We have received, through the courtesy of the officers of the Exchange Bureau, New York papers of Monday, the 9th inst., and make up the following summary of their contents:
Important — the Army of the Potomac in triumph — Splendid action on the Banks of the Rappahannock--two rebel Anodes and artillery taken--four rebel Flags and 1,800 Personals by Gens. Sedgwick and French--the rebels driven across the river — our Army on the South side of the Rappahannock — occupation of Fredericksburg by our troops.
This is the dashing heading given by the New York Herald to its account of the fight of Saturday on the Rappahannock. It appears that Meade's whole army commenced moving about daylight Saturday morning, the 1st, 2d, and 3d army corps, under Gen. French, moving to Kelly's Ford, and the 5th and 6th, under Gen. Sedgwick, marching to Rappahannock Station bridge. The 6th corps reached Rappahannock Station about noon. A dispatch says: ‘ The affair commenced at forty-five minutes past two o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the skirmishers of the Second and Third brigades of the First division forced the rebel pickets back to their defences. From that time till nearly dark our troops were getting in position as near to the enemy's works as they could approach and be sheltered by the crest of the hill which intervened. At dusk the sixth Maine was deployed as a double skirmish line the fifth Wisconsin being drawn up in line of battle on their left. Perhaps for the first time during the war the skirmishers charged upon the enemy's works, and the two regiments mentioned both belonging to the Third brigade, carried the left of the fortifications by storm, dashing forward gallantly and impetuously in the face of a murderous fire, and capturing seven pieces of artillery. ’ The right of the line of fortifications was still held by the enemy, and the glorious duty of as sailing that point was assigned to the 121st New York and 5th Maine, of the 2d brigade, and faithfully did they perform that duty. The 49th and 119th Pennsylvania came up in the meantime, and supported the already victorious boys of the 3d brigade, while the 2d brigade was burbling the enemy from what he deemed his impregnable position. The enemy made several unsuccessful attempts to retake the works, during which the right of the 6th Maine lost heavily. There was no chance for the rebels to escape by crossing the river, as we held the range of their single bridge, though a few mounted men managed to dash over through a galling fire, among them Gen. Early it is said. The 121st New York and the 5th Maine took 180 prisoners in one squad, the former regiment, at different times during the engagement capturing 683 and the 5th Maine 550 prisoners. The 2d brigade also captured 8 battle-flags, 1,178 stand of arms, and the Adjutant's desk of the 8th Louisiana, with all the books and papers relating to that regiment. Among the prisoners captured were six Colonels, two of whom, commanding brigades, declared to Gen. Sedgwick that they were so well assured of the strength of their position that they were confident it could not be successfully assailed by any one corps in the Army of the Potomac. The result shows that they did not correctly estimate the bravery of our soldiers, since their works were carried by only four regiments, who, in skirmish line, charged on the enemy in his line of battle, under the protection of his rifle pits. Sergeant Roberts, of the 6th Maine, captured a rebel battle flag. That regiment suffered very severely, losing in killed and wounded 17 out of its 22 officers who went into action, and two-thirds of its enlisted men. The regiments actually engaged in the capture of the prisoners went into battle with only about 900 men, and the excess of the prisoners above their own numbers is therefore very large. The first brigade of Gen. Wright's division was not in the action. Dr. Bland, Surgeon of the Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania regiment, went down this evening on the 4:50 train, with two hundred and fifty wounded men of the Sixth corps, and about thirty-five wounded men of the Fifth corps. The rebel loss in killed and wounded equals if it does not exceed our own. We lost no prisoners. Three hundred and fifty will cover our entire loss in killed and wounded at Rappahannock Station. There is a report that the rebel General Hays was killed or taken prisoner. Lieutenant.-Colonel Kesler, of the First New Jersey cavalry, who had charge of the prisoners on their way from the front to Warrenton Junction, informs your correspondent that their whole number is eighteen hundred and forty six. The captured battery consists of seven pieces, some of them bearing the stamp "U. S., Watertown arsenal." and are six-pounder Parrots and Napoleons. They attracted much attention when brought up to Warrenton Junction this afternoon. They are supposed to be some of the guns captured from Milroy at Winchester. A placard upon them conveys the information that they were "Captured by Russell's brigade, first division, sixth corps."The gallant men who achieved this brilliant victory, the most brilliant of its character that has occurred since the war began, are the same who carried the heights of Fredericksburg while the Chancellorsville battle was progressing. Their triumph is not unmingled with sorrow at the loss of their brave comrades who have sacrificed their lives upon the altar of their country. The prisoners who left Warrenton Junction for Washington this evening occupied fifty cars, and they appeared to rejoice rather than grieve at their captivity. Perhaps the prospect of three square meals daily buoys up their spirits. They are not comfortably clad to meet the approaching cold weather, and did not go into action with their blankets, if they had any. Some of them had boots, some leather shoes, some canvas shoes, and some no shoes. The best looking pants among them were such as our soldiers wear, either stripped from our men who have died on the battle field or taken from Milroy. The Adjutant of the 6th Maine, and Capt. Tyler, of Gen. Wright's staff, had their horses shot. The Medical Director, Dr. O'Leary, and Dr. Crenore have just returned from the hospitals. --Two hundred and fifty of our wounded, and about eighty of the enemy, have already been brought in. Martin's battery loses four wounded, and Waterman's two. A dispatch from Warrenton Junction says: ‘ The 2d division of the 3d corps, under Gen. H. Prince, crossed the river last evening at Kell's Ford, and captured 252 of the 2d and 38th North Carolina regiments. The prisoners say their orders were to remain there and fight untifordered to retreat or taken prisoners. Gen. Prince's boys waded the ford, which was about waist deep, and their prisoners had to wade back. The 20th New York militia, Lieut.-Col. Hardenberg commanding, accompanies the prisoners to Washington as an escort. ’ The wounded are arriving here, on their way to Washington. Cars are also ordered for fifteen hundred prisoners. Two hundred and fifty of the latter were taken by the left wing, commanded by Major General Freach. The prisoners are now arriving. They are chiefly from North Carolina and Louisiana. They say to our boys, ‘"You all could not have taken us if we had had bayonets like yours."’ The Wisconsin and Maine fellows answered, "Oh, gammon; that's played out." A gentleman who was present with the army says it was a novel sight to see all Sedgwick's prisoners in a crowd — the largest lot ever captured by our forces on the Virginia side — and they were guarded by cavalry to prevent straggling and escape. French's prisoners were also gathered in one body and similarly guarded. The following are Meade's official dispatches:[first Dispatch.]
Hdq'rs Army of the Potomac, Nov. 7, 9.30 P. M.
Major General Sedgwick advanced to the railroad crossing, where he drove the enemy to the river, assaulted and captured two redoubts with artillery, on this side, taking a number of prisoners.
Major-General French advanced to Kelly's Ford, driving the enemy in small force across the river, and captured several hundred prisoners at the Ford.
[Second Dispatch.]
Hdq'rs Army of the Potomac, Nov. 7, 10 P. M.
Gen. Sedgwick reports capturing this afternoon in his operations four Colonels, three lieutenant-Colonels, many other officers, and over 800 men, together with four battle-flags.
Gen. French captured over 400 prisoners, officers and men.
A dispatch dated Washington, the 8th inst., announces that Meade is in "full pursuit" of the "rebels." It says: ‘
General Buford's cavalry crossed at Sulphur Springs to cover the right flank several miles above Rappahannock Station, and Generals Gregg and Kilpatrick crossed below Kelly's Ford to cover the left flank.
No definite information of their operations had been received up to noon to-day. ’
The enemy, after crossing the Rappahannock under the cover of the night, moved in the direction of Culpeper, and the advance of our forces, supposed to be cavalry, reached Brandy Station early to-day.
This morning our whole line advanced, and, no doubt, pressed rapidly forward after the retreating.
