over 30,000 men from his main body to over whelm Sedgwick and Gibbons, yet Gen. Hooker does not seem to have been able to take advantage of or prevent it. Sedgwick could not have been more than six miles distant from Hooker's left when attacked by the enemy, yet the Union commander was unable to aid him. This can be accounted for only on two theories — either Gen. Hooker's army was so crippled that it dare not engage the enemy, or it was retreating to the north bank of the Rappahannock. In the absence of positive information to the contrary, and in the light of the facts before us, we are compelled to believe that Hooker has been out generaled — our army on fought. We hear that 30,000 men, under Heintzelman, are on the road to reinforce Hooker, and that a large number of troops are also under way to the same destination from another quarter; all of which goes to show that the Union army on the Rappahannock is in a bad box. The reinforcements would not be needs it Lee was about to retreat. It is difficult now to resist the conclusion that the Confederates deliberately allowed the Union army to cross without impediment, confident that it would be crushed under Hooker's leadership when once on the other side. Since last Saturday they have been doing pretty much as they pleased. Either Lee's army largely out-numbers Hooker's, or else the latter is unable to properly handle "the finest army on the planet" Let us hope that the news to-day may be more reassuring. Some happy accident may yet interfere in our favor and give us an unexpected and glorious victory.Arrest of the Hon. Col Vallandigham.
Great excitement existed at Dayton, Ohio, on the 5th, in regard to the arrest of Hon. Clement Vallandigham, by order of General Burnside. A despatch from Cincinnati says: ‘ At dark a crowd of from 500 to 600 proceeded to the Journal office, took possession of it, completely gutted the building, set it on fire, and burnt, it to the ground. The fire communicated to the adjoining building, and all the property from the south end of the Phillips House to the middle of the square was destroyed. All the telegraph lines in the city were cut down and destroyed. The bridge on the Xenia road is reported to be destroyed. At 10 o'clock at night Federal troops from Cincinnati and Columbus succeeded in putting down the rioters, and at half past 11 o'clock quiet was again restored. Cincinnati, May 6--P. M. --Dayton has been comparatively quiet to-day. About thirty ringleaders in last night's riot have been arrested without resistance and placed in jail. The Empire newspaper has been suppressed. Its editor has been arrested and brought here. The soldiers have removed a swivel from the Empire office, and also taken possession of two wagon loads of muskets, stored in the Light Guards' armory. Mr. Vallandigham was brought before the Court-Martial to-day for trial. He refused to plead to the charges which were read to him. The Court proceeded with the evidence, the publication of which is not allowed. The charges were based on his Mount Vernon speech. Mr. Vallandigham is at the Burnett House to-night, under a strong guard. Dayton and Montgomery county are placed under martial law. The total loss by the conflagration at Dayton was $39,000. ’Important from England — Exciting debate
The Australasian, with Queenstown dates to the 26th, reached New York Wednesday. A spirited debate had occurred in both Houses of Parliament in regard to the seizure of British vessels by Federal cruisers. Mr. Roebuck was among the speakers in the House of Commons, and during his remark, used the following language: Another outrage has taken place, and by the same men who perpetrated the insult offered to our flag in the case of the Trent. A vessel leaves the English shore — the Hon. member for London, Mr. Crawford, says he has seen her papers, and they are perfectly harmless. She was bound to a neutral port. [Cheers] She was seized by an American man-of-war, taken into an American port, and the expectations of the English merchant in his honorable trade have been utterly destroyed by the conduct of the American Government. I say that conduct of the American Government you ought to resent. (Cheers.) But not only was his done. There were persons calling themselves English merchants, who applied to the American Minister for a permit to allow their ships to proceed in safety to its destination. That permit is granted, and why? Because that ship carried out arms to the Mexicans to be used against our ally, France--[Cheers.] Since then, other men calling themselves English merchants have applied to the same authority for the same pursuit. They have been refused because they are English-men, and because they are not carrying out arms to aid the Mexicans in the war, though they were trading to the same port. The permit I repeat, was refused, and now I must say that Mr. Adams, the American Minister, is the Minister for commerce in England. [Loud cheers.] Sir, I would put it to the noble Lord —— the man who has hitherto shown himself alive to the honor and dignity of England — I would ask him whether the Government of which he is the head has come to any determination in this matter, and if they have, whether he is able to tell Parliament what that determination is? Sir, I know the consequences of the action he may take. It may lead to war, and I, speaking for the English people, am prepared for war! [Loud cheers, and "Oh! oh!"] I know that language will strike the hearts of the peace party in this country, but it will also strike the hearts of the insolent people who govern America, and we shall have justice done to the honor and dignity of England, and the commerce of this country will no longer be subject to the sneering insolence of an upstart race. [Cheers] The question I have to ask the noble Lord is, whether the Government of which he is the have formed any determination with regard to the conduct of Admiral Wilkes; whether they have addressed any remonstrance to the American Government, and whether he is prepared now to state the course the Government have determined to purses? [Hear, hear] Lord Palmarston said the House would at once understand, from what had fallen from his honorable friend, that the matter to which his question referred was of the utmost possible importance. All he could say was, that is was receiving due consideration from Govern- ment; but he was not prepared at present to state at what result Her Majesty's Government might arrive.The raid in Virginia.
The Washington Chronicle, of Saturday, May 9th, publishes the following: The following official dispatch was received at the headquarters of the army 1st evening:Yorktown, Va., May 7.
Major-General Halleck: Col. Kupstrick, with his regiment, the Harris Light Cavalry, and the rest of the Illinois 12th, have just arrived at Gloucester Point, opposite this post. They burned the bridges over the Chickahominy, destroyed three large trains of provisions in the rear of Lee's army; drove in the rebel pickets to within two (2) miles of Richmond, and have lost only one (1) Lieutenant and thirty men, having captured and paroled upwards of three hundred prisoners. Among the prisoners was an aid of Gen. Winder, who was captured with his escort within the entrenchments outside of Richmond. This cavalry have marched nearly two hundred (200) miles since the 3d of May; were inside of the fortifications of Richmond on the 4th; burnt all the stores at Aylett's Station, on the Matrimony; on the 5th destroyed all the ferries over the Pamunkey and Mattaponi, and a large depot of commissary stores near and above the Rappahannock, and came in here in good condition. They deserve great credit for what they have done. It is one of the finest feats of the war. Rufus King, Brigadier-General Comd'g Post.
The New York Herald, of the 7th, does not seem very hopeful about the results of the Fredericksburg fight. It says: ‘ The public has been so of en misled, duped, deceived, disappointed, and trifled with by the authorities at Washington that, in spite of the splendid fighting of the Rappahannock, it has as length relapsed into comparative indifference, and settled into the conviction that this Administration is totally incompetent to conduct the war, and that there is no longer any hope of the very speedy suppression of the rebellion. ’
The latest.
We have received a copy of the Washington Chronicle, of Sunday, the 10th instant, and copies of other Norther papers. The New York Herald announces the battle as a "crushing defeat" to Hooker. Another Yankee paper says that the Federal army now numbers 70,000, and is strong enough to repel any attack. Com. Porter gives an account of the attack on Grand Gulf, and says that he accomplished all he wanted except silencing the batteries, which, he says, ‘"were fought with a desperation I never before witnessed."’ A dispatch from Port Gibson, from General Grant, says he completely routed the rebel there on the 30th, capturing 500 prisoners besides the wounded. An arrival at New York from Wilmington bar, on the 4th, says that the iron-clads are again off Charleston, and that an attack on the place is imminent. Rosecrans has issued an order prohibiting women or non-combatants from entering his lines after May 8th--a sign of business. The news of Van Dorn's death, and the cause, are published in the Yankee papers. The decision of the Court-Martial in the case of Vallandigham has been submitted to Gen. Burnside, but no decision rendered as yet. Lincoln has issued a proclamation, dated the 8th, declaring all foreigners subject to enrollment who shall have "declared their intention," and giving them 65 days to leave the United States. The Chronicle has an editorial on the battle. It says the Federal "set their mark too high," and failed, but nevertheless gained something. The reason they did not gain all was the heavy reinforcement of Lee by Longstreet. The "something" gained, it seems, was frightening the people in Richmond, at the slight cost of about 12,000 men and officers killed and wounded, as published in the lists returned from Fredericksburg, of which the 2d division alone of Sickles's corps lost 1,985. There was not a soldier left in Richmond or in Petersburg. Home guards, armed with shot-guns, did picket duty in front of Richmond, and department clerks, armed with horse pistols, guarded the prisoners in Libby prison. Nearly the whole of Longstreet's corps came to the army at Fredericksburg. Against these odds — much greater than we had any reason to expect--Gen. Hooker could not accomplish the magnificent task he had proposed to himself. It is a truth that will stand the test of all history, that he only failed in the entire accomplishment of what he had too confidently promised. But we have gained much. General Lee is said to have reported that he has taken five thousand prisoners, though it is stated on good authority that this report was disbelieved in Richmond, where it was gotten up by Jeff Davis for effect. But even if it is true we have probably taken more than five thousand of their men, many of whom are ready to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, if for no thing else, for the sake of escaping from the Confederacy for which they have been unwillingly fighting. Two hundred took the oath in Baltimore yesterday. Authentic dispatches from General Lee and other officers in the rebel army captured by us, place their less in killed and wounded at from eighteen to twenty thousand. Our whole loss can hardly exceed half that number. The army was never — so we judge from all the accounts we bear — in better condition or better spirits. They have more confidence than ever, both in their commander and them selves, and in the next forward movement will again cover themselves with glory, and add new laurels to the army of the Potomac. The Chronicle has the following two paragraphs: The correspondent of the New York Herald who was captured on the Rappahannock a week or two ago and carried to Richmond, and was one of the party recently exchanged, says that all the prisoners were paroled when Stoneman was within a short distance of that city, or they would have overpowered the guard and probably captured the town. He says that our cavalry forces captured over a thousand rebels. It is said that among the forces captured by Stoneman in the vicinity of the rebel capital was a battalion of the Richmond City Guard, an aristocratic organization for home duty.--They had been on a reconnaissance.Nominations in Western Virginia.
The Convention which met at Parkersburg, on the 5th inst, to nominate officers for the new State of Western Virginia, has adjourned, having nominated for Governor A. J. Boreman, of Parkersburg; Secretary of State, J. E. Boyer, of Middletown; Secretary of the Treasury, Campbell Tarr, of Brooke county; State Auditors, Samuel Brane of Wheeling, Judge B. O. Berckshire, of Morgantown; Wm. A. Harrison, of Clarksburg, and James H Brown, of Kanawha; Attorney General, A. B. Caldwell, of Wheeling.A brief account of the battle.
Falmouth, Va., May 5.
--Yesterday two terrible battles were fought by the 6th corps, Gen. Sedgwick, resulting in fearful carnage on both sides.
Monday morning the rebels suddenly made their appearance on the hills to the left of Fredericksburg, and coming down rapidly, occupied the city, thus getting in the rear of the corps.
Most of the supply trains, ambulances, mules, and soldiers in the vicinity were taken.
A fleet horse saved me from capture.
A serious blunder was perpetrated in pushing our forces on so rapidly without ascertaining whether or not there were any rebels on the woody heights to the left of the city.
One whole corps came down, and forming in line of battle immediately marched after the drops.
The only way of retreat lay by Brookes Ford, five miles above the city.
Gen. Sedgwick was signeted from this since of the river of the condition of affairs and immediately about formed a line of battle facing this way, holding the rebels in check, and working down toward the ford.
The lines of battle remained in this condition until about the middle of the day, when the rebels attacked us, and were gallantly repulsed Howe's division capturing three hundred prisoners.--The rebel reinforce cents had fought more, while our troops had been fighting more or less since the previous Tuesday night. For a time it was feared that the corps could not make communication at Banks's Ford, and that the whole of it must be captured.
But by soon, a connection was made, and Gen. Sedgwick sent for supplies.
Meantime the wounded in Fredericksburg were being taken across the pontoons to this side, all of them being got away on the sudden appearance of the enemy on the outskirts above.
The doctors supposing, of course, that the enemy would come down and take them, made all the arrangements for being taken prisoners; but for some reason, either through fear of our forces above or siege guns on this side of the river, the enemy did no advance in on the town.
The positions of the respective armies were then as follows: One main force on the north, then the main force of the enemy the 6th corps below, corps of rebels still lower, and our heavy guns on this side — a most extraordinary sandwiching of opposing forces together.
Skirmishing occurred along the whole line until 5½ o'clock in the evening, when the rebels attacked us from two ways.
The Union forces were t the time arrayed in aware, both wings resting on the river, the right at Banks's Ford.
We were arranged in two lines of battle.--The enemy attacking, the 2d division of the 2d corps and Howe's at first approaching them diagonally from Fredericksburg and the country directly beyond Gen Mille's brigade, consisting of the 33d, 77th, 20th and 49th New York together wit the Vermont brigade and 7th Mains, bore the brunt of the charge repulsing the enemy handsomely.
The Vermont brigade were on the left of Gen'l Mills.
Mills's brigade and other troops made a counter charge, but reinforcements coming up to the enemy, we were not able to drive them.
The 77th acted nobly, but the 20th New York behaved very disgracefully, as it did at White Oak Samp and failing back brought a cross fire on the 33d Their Colonel, however, conducted himself most bravely.
The other lines of battle were now attacked by overwhelming numbers and obliged to fall back to the river.
