the jpwJfflssf, PUBLISHED DAILY (SUNDAYS EXCEPTBD,I BY JTOHK W. FORNEY• OFFICE. Wo- HI SOUTH FOURTH STREET. ijjflE DAILY PRESS, Eighths* Cents ?eb Week, payable to the Carrier. SffaU** to SabAsriberß oat of the City at Eight Dollars S»bb Atfsnre* Four Dollars for Sir Month*. TwoDol aj.RßFOitTHttas Months— invanably In advance for the *ime ordered. <Qr Advertisement# Inserted at the usual rate#. Six lines constitute a sonars. : THS Tftl-WBBKLY PK.BJSS, HaUed to SaSeoribars oat of the City at Four Dollars 'Vta'Amro*' In advance. !/|r f ms. WEDNESDAY, MAT 6, 1803. ARMI OF THE POTOMAC, THE OPERATIONS OF CENEMI HOOKER. the Rebel Commander Lee Outgeneraled. The Battle of Ohancellorville, (Stonewall Jackson Attacks the Riglit and is Repulsed, THE REBEL GENERAL HILL KILLED. ■Our Army* Confident and Victorious, Mr. Swinton, of the New York Times, writes, to 4hftt newepaper-the moat intelligent accountsjye Ahave yet read of the operations of the Army of the Potomac. He reviews the different movements of •General Hooker, and tellß us all that has been done tfrom the movement of the army from Falmouth to •the battle of Ohancellorville: OHATrCELLORVILL.T3, YA., TEN MILES WEST BY ■ ' South of Fredericksburg, Saturday, Midnight, May 2, 1863. The military operations which have been in pro .-gress on the line of the Rappahannock for a week past have to-day culminated in what, if not precisely .a great battle, only escapes that designation because -we all feel that greater, by far, remains behind, General Hooker, by a series of brilliantly auda .ciouß mancovres and movements, of a celerity wholly unmatched in thiß war, haß succeeded in crossing the Rappahannock river, and gaining for his army a position ten milea wesfc’by south, and in the rear of Fredericksburg.- GENERAL LEE OUTGENERALLED. * General Lee, at first completely surprised by this move, and utterly puzzled as to his antagonist’s ia -tentione, has, however, had time to recover himself, .and with a hand almost equally bold in the grand .game of strategy—abandoning his position in Frede ricksburg, and the line of twenty miles down the Rappahannock, which he has held for months—has .changed kis front, and stands opposite us in the hor rid gago of battle. We have secured a strong position, completely turn ■in g the line of rebel defensive heights in the rear of Frede ricksburg, against which our armyon the l3thof last .December madly dashed itself. This, as General Hooker expresses it in his inspiriting order of Thurs day, gives us the advantage of compelling the enemy to fight us on ground of our own choosing. THE POSITION. Figure to yourself a huge triangle or redan, one leg of three miles long, resting on the south side of the Rappahannock, above Fredericksburg, and be tween Banks’ and United States Ford b, and the other -on Hunting creek, an affluent of the Rappahannock, with the apex at Ohancellorville, and you have, in epitome, the.situation as it now stands. This posi tion, naturally strong, has been rendered doubly stronger by breastworks and abattis thrown up in front to cover the troops. Imagine, now, the enemy massed in front of this position—front to front, andflauk to flank—and you . have the ’ rebel situation. Take into account, also, that the enemy have strengthened themselves by the .•■ same appliances adopted by us. These relative positions were assumed three days ago, and the history of that period is that of skir mishing along the advance line, developed in front - of both armies, we. feeling the. enemy at various points, the enemy feeling us at various points. STONEWALL JACKSON ATTACKS. This afternoon and evening, however, the enemy was emboldened to depart from these minor opera tions, and make a bold couj), by attacking our right flank in. force, and attempting to double us up. About six o’clock, this evening, Jackson—you will recognize as I go on the operations and all its cir cumstances as one quite in his style, and the affair will recall to you Cedar Mountain and other memo ries—with his whole corns of forty thousand men, threw himself impetuously on our extreme right, formed by the 11th Army Corps, under command of Major General Howard. The assault wa3 one marked by;all the dash and audacity that character ize liis mind, and as it was made precisely at our weakest point, and on a corps which Jackson has already several times beaten, it was well calculated to succeed. That he only partially succeeded in turning our - flank, was not .owing to the conduct of the nth Army Corps, which waß disgraceful, but to the superb . generalship of Hooker, who promptly threw rein forcements on our right to stop the enemy’s advance. . Such changes in our position as circumstances dic tated are to-night being made—l must not at present mention what they there is little prospect that the enemy will succeed in his purpose of either breaking our. line; or cutting our communications, while a vigorous offensive will probably, in a few hours be assumed. The rebels will do oneof two' things: either abandon, their position here and seek to make good their retreat to G-ordonsvilie—the only line now left them, as Fredericksburg has been aban doned, and their, line dt communication with Rich mond is in all probability by this time cut— or they will remain here and give us battle.: It is, of course, impossible for me to predict which alternative General Lee will adopt; but a few hours Will develop, and.if the hopes of our leaders and our oWn do not prove deceptive; you may expect soon to Bear of the greatest victory of the war. ■ To make the battleof to-day intelligible in all its relations, it is absolutely necessary that I should take a brief retrospect of the operations of the en ■ tire week. You have already received from your correspondents current accounts of events as they ■ have transpired ; but as it was inevitable that these should be written without a foil appreciation of the meaning and relations of the movements and ma noeuvres, it will be necessary to go back and trace the development of the situation from the start. Let me add that, owing to. the accumulation of material, I must abandon all hope ot entering into a descriptive account, as my notebook.-would fill several pages of the Times, and must,‘to the sacrifice of artistic effect, treat it purely in its military relations. A REVIEWrOF OUR MOVEMENTS. It is Monday morning (April 27), and the armyis all in motion. The vast area it covers of miles and miles in extent is an animated scene of bustle and stir. The camps are. “broken,” and the comfortable log huts and winter quarters, in which the men have been lodged for months; are abandoned. Columns of troops are-moving oil this road and that, and on a dozen, different roads, carefully concealing them selves from the enemy’s view by marching through the wdods and behind the knolls and - ridges of the broken ground along the Rappahannock. Long .trains of artillery, pack mules, and ambulances, add their of the imposing and the pictu resque to the scene. The movement would many days ago have been inaugurated but for these fickle April slcieß, which have left but brief intermissions of fine weather, and during the rest of the time have been deluding -the country with rain, and ruining these treacherous Virginia roads. At length, however, operations are actually begun, and a new liie and vivacity stir the men. ■ The arniJV ia all its aspects, material and moral, is in splendid condition. THE DISCIPLINE OF OUE AEIIY. The army is larger than it was ever before ma terially. The health of the troops is better than it ■ever was before. From ths first day Gen. Hooker took command, it was felt that a directing brain animated the mass. l Mens agilat molem. Great mo bility has been secured by prodigiously cutting down the amount of transportation, and by employing pack mules, which go anywhere in all weathers, in stead of our heavy wagons, which are always stuck rn the mud. But two wagons are allowed.to a regi ment. The army is no longer encumbered with that ponderous impediment which used to be the marvel ■o* all who beheld it. In fact, we now approximate' the T rench standard, which enables an army to carry fourteen days’ provisions without a wheel behind it.- The moral transformation is not less complete. It may be in the recollection of some of your readers, that I had occasion two months ago to give a minute dissection of the condition of the Army of the Poto mac as it was at the time of the last bungling cam lLrharcom?re>iUn^^^^ military, regime. The metamorphosis coin™™,?." have been more complete, and I have often had dir ■floulty.ln convincing myself that that army, where general croaking, jealousies, disaffection, desertion, and universal.demoralization prevailed, is the same with this in which a new vitality animates the men, system, harmony and organization are seen, and a true miiitaty spirit pervades the troops. ... THE SEOBECY QF OUR MOVEMENTS. Nothing in this line of phenomena struck me more than the admirable Becrecy that existed in regard to the proposed plan and movements of the opening -campaign. It was a new and somewhat tantalizing ; for any one who has followed the move ..jnents of the army in the field will bear me out ..•when.l say, that hitherto projected operations have .always been known and discussed by nearly every body, even the negro servants in the camps, for days and weeks before they took place. In this case ab solute ignorance prevailed. Not even the corps .commanders knew what was intended, and had onlv -their specific individual order for tho day. early in the week every ODe was rub bing his eyes, and asking where is the army? No one could tell. Here was a column moving up. an •other moving down, and the column that was up lyesterday proves to be down to-day. l confess I was heartily glad of the general bewilderment, though it was rather puzzling for a correspondent to '"Si? + rve .{“oyements along a line twenty-five or -JU+SSI 11 len s th - In' this case, it was the Bpec °VA e game of chess that were bliad inaßter player alone had h»'s eyes open, ga S e u°L war ’ time and space are the Si theg€neral haß t 0 deal. Cele rity (and for that purpose the greatest nnssihie mn all militflrv C oomb?nflH he in diapensable conditions' •of all military combinations. The mind of General these elerrienfa) WiU ' THE DEPARTURE FROM FjVT.I\XOUTH. By Tuesday morning, however, an aontp nught hegin to .tike in a rough outline of a plan Jrom the. disposition then made of the troons Three of the seven corps d'armee composing the Armv of tte Potomac—namely, the Ist Corps, (KUi <?-_ thB 3(1 Corps, (Maj. Gen. Sickles,) and * MaJ ' Gen; Sedgwick, )h«i been mewed their , cam H3 the night before, and had taken 8 at i he Bttme p° lnt Of the Rappahan tixneroTthe bl?.i Fr Mf ilin had his orossing at the miles below that mt° f F 'ederickaburg-imro?ly, two “ew by the curtataM^r^' 0 ' 11 *““y’ 8 'hATinnok Tc-hUc + yfl„-that fringe the Rappa- Meade, (the 6th,) and Gen. Sin™ 8 c , 0 t ll ß moving on different roads, ami m ’i!S?,« are positions up the Rappahannock,^to* the litlL” 1 ' hood of Banka’ and United States ToS» S-hXh respectively eight and eleven miles aboS? a . rc Ticksburg, and” are, it will be places selected by Gen. Burnside for his crbs a inv on the occasion ot the mud campaign, B on _ These circumstances made itprobable that onera .tvu'T.n W be at both points, though' entirely doubtful as to where the main attack would he, whether below or above, and the 5 ,C i! t disposition of the taSSScenf nn ß Jor i c4 ¥?~Geh-^^Hookeratill held the J*.' 1118 hand, ready to throw large reinforcements either up or down. It was fair to wn!il?l 8 he I m^Kdc r of h AI' tlle i oPCratiooBat one P»iut would be. merely of the nature of a demnnatrAHnn while the real attack would he mtde at the other The points being fifteen miles apart and oat of supporting distance, it was not to be mesumed that he would thus divide his army, and gu-e the rebel commander (who held the centre position on the chonl, .while we occupied the arc.) this onoorhinltv* of failirignpon and beating us in dstail. PP rtullity VOL. 6.-NO. 235. TUESDAY’S OPERATIONS, Before dawn of Tuesday the pontoon boats had -been taken from the wagons, a couple of miles below Fredericksburg, and under cover of a very heavy fog, were carried noiselessly down on men’s shoulders to;tbe river’s brink and deposited in the water. They were immediately manned by the troops ot Russell’s brigade, (Brookes’ division, 6th Army Covpß), and.rapidly pushed over, in the manner taught us by Gen. Hunt at the time.of the crossing in December. The rebels here, aB at every ford for forty miles up and down the river, were posted along the river’s margin in double lines of ride pits, con taining, perhaps, a couple of hundred men each. At The lower crossings, however, they made but a feeble resistance, ahd in a few .moments our men were in possession of both lineß of ride pits, with the loss of half a dozen men. Indeed, a rebel lieutenant copturcd here, a disingenuous young man, told us that they had been expressly instructed not to offer, very seri ous resibta7ice. This being accomplished, the whole of Brookes’ division was passed over the three pon toon bridges which were immediately constructed under charge of Chief Engineer Denham, to hold the position and the bridge-head. REYNOLDS CROSSES. A mile and a half below the position of General Sedgwick’s bridges, at an estate called Southfield, Reynolds’ command waß also instructed to effect a crossing. In doing, this, however, they were not quite so lucky as those above them, Daylight had come while the engineers were still endeavoring to get the pontoon boats down to the water, but the fire from the rebel sharpshooters, who were placed in rifle pits which had been thrown up opposite - them*; also succeeded in delaying operations so much, that it was 10 o’clock in the forenoon beforethey could be got into the water. To silence the fire of the sharpshooters, Col. Warner, commanding artil lery oh the extreme left, under the able chief of ar tillery, Gen. Hunt, brought forty guns to bear upon •them. This completely “ corraled”. them, for they were afraid of leaving their pits and exposing them seivestothe murderous fire of the artillery. This detained them until a force was able to push over in boats, when, charging up the hill,.they captured all the men in the first row of rifle pits, numbering about one hundred and fifty. Immediately after the crossing of this force, a couple of pontoon bridges were built, and Gen. Wadsworth’s division of Rey nolds’ corps was thrown over. Gen. Wadsworth himself, however, did not wait for the completion of the bridges, but while hiß men were crossing iii the open boats, plunged in on horseback and swam his hoise over to rhe other side. Thus far, it is to be noticed that but one divisionof each of the two army corps had been sent across the river; the remaining four divisions Btatd on the other side. But they were not idle. They were put “in motion on the hill-slope on one side of the river, and in plain view of the enemy were marched along the crest of the ridge and down, as though to the crossing. But, instead of crossing, they were quietly drawn up back , through agully, round the rear of the ridge, and round, again, on its top. They made the appearance of an army of at least a hundred thou sand men, and must have presented the appearance of a massing on our side, preparatory to a passage of the liver under cover of the night. The same “cir cuting ” was performed by the artillery, the same by the wagon trains. v * WasthlsanwcdcyKcm? It could hardly be any- thing else; and yet, to any one but a careful observer, even on our side, the deception could not have been detected. THE REBELS DECEIVED. The effect on the rebela was prompt. Two hours afterward their columns began moving up the Bow ling Green road from down the river.. Here "a con siderable force, including the whole of Jackson’s corps—first, Trimble’s brigade, down opposite Port Royal, then coining up successively, A. P. Hill’s brigade, I). H. Iliil’a division, and Early’s brigade had been posted aB a corps of observation. The Bowling Green road is at this point a sunken road; .but we soon began to detect at various points the rebel column moving uj>—we were removed say a couple of miles—the bayonets glistening in the sun. Were the same plains that witnessed the savage fight last December to sees renewal of it to-day? There was certainly every appearance of it. Our main force was maßßed here ; a hundred and fifty guns were in position on the heights on our side, and the two divisions across the river were busily en gaged strengthenlngthe rebel rifle pits now occupied by them. In the afternoon l passed over to the old battle ground. It was now covered with a-beautiful car pet of green ; while the brilliant peach and hawthorn blossoms scented the air and delighted the eye. It is a superb plain -for a review—several miles in length and ODe and a half in .width—where both ar mies of the Potomac might'march and counter mai ch ; but a horrid place for a battle. At the rear of the plain the ridges rise, forming a perfect amphi theatre of hills around, thickly studded with rebel batteries, affording a hideous converging and enfi lading fire on any troops attempting to pass across it. In the mind’s eye, one might see that battle raging and its fierce antagonisms painted on a car toon of air. History, it is said, repeats itself; but I knew too well Gen. Hooker’s ideas on throwing troops against fortifications, when the resources of strategy enable one to circumvent them, to think for a moment that he would repeat that horrid episode. Maugre all the array, therefore, I firmly held to the impression that this was, after all, but a demonstration, and that the hot work would be elsewhere. THE REAL MOVEMENT—THE RAPPAHAN- NOOK CROSSED. Passing up the riverwe have fresh confirmation of this. .During Sunday and Monday, Howard’s corps, (the llth,) Slocum’s corps, (the 12th.) and Gen. Meade’s, (the sth,) had been moving to the upper fords of the Rappahannock. On the night of Tues day, between 10 P, M. and 2 A.,M. S Howard’s entire corps crossed the Rappahannock on the pontoon bridge'at'Kelly’a Ford, twenty-seven miles above Falmouth. At daylight Gen. Slocum’s corps fol lowed, and during the forenoon Gen. Meade’s corps waß thrown across. THE MARCH TO THE RAPID AN. This movable column then struck direct for Ger mania ford on the Rapidan river, distant twelve miles, one of the main affluents of the Rappahan nock, ;irito which it empties at United States ford. General Meade,.however, .instead of taking this 'di rection on.passing the river, struck a road diverging eastward, and made Ely’s ford on the Rapidan, eight miles nearer than Germania ford, to the em bouchure or that stream into the Rappahannock. At Gei mania ford, a force of about a hundred and fifty rebel pioneers was discovered building a bridge. These, by a well-executed manoeuvre, were all cap tured. THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC "WADES ACROSS —THE MARCH ON CHANCEL LORVILLE. i Celerity of movement being the chief desideratum it was resolved immediately to put the troops over by wading—an affair not very easy of execution, for the waters of the Rapidan, even at the ford, come up to a man’s shoulder, and the current is very rapid. The men, however, plunged in, many of them stripping And carrying their clothes and cartridge-boxes on their bayonets— and waded overy up to their armpits, amid Homeric scenes of laughter and gaiety—a cavalry picket being placed below to catch thoße that were carried away by the current. In the meantime a foot bridge had been constructed on the abutments already placed there by the rebels, and during the night the whole remaining force was passed over, the piers being lighted up with huge bonfires. While thiß was going on at Germania ford, Meade’s troops were crossing at Ely’s ford. -Both columns now moved fas ordered, for Ohancellorville, at the junc tion of the Gordonsville turnpike with the Culpeper and Orange Court House plank road—communica tion being kept up between the two movable columns by a squadron of Pleasonton’s cavalry, while ano ther part of the same horsemen moved on the right flank of the outer column to protect it from rebel cavalry attacks. This manoeuvre having uncovered United States ford, (which lies between Kelly’s ford and Falmouth—twelve miles from the latter,)' Couch’s corps, which had, for three days,been lying at that point, was passed over the Rappahannock by a pontoon bridge on Thursday, without- any oj)- position, or, indeed, any demonstration moreformi dable than a brass band paying Hail Columbia. This .foul alEo converged toward Ohancellorville, and on Thursday night lour army corps—namely, Howard’s, Stevens’, Mead’s, and Couch’s—were massed at this point. The same night General Hooker and Btaff reached Ohancellorville, and established his head quarters jii the only house here. ' ■WHAT IS THOUGHT OF HOOKER’S MOVE- ! I think you will readily Agree with me that there aie few examples in history of a military movement’ of Euch proportions, executed with such celerity And success. To have marched a column of seventy-five thousand men, laden with sixty pounds of baggage, together .with artillery and trains, thirty-six miles in two days, to have bridged and crossed two streams along a line which a vigilant enemy undertakes to observe and defend, with a losb of perhaps half a dozen men, one wagon, and two mules, is an achieve ment which assuredly has had few parallels. , Remember how', enormously 'difficult the task of crossing the Rappahannock proved.last December; how two. days were spent in the attempt after we had our force massed on the river’s edge, and with what loss it was finally accomplished, and you will have the meansof duly appreciating it. There is no miracle about this result. It is simply the work of a planning and directing brain, with the most utter seerecy and the greatest possible celeri ty. But these qualities produce results which, in their ensembky appear almost miraculous. I- remember, in my military reading, but one ope ration of precisely the same kind. It is the opera tion of Prince Eugene against the French, who held Eugene, by a series of skil trtl44!fJQ^V c,>, ' 4n % ce(l the French commander to scatter his troops along tfae-iine of-iiifi.river - 'then by dexterous feints, he entirely deeeivea~hi a versaryasto the direction of his march, ana the" latter was suddenly surprised with the news that the line of the Adige was forced, and a detachment of his forces wholly routed at Oarpi. LEE SURPRISED. Lee’B surprise could not have been greater when he heard that the Union army was across the river, and had turned hiß flank. And, indeed, we have not merely material proof of this—such as that, when we were across the Rapidan the enemy was yet picketing the .Rappahannock—but we have docu mentary evidence of it in a letter from Gen. Lee himself, which was found in the house at Chancel lorville. The letter, signed by Gen. Taylor, Lee’s chief of staff, was written to the rebel officer commanding the post at Chancellorville, and was dated from Lee’s headquarters at 4.29 o’clock P. M., of the day we arrived. It stated, in substance that <f the Gene* ral had at that moment heard that (he Federal force was across Ely's Ford ”—(we had been across eighteen liours,)— "that Gen. Anderson (who commanded at United States Ford with a couple of brigades,) “ knew nothing of our arrival and asked him' “to come down immediately t and consult with the command ing General /” HOOKER THANKS THE ARMY.' The order which the commanding general issued on Thursday, after the achievement of this position, is the key to the situation, and to the expectations of the commander. I repeat it here for its relations with the recital: Headquartkus Army op the Potomac, Tl , , Near Falmouth, Va.. April 30, 1863 ltis with heartfelt satisfaction that the general com manding announces to the army that tho operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy rirafct lnglonously fly, or come out from behind his de fences ana g-ivc us battle on our ovm ground , where cer tain destruction awaits him. , The operations of the sth, nth. and 12th Corps have been a senes of splendid successes. „ By command of Maj. Gen. HOOKER, S. Wjlltams, Adjutant Geueral. ; THE ADVANTAGE OF OUR POSITION. The significance of the emphasized words will be seen from a glance at the map of the. country. It will be seen that the position gained at Chancellor ville, which is ten miles weßt by Bouth of Frede nckßburg, completely turns the line of rebel defences on the scries of ridges in the rear of Fredericksburg, and in fact theie was now but one alternative: the enemy must either retreat along the line of railroad toward- Richmond, while that line was yet uncut, (for there was no other line of retreat, the communication .with Gordonsville being threatened by our hold on that line,)*or else'come out and “giveus battle on ground.” Lee had been completely outge neraled," and in $ strategic point of vie w: had suffered • a-defeat before wei hadi tired a'singleishofc;'. It was in this sense, .and not in the meaning that they were actually destroyed, albeithe anticipated nothing less than that, that General Hooker, on the night of our arrival at Chancellorville, proudly exclaimed, “ The rebel army is now the legitimate property of the Army of the Potomac.” LEE’S COUNTER-MOVEMENTS. General Lee'seems to have felt himself strong enough to pursue the latter alternative, and he took prompt measures to carry his plan into execution. There is very little doubt that he had been heavily remlorcfd withtroops from the South. We are at the pieseat moment fighting Charleston $ for, like •ihe at’ack on Fort Donelion, that movement had been mace Ico soon. A month had passed since that attack,'and its result had emboldened Lee to call up the great portion of ihe force in South Carolina. The troops for the defences of Charleston numbered fifty-five thousand men, am) he could afford to feel able to draw on iorty thousand of that number. In addition, Longstreer’s force had been recalled from North Carolina. Furthermore, it is the-universal testimony of all the prisoners (numbering several hundred taken during the past week), that their aimy haf been heavily reinforced. What that force is, it iB, of course, impossible to say. I think it would be unsafe to estimate it at less than eighty thousand , and there are those having good means of knowing who carry it to a Hundred thousand. THE REBELS MARCH AGAINST US. Occupying, too, the interior line, Lee’s facilities for a change of front were, of course, very great; and our army had hardly gained its position when a rebel column was inarching up to confront it. On Saturday, two prisoners were brought in from the Twenty-third Noi th Carolina, belonging to Hill’s division, of Jackson’s corps. Their testimony (I heard them keenly questioned by the able chief of the secret service, who knows the position of every rebel regiment,! showed that that division Btarted from below Hamilton’s crossing, in the rcaroi Frede ricksburg, at 3 A. M. of Friday, and that they were portions of the same column which we saw-moving up the Bowling Green road, beloio Fredericksburg, two days before.- I mention this circumstance as a slight clue to the great game which was now being played between the two able leaders of the respec tive armies. On Thursday night we were massed in the vicinity of Ohancellorville, simply covering the approaches. HOOKER ARRANGES HIS LINE OF BATTLE. On Friday morning General Hooker began the strategic disposition of his forces. As theeneray has since been engaged with us all along tills line, and aB the disposition has, Bince then, been altered, there can be no objection to state that it formed a line of battle of a triangular or redan shape, resting with its wings respectively on the Rappahannock, be tween Banks’and United States fords and Hart’s creek, and having its apex at Ohancellorville. The day was occupied with operations along the skirmish line, and reconnoißßances for the purpose of feeling the enemy. DEATH OF COL. Me VICAR. The night previously, Col. McVicar, of the 6th New York Cavalry, had pushed out on the Spottsyl vftDia road ; but having, in the ardor that charac terized him, got far beyond the point intended by the general, Fitz-Hugh Lee, with two brigades of cavalry.and a battery, of horse artillery, got on a cross road between him and us. He had two hundred meD, and there was but one course for him—to pierce through the enemy’s line, leading the assault, smbre in hand, and lie fell at the first chArge, I knew him well. He wasa Scotchman and gallant soldier, and he died as he would have wished—cutting his way through the enemy. The intrepid band left fifty of its number behind. A SKIRMISH AND REOONNOISSANCE. At noon of Friday Sykes’ division of Meade’s corps, occupying the extreme left, was sent out on a rcconnoissance oh the Banks’ Ford road. They pushed the enemy steadily for an hour, gaming a mile of ground, which was in itßelf important, as giving us possession of two successive heights, from which the enemy would annoy us with artillery. This accomplished, the order was given to fall back. There were those who were disposed to be captious at this, but the mind that took in the totality of operations knew well what he did. In itself the position was valuable; but it could not, without weakening us, have been made available in the general line. •' HOOKER FEELS THE ENEMY’S LINES. In like manner a portion of Slocum’s command was thrown out about three miles ori the Fredericks burg Plank-road, and other advances of the same kind were made on the right. These “feelers” had the obvious purpose of causing the enemy to develop his force; but they had also another so obviouß, namely: that of a'topographical survey, a 3 existing maps are enormously defective. General Hooker, with the chiefs of the Topographical Department, bUßied him self all day in making himself thoroughly acquainted with the ground. THE TOPOGRAPHICAL SITUATION. It will not be out of place for us here briefly to do the same. The situation of .Chaiiceilorville is in the middle of a clearing in the woods, which takes the form of an irregular copse, about a mile in length, and half a mile in width.. The, solitary house that makes up Cbancellorville stands almost in the mid dle of this opening. The ground in the region between here and Frede ricksburg is broken and wooded, there being occa sional clearings in the, forests. It rises ab it nears Fredericksburg, when it develops into bold heights. Its strategic importance, as .already indicated, .is de« rived from the fact that it covers the Fredericksburg turnpike, and the Culpeper and Orange Court-house plank road, and threatens the line of.Gordonsviile. THE MILITARY SITUATION—THE ENEMY ACCEPTS OUR CHALLENGE! ! The. military situation on Saturday morning, therefore, stands as follows : Our main force holds the position at Chancellorville, confronting the main rebel army now massed opposite \x&, Howard’s corps has the extreme light—then a division of Sickles’ , corps—then Slocum—then Couch—-then Meade on the left, Humphrey’s division of Meade’s corps holding the extreme of the left. Working parties have been employed during the whole night in throwing up breastworks, and the woods have re sounded with the strokes of a thousand axe-men felling trees for the purpose of constructing abat tis. We hear the rebels, not half a anile distant, at work with the same view, and in the morning both armies are well entrenched. It will now be who will come out and give battle. Hooker is determined to put forth all the resources of the craft of which he is a consummate master to tempt them out. • THE ENEMY MASSING AGAINST CHAN- CELLORVILLE. So much for the right. Another, though minor force, is working on the left, independently, yet with its definite strategic bearings on the main ope ration. This subordinate operation is at Fredericks burg. Balloon reconnoissances show clearly that the enemy have taken their main force from the heights of Fredericksburg and the line down.the and masßed.it against us; at: Ohan •cellorville. They have aWo removed.the greater bulk of their artillery with the same end; and Gen. Sedgwick, who the left, thinks himself strong enough to carry the heights.; The Command ing General assents, if there'be good prospect of success ; for it is of the utmost importance not to anticipate the golden moment to strike. STONEMAN’S TASK—WI-lAT HOOKER PRO- POSES TO DO, Still another co-operative role is assigned the pow erful cavalry expedition under General Stoneman. This is nothing less than to cut the railroad bridges that cross the two affluents of the Pamunkey— namely, the North and South: Anna—less, than twenty mites fiom Richmoxul. The bridge over the North Anna is, one hundred and fifty feet long and eighty feet high, aiid.cannot possibly be reconstruct ed in less than a : foktnight. You can see how tre mendously this will embarrass the rebels. Whether Stoneman has by this time actually uer formed his task is not yet reported. I have followed him only as far as Rappahannock Station, south of Culpeper, through which he dashed on Thursday night. This rapid survey will indicate how colossal is the plan of campaign which Gen.Tlooker has marked out. for the army. It contemplates nothing lesß than the destruction of the entire rebel force in Virginia. It is stupendously daring ; but Hooker is a man who thoroughly understands that, in war, to greatlygain one must greatly dare. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE—THE- OPERA" TIONS OF SATURDAY. - The active operations of Saturday comprise a series of attempts in force on the part of the rebels to break our line at various points, which were, in one case partially successful, in another completely successful, and in all the others completely unsuc cessful. . ' In the morning, as we stood on the balcony of Chancellor’s house, the attention was aroused by a sharp rattle of musketry coming from a column of rebels coming up by the main Fredericksburg plank road, directly in front of us. Knapp’s battery, how ever, which was planted directly in front of the po sition, opened upon them, and, after a few rounds, caused them to retire. w Immediately afterwards a battery opened from the height,which'l hav« : mentioned as having been gained by Sykes, yesterday, and then abandoned by us. The position was rather upwards of a mile dls-' tant from the cleared space, and its object was to damage our ammunition train which was visible to the rebels from the tops of trees on the height. One of our batteries was, however, immediately opened in reply. The third shot blew up one of the cais sons, and a subsequent shot blew up another, and thiß settled their account. PENNSYLVANIANS ENGAGED. Subsequently a reconnoissance was sent, on our - part, consisting, of the 26fch Pennsylvania Volun teers, (Carr’s brigade, Berry’s division, Sickles’ corps,) on the same road by which the rebels had approached in theraorning, for the purpose of feel ing their strength. They went out on the plank road, deployed on both sides in the form of a letter V, chased the rebel skirmishers a couple of miles, till they came to a heavy double line of battle, with artillery in position, when they retired, bringing us that piece of intelligence. . Another reconhoissance was next sent out on our right; consisting of Berdan’s sharpshooters. They met the enemy’s pickets, drove them handsomely, and at 4 o’clock returned with fifty prisoners of the 23d Georgia. THE BE33ELS BISCOVERED —AN ATTACK TJfON GENERAL SLOCUiVI. At 4 the rebels are moving down in force on the plank load, where we had a little before made the - iecoDnqissauce. Geary’s division of Slocumis corps is set in on-tho douhle,quick into the woods, their bayonets flashing in the sunlight; A sharp contest ensues, and in a few minute's they come back in dis order. A poi*tion of Kane’s brigade, composed of raw troops, had broken, and thrown the column into confusion. An aid from Slocum comes to ask General Hooker if he can have reinforcements. “No !- he must hold his own. Howard will, of course, support him from the right. Let Geary’s division, however, be thrown to the right of the road, so that the artillery may be able to sweep the enemy on the left.” This treat ment presently repaired the damage, and checked the hope of the rebels; being able to pierce our centre. ' STONEWALL JACKSON’S ATTACK. Foiled in this, they now prepared to make a still more desperate dash on our right flank. We were aware that they had been massing against thatpoint all the afternoon, and the terrific treble of the demo niac j ell with which the rebels always ruth into bat tle announced their approach from the woods by the Culpeper plank road. Jackson’s whole corps, rein iorced by D. H. Hill’s division,, numbering in all forty thousand men, had precipitated.themselves on Howaid’a corps, forming our extreme right wing. This corps is composed of the divisions of Schurai Steinwehr, and Devin, and consists in great part or German troops. Withoutwaiting for a single volley from the rebels, this _corps disgracefully abandoned iheir jjosition behind their breastworks, and com menced coming, panic-Btricken, down the road toward headquarters. Our right was thus com pletely turned, and the rebels in a fair way of doubling us up. It waß a critical situation, and brought out the superb resources of General Hooker. He was in the saddle in a moment, calm and cool—the master of a situation fit to overmaster the most. The first ihing was to check the rebe; advance, which must become fatal if allowed to go on much further.. It was a terribly animated scene. The whole open plain presented such a spectacle as the simoom might make in. the desert. Through, the dusk of nightfall a rushing whirlwind of men. and artillery swept over the ; plain. The shattered, fleeing columns of men were rushing down and over ua at headquarters.. Hooker’s dispositions were made in. a moment. Whom, ol all others, should he send in at this fear fully critical moment but the darling child of his own ci cation—his own old corps, now commanded by Gen. Berry. “General!” shouted the commander, “throwyour men into the .breach ; receive the enemy on your bayonets ; don’t flic a shot 5 they can’t see you I”. Uh ! it waß a sight to.see.that glorious band. rußh ab lhe double-.qnick to the : reßCue I' in their borrid anay of glittering steel, the Enemy’s, •advance was quickly checked,, anil, had to' withdraw to the line of breastworks ju*t‘vacated bv the llth Uorpß. , - Batteries were i mmediately sent up in thunderous c l a^i° T H nd Oapt. Best; chief of artillery ot blocum s corj)B. massed twenty pieces cmthecreat Dear Gen. bickleß’ headquarters, and cf terrific lire was opened on .the enemy, and kept up Tar into the night. Gen, Pleasanton, too, succeeded in turning back a dozen pieces taken 110 m the flying corps and plant ing them in a favorable position, while he drew up his little brigade o! cavalry, consUtiug of squadrons of the 6th New York, Bth Pennsylvania, and 17th Pennsylvania; with drawn sabres to protect thcgifcs (a novel sight in.battle.)- Directing the pieces to be double-rhotted with canister, he swept the positloa PHILADELPHIA.. WEDNESDAY. MAY 6. 1863. occupied by the enemy with a murderous fire. The successful check of the advancing foe is in no email decree owing to the indomitable energy of this gal lant soldier. A PANIC AMONG OUR TROOPS—THE REGU LARS PURSUE THEM-WE LOSE TWELVE CANNON. While this is going on the panic-stricken Dutch men are sweeping past us, and around by headquar ters, into the road leading to United States ford. Many members of the staff of General Hooker and other general officers placed themselves in the road, and with drawn sabres emote and slashed the cow ardly retreating rascals. It was all in vain, how ever. The road for two or three miles down toward United Stateß-ford is now crowded with their shat tered fragments. Gen. Hooker has, however, al ready sent Sykes’ regulars after them. Ab to the losb sustained by this corps, either in killed or cap tured, it could not have been great—they ran too fast ior that. I have the mortification to add that they allowed twelve pieces of cannon to fall into the hands of the enemy. What makes this retreat not only, disgraceful, but well nigh dieaßtjous, is that it completely foiled a splendid manoeuvre which General Sickles with his corps was engaged in executing. He had gone in on a branch road leading off from the main pike, pierced the enemy’s centre, penetrated for a mile, cut them in two, and would have secured the key to victory, .when the turning of Howard’s position compelled him to make good his retreat, though he brought out with him four hundred rebel prisoners. , The artillery combat waß prolonged till midnight, and the bursting of the shower of shells thrown by our batteries into the rebels made a spectacle that beggars'all description. ? During the whole crisis, General Hooker was under the severest fire, and his staff, made up of young braves, performed prodigies of valor. THE REBELS IN AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION. The task to be accomplished by the commanding genera] during these night watches is one to tax his best energies. The enemy has completely turned our right. iB now in our rear, and will, unless prevented, turn this immense advantage to account with the first dawn of to-morrow’s light. He will; doubtless, draw in his line, bringing his right 'down, perhaps, to. the neighborhood of Ely’s lord. He will re place the cowardly corps that has fled by Meade’s corps, than which there is none better in the army, and reinforce it by that ,of Reynolds’, which is coming up from the left, and is now within a couple of hours’ march of here. 'lf the enemy resume the : attack in the morning, as there i 3 every probability that he will, I predict a reception he is not prepared fo2‘« THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. The conduct of the Commanding General during the whole operations, and especially the amazing fertility of resources he has displayed in first check ing what was well-nigh being a crushing disaster, and then making such an arrangement of his line ab will render it stionger even than before, give him claims to rank as a firßt-class captain. He certainly shows powers and qualities that have been dis played by no general who has yet 'commanded this army. 1 have seen the cold pedantry of McClellan’B mind, and the feeble well-meaningness of Burnside; but here is a man who, while dashing in the ex treme, is yet prudent in the extreme, whose: re sources are inexhaustible, who has, in an eminent degree, that highest quality of a general—that of promptly changing his plans in the midst of battle— who holds the thunderbolts of. war in his hand, and wieldsthem at bio will. The battle, which mast ensue to morrow, mußt be bloody, though it may not be decisive,'for the enemy will fight with desperation, feeling that he risks everything on this tremendous.throw. But if it be with one battle, two battles, or a dozen battles, General Hooker will not stop short until he is either himself destroyed, or has destroyed thet army of the rebellion, and follows their flying columns into Richmond. THE ACTION OF SATURDAY. In addition to ihe account above printed we have further detailß of the operations of Saturday and Sunday, showingthat the rebelß have been actively engaged in resisting our advance : THE SITUATION OF SATURDAY MORNING-. My laßt letter brought up the situation l to Satur day morning. It was then certainly expected that tl!e enemy would begin the attack as soon as it was day, and our dispositions were made accordingly. Hut the attack did not begin. Events proved that the genemyj! did design to attack, but he chose to make that attack in a manner and a point different from what was generally anticipated by : us on Sa turday morning. Daylight grew broader, and yet no guns. Finally, about 6 o’clock, a brass Napo leon, looking down the plank road in front of the Chancellor House, saw a regiment come into the road in column and attempt to deploy. One or two doses of canister caused them to deploy rather irre gularly, and morelike skirmishers on the retreat. Soon after, Gen. Hooker and staff began’ an in spection of our lines, which occupied full two hours. Every portion was visited, and the work of the night was closely inspected/; On the extreme left new lines were chosen, and the. engineer officers soon m arked out the line and character of the defences to beerected. 'When the inspection closed the entrench ments weie pronounced to be of the very best cha racter, especially those on the fight, where the columns of Slocum and Howard were posted. There bad been only slight disturbances during the night, as both forces had been busy with their axes rather than their muskets. From Gen. Howards front came a report that the enemy was engaged all night in cutting a road past his picket line to the right. How much attention was paid to this fact at the time I do not.know, but- subsequent events proved that it was very significant. The day continiied to pass in a very dull manner for a day of battle, and only here and there was there anything more even than desultory skirmish ing and picket firing. " A REOONNOISSANCE. About 3 o’clock the pickets on the right oF Gen. Slocum’s front reported that from a certain position wagons had been seen moving in a westerly direc-' lion nearly all day. It was at once surmised that this might- be a retreat,' but subsequent events provM tliat ifrwasAijart.of 'an- affkir ; *of. altogether, another nature. To ascertain, however, .'wha't if really was, General Sickles,-who'was still in re serve, was oidered to make a reconrioissance in heavy force in that direction. This was‘done with great promptness, and the divisions of Generals Birney and .Whipple, with ,General Barlow’s: bri gade, Jrom Howard’s corps, were pushed out to the front, Berdan’s brigade of sharpshooters having the advance, and supporting Randolph’s battery. Our troops moved rapidly and soon became more or less engaged, especially with the artillery and the sharp shooters as skirmishers. Berdan Boon sent in some sixty prisoners, belonging to -the 23d Georgia, in cluding one major, two captains, and three lieu tenants. Being upon the ground, I examined these prisoners, and Boon found that the wagon train” which we had seen moving during the day was com posed mainly'of ordnance wagons and . ambulances, and that Stonewall Jackson and staff were at the head of a column of troops which the wagons fol lowed. ' , JACKSON’S MOVEMENT. Nothing more was needed to convince us that this daring opponent was executing another of his sud den movements, and it was at once resolved to checkmate him. General Sickles was ordered to push on, and General Williams’ division of Slocum’s column was ordered to co-operate. Birneypuahed ahead with great vigor, and with Randolph’s bat tery soon sent to the rear, as prisoners of war, the entire remnant of the 23d Georgia Regiment, num bering over four hundred officers and men. The column of the enemy, which had been moving up this road, was now literally cut in two, and General Williams had commenced a flank movement on the enemy’s right, which promised the most auspicious results. But at 5 o’clock a terrific crash of mus ketry on our extreme right announced that Jackson had commenced his operations. This had been anti cipated 5 but it was supposed that after his column was cut, the corps ol General Howard, formerly General Sigel’s, with its supports, would be suf ficient to resist his approach, and .finding that he was himself assailed in the rear he would turn about and retreat to escape capture. GENERAL SCHURZ’S DIVISION DEMORA- But to the disgrace of the nth Corps be it said, that the division of General Schurz, which was the first assailed, almost instantly gave way. Threats, entreaties, and orders of commanders were of no avail. Thousands of these cowards threw down their guns and soon streamed down the road toward headquarters. The enemy pressed his ad vantage. General Devins’.division, disaffected by the demoralization of the forces in front of him, soon followed suit, and the brave General was for the se cond time severely wounded in the foot, white en deavoring to rally his men, General Howard, with all bi's daring and resolution and vigor, could not stem the title of the retreating" and cowardly pol troons. The brigades of Colonels Bushbeck and McLean .only remained fighting, and maintained themselves nobly as long as possible. 1 Bnt.they,tGO, gave way, though in good order, before vastly supe rior numbers. GEN. BERRY TO THE RESCUE./ Gen. Hooker now sent to the aid of Gen. Howard the choicest division of his army, the creation of his own hand—the famous 2d. division of the 3d Corps, commanded by Major General Berry. Capt. Best soon moved his batteries on a ridge running across the road, and after a short but sanguinary contest the further, advance of the enemy was Btayed. Of course, this disaster compelled the recall of Sickles and Slocum, who had been pursuing their work with remaikable vigor. Gen. Williams’di vision relumed only to find a portion of their works filled.with . the . enemy. . Sickiea'.division could not communicate 'tfith the rest of the army at all by the way they advanced, and only at great risk.by anv other route. GRAND NIGHT ATTACK— I THE ENEMY DRI VEN BACK WITH GREAT SLAUGHTER. TMb was the position at dark, and it did hot look very promising. But our energetic commander was more than equal to the emergency.. New disposi tions to repair this disaster were at once resolved upon.' Communication was at once had with Gens. Birney and Whipple, and a night attack ordered, to restore the connection of the lines. Gen. Ward’s brigade, of Gen. Birney’s division, made the attack at 11 at night, aided by Capt. Best’s guns, massed on the ridge in front of th'e enemy. Birney’s posi tion was on the extreme left of this new line of bat-" tie, but Ward’s terrific attack was entirely success ful, communication was restored, and in a charge” made by the brigade, a portion of the artillery lost by Howard: was gallantly retaken by Gen. Hobart Ward. This night attack was the most grand and terrific fhiDg of the war. The moon shone bright, and an enemy could be seen at good musket range. The air was very still, and the roar and reverberation of the musketry, and artillery past all conception. Mai vem Hill was a skirmish compared with this, save in the degree of slaughter. But it was successful-; the enemy were driven back nearly half a mile, and our tired men once more slept on their arms. That night’s woik was ended. THE ACTION OF SUNDAY, On Sunday,’as will be seen from our narrative, the rebela continued their assault. We give as com plete accounts as we have received. It was perfectly evident, from the position of affairs on Saturday night, that there must be a change of our lines, which would throw the enemy out of our rear and into our front again. It will be seen by what skil ful generalship the enemy was fought and on front, and flank, and rear, while this was being done. OUR NEW LINE—THE ENEMY REINFORC- Gen. Reynolds’ Ist Army Corps arrived at United States ford on Saturday afternoon. It was imme diately put into position on our right, which was withdrawn from the plank road to the Ely’s ford turnpike. This line was immediately formed by Gens. Reynolds and Meade, the latter’s position, on the.left, having been relieved by Gen. Howard’s ltth Corps, which, notwithstanding its disorganized con dition, was so far reorganized during the night as to be fit for duty again this morning. They were as signed'the position on'the left, where it was proba ble there would..be little or no fighting, and were protected by the'strong works built the day before by Gen. Meade’s corps. Our new line now assumed' the shape of a triangle, piolonged at the apex, the right of the line being somewhat longer than the left. As the portion of the line on the'right was new, time was necessary to fortify amb entrench it, and the work was carried on vigorously by the sth and Ist Army Corps. It was very eveident at daylight this morning that the day would bring forth aterrific battle. We knew that the enemy had been reinforcing his line all night, at theexpense, undoubtedly of the strength of his force on our left. His intention was, evident ly, to fight for the possession of the plank road, w hieh it waß perfectly apparent be must have, as that portion of it- which wc thenheld,was’subject to the enemy’s assaults in front and on both Hanks; LIZED. THE FIGHT FOR THE PLANK ROAD—THE i'• LINE OF .BATTLE. But the posseßsion. of this road was not. obtained by the save at our own time, at his severest cost, and. after one of tl\e moatdesperate, tenacious, and for its short duration, of the whole war. At t 6 o’clock A. 3M. the rebels could be plainly se.eh plank road, about a mile and a half ironi' the "Chancel or House, which General Hooker fetillYetained As his headquarters, though a shell hadtgqne through it the evening before, and anotherhad-cut down a tree directly in front of it. Our line qf battle waß formed with Gen. Berry’s gallant division ob the right, Gen. Birney next on. the left, Gen. Whipple and Gen. Williams support ing. A. M. the advance, became engaged in the ridge where Oapfc Best’s gunß had made.their terrific onslaught the night be fore, anLwhere they still frowned upon the enemy and threatened his destruction. , THE BATTLE. ■ ; The rattle of musketry soon became a long-con tinued crash, and in a few moments, as battalion., after battalion became engaged, the roar surpassed all conception, and indicated that the fight, would beonf*of iihe. 'most terrible nature. Gen. Berry’s, which had checked the enemy’s advance the nightbelore, engaged him again, and if it were possible for them to add more laurels to their fame, then they did it,,thrice oyer again. The enemy ad vanced his infantry in overwhelming numbers, and seemed determined .to crußh our forces. - But the brave men of Sickles and Slocum, who fought their columns with desperate gallantry, held the rebels in check, aridjinflicted dreadful slaughter amoDgthem. Gen. Freftch’s division was sent in on the right flank of our liDe at about 7A. M., and in a short time a horde of ragged, streaming rebels running down theroad, indicated, that that portion of the the enemy’s line had been crushed. At 8 o’clock A. M., Gen. French sent his compliments to Gen. Hooker, with the information that he had charged the eonny and was driving him before him. Sickh&maintaiired the attack upon his line with great endurance. The enemy seemed determined to ciush him,with the immensity of his forces, and, as subsequently shown from the statements or prison ers, five j&hole divisions of the rebel army were pre cipitateffTtfponVthiß portion bf the line, for from these five divisions we took during the day an aggregate of over.two thousand prisoners. ■ A DESPERATE CONFLICT. The exploits of our gallant troopß in those dark, tangled, 4 gloomy woods ; may never be brought to light; buuthey .would fill a hundred Volumes., It was a desperate hand-to-hand ■ conflict, and the’ea mage, was perfeofclyfrightfuh, Cool offi-' cers say that,the dead and enemy covered the grounds' in heaps, and that the rebels” EeeihedvUtteriv. regardless of their lives, and literally throw theniß.elves -upon the muzzles. of our guns. M any desperate charges were made during the fight, particularly ‘'by Berry’s division. Mott’s brigade made fifteen-distinct charges, and captured seven stands of colors, the 7th New Jersey, Col. Franclne, alone capturing four stands of colors, and five hun dred prisoners. Geneial-Oouch’s 2d array corps, though only in part present, did excellent "work. v lt was General French who charged and. drove the enemy on the flank, aid it was the indomitable Hancock who gallantly went to the relief of the hard-pressed Sickles.* A. TEMPORARY CESSATION. Theengagement lasted, without the slightest in termission, irom s>» A. hi. to A. M., when there was a tfjnporary cessation on our part, occasioned bj* getting out of ammunition. We held our posi tion for nearly; an hour with the bayonet, and then, being resupplied, an order was given to fall back to the vicinity of the Chancellor House, which we did in good order. Here the contest was maintained for • an hour or more, not so-severely as before. but with great havoc to the enemy, and considerable loss to ourselves.' • The vicinity of the Chancellor House was now the theatrb.bfi'the fight, and my visits to that Bpot be came less frequent. Gen. Hooker maintained his headquarters there until, ten* A. M., when itwas set on fire by the enemy’s shells, and is now in ruins. Ohanceliorsvilie:i3 no longer in existence, having pe rished with the flame, but Chancellorsville is in his tory, never to be effaced. Our-ncw line was now so far established as to ren der rit safe to withdraw all our forces on that front, which 'was accordingly done, and at 11)£ A. M. the musketry firing ceased. • , j THE ENGAGEMENT TERRIFIC. The engagement had lasted six hours, but had been the most terrific of the war. Our artillery had literally slaughtered the enemy, and many of the companies had lost heavily in men themselves, but the guns were all saved. POSITION OF THE ENEMY—HIS LOSS, • :The enemy was now no longeu in our rear, but had been shove&down directly in our front, and is now directly’between us and our forces in,Fredericks burg, and we were again in an entrenched' and for midably fortified-position. The enemy hasgained some ground', it is true, but at the sacrifice of the flower of his force, five of his seven divisions having been cut to pieces in the effort, and over 2,000 of them have fallen info our hands. \ GEN. HUMPHREY’S DIVISION—ATTEMPTS • > T./ TO FORCE OUR LINES. , Our right wing, under Gens. Reynolds and Meade, was not engaged, save the division of Gen. Hum phreys, which went into the woods on the eneiny’s left flank, and fought’valiantly under their brilliant leader, until their ammunition was exhausted. 5 During the afternoon .the enemy hasmade several attempts toforce-our lines, particularly at the apex of our 'position,, near the Chancellor House, but i-Capt. "Weed has massed a large quantity of artillery - jin sudh as to repulse with great loss eve f'rythiDg'placed within its .range. The enemy tried - several batteries and regiments at that point at dif •■ferent times, during the afternoon, and they were literally destroyed by the fire of our terrible guns. Nothing can Jive within their range. GEN.' HOOKER’S POSITION—SPIRIT OF THE TROOPS. \ • ,Our present position is impregnable if our troops . continue to fight as they.have to-day. Gen. Lee, the prisoners say, has issued an order that our lines must be bioken at all” hazards. Let them try it again, ; with what-they have left. They can, and perhaps • willdestrby themselves by attacks upon this position. cool and confident. They have fought with great spirit aiid enthusiasm, land will continue to do so.; GEN. .BERRY, AND THE REBEL GEN. A. P. HILL KILLED. : • The rebel prisoners report .that General A. P. Hill was killed.this forenoon,.during-the sanguinary con flict his division had with General Berry’s division. Gen. Berry was himself killed, while gallantly fight ing with his brave men. THE SECOND BATTLE OF FREDE * RICKSBURG. Having : thus described the operations of the right wing at Chancellorville, Aye how return to the ope ‘vrations before Fredericksburg, which were executed . by the left wing of our army, and not under the im mediate command of General Hooker. It will be seen that onr-troops fought their fight on the disas trous and historic battle-ground of Fredericksburg. A Herald correspondent writes: ' Field of Battle above Fredericksburg, Sunday, May 3, 1363. "When General Hooker, with the sth, 11th, and and ,12th Corps, moved to the right to get upon the rear of the enemy’s army, he left in front of that army the Ist, 3d, and 6th Corps, with one division of the 2d. Such was the general distribution of our forces on Tuesday night, April 28. Two days later the 3d Corps moved to join General Hooker’s column, and oh Saturday; May 2, the Ist Corps was also withdrawn from the position in front for the same purpose. Thus the whole force lefton enemy’s front on Saturday noon was the 6th Corps and one divi sion of the 2d Corps. This force covered our com munications, and by its pontoon bridges threatened the enemy with ah advance, and thus prevented the march of his whole force against General Hooker, for in this little army we “magnified ourselves ” we moved continually in all directions at all hours, and looked as much like a hundred thousand men as we possibly could. Meantime, the enemy’s position was this: Threatened by General Hooker on his rear he had changed his front, and moved the great bulk of his ' army, beyond question, so that it faced. General Hooker at Chancellorville. And this brought the 6th Corps upon his rear.. But thatfrear was covered by the entrenchments behind Fredericksburg, and these entrenchments were the very works before which the whole Army of the Potomac had been beaten in December last. Very justly, the enemy’s men had confidence in that position, and our men, not to mince matters, were afraid of it. Now that these entrenchments covered Lee’s rear, they were of even gj eater value to him than when they covered . his.front, and consequently he occupied them with ten thousand oi his best troops. Having premised so much, that the relative po sitions of our own forces and those of the enemy might be understood, we will proceed to describe the second battle, of Fredericksburg, and the storm of Marye’B Hill, which has. finally brought General Sedgwick upon the exposed rear of the army that faces General Hooker. Commencing at the com mencement: : ' ' «. THE FIRST ADVANCE. Between four and five P. H. on Saturday, May 2, the light brigade was thrown forward—the Thirty first New York in the first line, as skirmishers, sup ported by the .Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, and.the.Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, drawn upiri liDe of battle. Thiß advance was directly from the river, across the open, level plain, just over'the point at which the, bridges spanned the stream, and this little field of battle was bounded on the right by the ravine that runs up from one Bernard’s house, and on the left by the other Bernard’s house. Across the front of the field ran the Bowling Green road, and- the possession of that road was'the object of the present advance. r . Briskly received by the enemy’s pickets, our line still went on, andin.twenty minutes had possession of the road. As Boon as the fire began on the Bouth side.all of our, troops who remained at this point on the north side of the river were sent across and be gan to take up positions. But there wab so much change in these positions that it was midnight before the men were in their places or had a chance to eat theirsupper. When once they were at reßt no fires were permitted, and so but few suppers were eaten; for a soldier does not care for a cold bite at that hour..' NEW COMBINATIONS. By an admirable combination of strategy and tac tics, one mess did get a kettle of coffee made, and we had the good'fortune to be one of that mess. At midnight, then, we sat down to soft bread, cold viaDds, and hot coffee, in the: little lawn in front of the Bernard House. This house, which, a short time ago, was a very handsome edifice, is now a picturesque ruin, surrounded by. tall elms, and all pale and strange in the moonlight, it formed our supper scene ; and there your correspondent, sitting upon the ground, ate boiled egg* and waited for history. AFTER SUPPER MANY A MILE. Well, the supper.was done with, and then we laid down; We bad just gotten to that part of the busi ness when one begins to get nicely warm in his blanketß, and loses the consciousness that he is in a peach orchard. ..Suddenly our perceptions were aroused; there whb a gallop, arid there came an aid and an order: “Get your men under arms imme diately.” , ; There was a quiet decision about thiß order that looked eerious, and so it was seriously and quietly obeyed. Scarcely, a Bound was heard as the column, moved on in themioonlightf, excepf the rattle of the soldiers’ canteens and cups, arid the jingle'of sabres on mounted officers. ORDER OF THE ADVANCE: It waß half past twelve o’clock in the morning, "on Sunday, May 3, that we left the green plain on the river’s bank and inarched to and up the Bowling .Green road./ Shaler’s brigade had the advance; be hind it came battery G, 2d United States Artillery, Lieutenant Butler; then Wheaton’s brigade, and the 2d brigane of Newton’s division, commanded by : Colonel Brown. • • Lieut.. Col. Joseph Hamblin; with the Ist United States Chasseurs, skirmished in advance of the whole line. For the greater part of the distance our> march waß Unmolested ; but as the advance waß on the descent ,of : a little hill just south of the town a fire of pickets upon them from an oppo site hill to, theleftl By this fire several-men were knocked down, and Major Healy, of the Chasseurs, was wounded, we fear, mortally. The gallant fellow .thought the wound a fatal one, and his last remem beied words were to Lieut. Col. Hamblin : “It’s all over with me, Joe. Good-bye.” • > But the Chasseurs went on steadily, and atabout three - -o’clock 'entered the town of Fredericksburg, and held it ,until the remainder of the column came up;* It was a bold feat to enter thus a place like this, av here'every house might suddenly open upon U 3 like a mine. But the result justified the apparent rashness oftke venture. On-we went thtough the town, in a direction nearly north, until we came to the railroad track, and then we turned to our'left, and went fair west; again ;we went to ourrigktin a north w&3toriydirBc» tion. At thm lime no one knew, perhaps, exactly where we were. But here was Shaler’a brigade massed in the road ; in the same road Butler’s batte ry, men all mounted, caissons up, &c.' We were on the march. Shale? waß ordered to the left to feel, and discovered that we were in dangerous proximi ty to the enemy in position, and to what elß© it was Impossible to make out in the dark. Gen. Newton, wisely cautious, stopped this advance.: We shall hear more anon of the furnace that we thm nearly stumbled on. Indeed, as your correspondent writes in a by-street of the town of Fi-edericksbarg; and this pit less than a mile away, it is to be heard even over the roar of our artillery. • • FREDERICKSBURG OCCUPIED. Day was juet at peep when the presence of the bad placf in front was made out, and. we then had to.loolt around us. We occupied the town. Gur skirmishers held the ends of the side streets, ahd.the streets r that ,ran down to the river were enfiladed by.the enemy’s fire. "While we sought for a place to get at the ene my, a man wtfs found by some one who- knew some thing. What was.it; that he knew.t .We could not make out for some minutes what it was, he was in such a hurry to'tell it. Finally he succeeded in call ing attention to a dam., He assured ua that this dam. ought to be cuVa'nd the water let out. Why ? Mili tary Instinct at once jumped to the conclusion'that the enemy’s -position had a wet ditch. • But no; the man declared that the enemy had a dam above, by’ which they could flood the town,,' Now, as.thetown is on a hill, this was difficult to see ;.but nevertheless the dam was - cut. Later, another man gaVe news that thiß dam filled a canal which covered the flank of the enemy?s position. Though this had no eventual connection with the result, we mention it as an incident of the occasion which assists to render the picture a faithful one. PENNSYLVANIA ADVANCES, Just after daylight, and after the* dam had been cut, we received the first fire from the enemy. A fierce fusilade was begun from a rifle-pit fairly in our front: Unfortunately, it so happened that the 23d Pennsylvania was in line of battle in -the open field, within range of the rifle pits on the hill. From, those pits a fierce eruption of musketry suddenly broke forth, and took the-23d by surprise; but they stood there bravely and gloriously; not a man moved a foot. But when the fire held up for a mo ment then this magnificent 23d answered it—hot with fire, but with one magnificent cheer. - > THE BATTLE BEGINS. : This fire knocked down a number of men, and told us where the enemy were. Immediately Battery G, 2d United States artillery, Lieutenant Butler, with McCarthy’s, Horn’g, and Hexamer’s batteries, un limbered and opened afire on the position whence -.th.ejenemy’s fire had come. This stopped the mus ketry7iiSTirtr«i»tm.y-jjepfcj 1 i B men covered, and com menced to shell the town, lffwnicn-uur-uren-wore massed, - THE BRIDGES, On our advance up the Bowling Green road we appeared to.expose our line of retreat. But we did not do so, inasmuch as the line of retreat went with us ; for ab soon as we were over.the river the pon toon bridges were taken to pieces, and while we went up the river on one side they went up the river, and when we reached Fredericksburg there was our line of retreat all handy if we'should need it. Another use was also made of the bridges : for in a short time after the 6th Corps had occupied the town, Gibbon’B division of the 2d Corps crossed to participate in the struggle, and that also was in the Btreets in the lower pait of the town, Brooks’division of the 6th Corps had not come with us. ¥e had here Newton’s; division, Howe’s division,.the light division, and Gibbon’s division of the 2d Corps, all massed in the town and fairly in front of ihe very position that Sumner had vainly endeavored to carry last winter. FEELING THE ENEMY, General Frank "Wheaton’s brigade was now thrown forward to the left, and skirmished towards the enemy’s position in that direction. The enemy was found to be there, Still further to'the left General Howe did the same, and the enemy was there. Could it be possible that this line was thus occupied through its whole extent? That seemed incredible; but, occupied or not, we must find: a point somewhere, and pierce the line. ANOTHER POINT TRIED, After some examination, a point far to our right was picked out, and Bfigadier General G. K.'War ren thought that “ that was the place.” It was de termined that there were neither artillery nor men at that point. General Gibbon was sent there with his command. First, a-battery was placed on a hill at point-blank range, opposite a work of the enemy’s, so that guns should not be brought there. Soarifely was the battery—the Third Rhode Island, Captain Hazard—in position, before two guns opened upon it from the work in front, to which Captain Hazard, oh the open field, responded handsomely. Hazard’s battery was supported by the Second Rhode Island., Meanwhile General Gibbon’s infantry was in mo tion/towardß the supposed pregnable point of the enemyfs line. Far away to the right, across the green-plain.and towards the hillside, they moved in column, and at them also the enemy began to throw shell. While.this, infantry was in motion toward a work that v was crazily thought to be undefended, your correspondent, from a position on the left of Hazard’s battery, could clearly see in these very pits swarms of the sere and yellow wretches of the enemy’s army as they peered oyer the entrenchments and gazed with malign interest upon ourmen on the plain. - As, Gibbon’s line thus advanced to the right a bad place in the road caused the 20th Massachusetts to become somewhat massed, and the enemy sud denly opened upon it a * fire of grape and canister, which proved very destructive. STORMING ST. MARYE’S HILL. General Gibbon, Eocn after Hazard’s battery opened, got into action Capt. .Adams’ Rhode Island batteiy, across the' plain to the right, and in the road that Bkirted the battle-field. Captain Adams practised at the rebels, and was also practieed at, and well, too, by the battery on the hill to his left, and by another which suddenly opened on his right, nearer to him, while he endeavored to get the-range of the first. Between this cross fire this battery was severely cut up, and the position became too hot for it. As General Gibbon wentto the right, the enemy’s men were sent in that direction to meet him. As they had the" shorter lines, the same men could be employed at whatever point we might threaten. Thus, ten thousand men should have been equal to at-least fifty thousand, and ;we did not-have more than fifteen thousand on the field;-": • p " ' On the front, where Gen. Gibbon commanded, the 10th Massachusetts skirmished toward the enemy’s pit, and the fire demonstrated that there were men there as well rb cannon. Away on the left Howe did just what Gibbon did on the right, and Newton did the same in the centre; yet, with all, though men were killed and wounded plentifully, there was nothingdone. Every battle has these periods of indefiniteendeavor, from which some one fact eventually shapes itself out, and becomes the fact of the occasion; So it was here, and while in every-direction the artillery—Butler’s battery, Hexamer’s, McCartney’s, Harris’,Hazard’s, Adams’, and some others—thundered at the enemy; while Howe felt for a chance on the left, and Gibbon found every point equally, difficult on the right, a plan of assault was determined upon, to be made by the 3d and Bth 'divisions, under General Newton, against the enemy’B centre. Yet a distinguished officer had said, only a short time before, that if to attempt to carry the place by storm would be a waste of life.” . Attempts to storm were to be made simultane ously by Gibbon on the right, Howe on the left, and Newton on the centre, and were so made; but, inas much as Newton’s was the successful attempt—as he was the first to penetrate the line, and as when the llDe was once penetrated at one point it was no longer tenable anywhere—Newton’s assault annears to deserve the especial honor. - ' WHERE THE ASSAULT WAS MADE. It was made on the centre; againßt Marye’s Hill. Directly west, out of the town of Fredericksburg, runs a road that finally reaches Chancellorville. Just in the outskirts of the town, at much less than a mile from the main street, the road ascends a hill that, while it is sufficiently steep to render the ascent toilsome, is not so steep as to fender any Ices effective the fire of artillery and musketry. This is Marye’s Hill (the name is pronounced Ma ree), and at the summit of this hill is Marye’s House. Near the hill a road leaving the Chan cellorville road, runs towards the south across the front and right of the'hill at its base. The lat terroacl has a substantial stone wall on each side of it, and these roads, with a little assistance from the spade, had been converted into excellent breast works. About the centre of the first .wall was a little house which made the position the stronger, and this was only the base of the hill. No artillery fire could touch those walls, for it was a sunken road, and, though the walls were four feet high in the load, in the fields their tops were level with the surface. Thus, as seen by our batteries, there were actually no walls there. Behind the second line of pits rises the hill, and around its whole crest runs a well-constructed earthwork, in which there was one large howitzer. Both flanks of this hill were completely swept by the fire of works of the same' haracter on either side. THE APPROACHES. To the left (our left) of this position was an open ploughed field, on the farther side of which were the stone walls. To the right was an open green plain, and here there were no pita at the foot of the hill; so the way was clear to the crest, though of course every inch of it was under fire/ Worst of &U, per haps, was the central approach, which was the road. Though, at its exit from the town, this road iB covered'by a few houses, it is fairly under fire all the way, and at the ascent of the hill it is a mere gulch, broken and stony, and an awful place for men to be packed in under a plunging fire of grape and canister, in addition to the musketry fire. WHO STORMED THE HILL? The right column was formed of the 6lst Pennsyl vania Regiment, Col. Spear, and the 43d New York, Col. Baker. It was supported, as we have said, by two regiments in line—the Ist Long Island, Col. Nelson Cross, and the S2d Pennsylvania, Major Basset. These two regiments were part of Shaler’s —brigade, : and Shaler went with them. - ■ The left coJunin~ot~r.ttafiis_TOAB .formed of the 7fch Massachusetts, 001. Johns, and the 36th New York," Lieut. Col. Welsh, This column was supported by two regiments in line of battle, and a regiment of .ekirxnieheiß in the open field to the left. These skirmishers were the 43d New York, Theregiments in line were the 6th Maine and the 6th Wisconsin. These two columns and their, supports numbered in all about 3.000 men. They moved out of the town to the assault about 11 A. 3*l. THE DEATH OF COLONEL SPEAR. A 8 soqp hb they came well into the enemy’s field of fire, the terrible fusilade began.; Colonel Spear, at the.head of his regiment, was one of the first hit, and his v fall affected his men so. that they wavered and fell into confusion and disorder, and communi cated it to the 43d behind them, and much of the ground already gained was' lost. For this column, it was so far a fair repulse. But at this critical junc ture, Colonel Shaler, with magnificent gallantry, ’ rallied the column, brought it up to the work once! more, and took it on up the hill. .. THE HILL TAKEN. Meantime, in the left column, matters were some what the same. The colonel of the Massachusetts 7th .was hit. and his regiment faltered also, but- was r allied handsomely by Col. Walsh, of the 36th New York/and with those glorious fellows it went on once more. The supports in the open plain drew the enemy’s fire heavily; but they went on steadily, from the first, and went into the work with the rest. Indeed, Col. Burnham, of the 6th Maine, claims that thecolois of his regiment were first planted on. the hill. Many of the enemy’s men were slain in their places in the pits where they stood till the last mo ment, and resisted even as our men clambered over the walls. •*. Colonel Spear, of the 61st; Pennsylvania Volun teers ; Major Basset, of the 82d Pennsylvania Volun teers ; Major Faxon, of the 36th New York; Major Haycock, of the 6th Maine, with Captains Ballings, Young,-and Gray, of that regiment, were killed-in this assault.. Colonel Johns* of the 7th Massachu setts. 1 was wounded here. : By this success the place was ours; the enemy’s line gave way precipitately; our men entered at several points at once, and we captured eight guns*' and from eight hundred to a thousand prisoners, - Part of the forces that occupied Marye’B Hill’was Baratow’s brigade, esteemed an excellent one iri the rebelservice, composed of the 13th, 17th, 18th, 'and 2let Mississippi Regiments. . Troopß were brought from the different localities in which they had remained under cover, and formed at once. There were to be two columns of attack, supported sb the nature of tbe ground required, the right column by two regiments in column : the left column by. a line of battle and skirmishers, .in the open field to the left (our left) of the position. Our loss will probably reach a thousand in killed and wounded. AFFAIRS IN THE NEW SITUATION; Before Ihiß fight, General Hooker and the rebel Lee were face to face, near Chancellorville, which is on the plank road that runs directly west from Fredericksburg; 'Doivn this road, arid consequently toward the scene cf the fight between Hooke: and THREE CENTS, Lef, the rebels fled in a disorganized rout, They probably reached Lee’s army on Sunday night* Such a body of men, in such a condition, could be no accession to any one’s forces. But dose on the heels of these men, and consequently upon the rear of Lee r s ' array, ae it fights Hooker, goes the victorious oth Corps—the gallant divisions of Newton, Brooks, and Howe. And this pursuit and onward movement was already begun in one hour after the enemy r B position was carried ;• for Brooks’ division, which had eleptoo Saturday night, and was not engaged in Sunday’s: battle, was conse quently fresh, and this division - was in the advance and went fortran] in the highest spirits. Hooker was only ten miles away, and tee was between, and this was at 2P. M. on Sunday, with the roadß- in. gonji order. The whole position considered, there-'is every reaeon to believe that the next hews we hear from this theatre of will be news of eeriouß disaster to the rebel army and gl-orious achievements to our own. But let us suppose even that there be no achieve ment strictly; that we do not fight a b?ilHan.t bat tle. If Hooker can only hold- Lee at bay he is ours; for Lc-e’a coinmu&ications with Richmond are ab solutely and certainly cut. Thus. Lee’s choice is between battle front and rear and starvation. The bitter alternative will cause the rebel army to fight desperately; but if Hooker only holds his own we win all. THE KSIXED AND WOUNDED. K.ILLED AND 'WOUNDED IN GEN. SYKES’ DIVISION ON FRIDAY. KILLED. Capt. Marsh, commanding 2d TJ, S. Infantry. Capt. W. J. Temple, 17th IT. S. Infantry. Sergt. Skinner, O, 2d U. S. Infantry. John McGunn, B, 7th TJ. S. Infantry. Chas. Forrest, B, 7th U. S. Infantry. William Muller, B. 7th U» S. Infantry. Gardner, B, 140th New York. Win, Si Gibbs, A, 146th New York. Wm. Claik, H, 6th U. S. Infantry. Corp. Adams, E, llth U. S. Infantry. wounded. Capt, QveTton, aid of General Sykes. Capt. Morehead, C, 17th U. S. Infantry, Bhoulder. Lieut. C. T. Weld. C, 17th TJ. S. Infantry, leg. Sergt. Thos. Campbell, C, 2d TJ. S. Infantry, leg amputated. . • _ .' Sergt. Chas, Benton, D,7thU. S, Infantry, arm. - Sergt. John Kelly, H; 10th U. S. Infantry, abdo _men. Sergt; John Horn, B, 7th U. S. Infantry, thigh. Sergt. E. B. Fieke, D, 146th New York, thigh.' Thos. Kelly, G, 2d U. S. Infantry, ankle. Thos.iFleming, C, 2d TJ. S. Infantry, hip. Robt. Capsiek, E, llth TJ. S. lofantry, thigh. .—.Silas 'WYToinpkiba. o,llth U. S. Infantry, knee. NriMcßride, C. 17th TJ, S. Infantry, thigh. John Modiin, D, 10th TJ. S. Infantry, foot. N. Fisher. H, 6tn'TJ-e I -infantrvi arm. P. LougMin. B, 7th V. Corp. B. P. Perrigo, A, 140th New York, leg. Chas. H. Weatherwax, K, 2d TJ. -§. Tntantry, breast. Jas. F. Butler, F, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, thigh. Christian Horan, D, 7th TJ, S. Infantry, thigh. Lewis Kilburn, H, 17th TJ. S. Infantry, breast. Joseph Ford, D, lOth TJ. S. Infantry, neck. Wiq.’ Colwell, E, 146rh New York, arm. John Shaw, Gy 10th TJ. S. Infantry, arm. Thos. Kiiligsn, A, 7th TJ. S. Infantry, breast. F. S. Schaeffer, F, 2d U, S. Infantry, knee. O. Gutteiman/F. 2d TJ. S. Infantry, shoulder. Wm. Givens, A, 146th. New. York, leg. Thos. Scully, I\2d U. S. Infantry, leg. M. Grogan, G, 10th U. S. Infantry, head. John Pecho, B, 7tfcTJ. S. Infantry, thigh. John Sullivan, H, 10th U. S. Infantry, arm. Charles Kennedy. C, 17th TJ. S. Infantry, neck. Andrew Campbell, G, 3d TJ. S. Infantry, hand. Joseph Dewitt, E, ilih TJ. S. Infantry, hand. D. Campbell, C, lith TJ. S. Infanfcry, head. John Loftus, I, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, hand. R, RuBfell t F, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, face. . J. G. Brewer, C, llth TJ. S. Infantry,hand. John K. Fair, B, llth U. S. Infantry, foot. P. Flynn, O; 12th TJ. S. Infantry, head. . F. Reynolds, F, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, head. Corporal N. Vanderhoof, B, 146th New York, leg. J. Hyland, B, 146th New York, leg. A. Kunch, H, 10th TJ. S. Infantry, foot. Robert Montross, H, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, arm. Corporal Demon, H. 14th U. S. Infantry, leg. H. C. Berry. G, 6th TJ, S. Infantry, leg. John Irby, G, 12th U. S. Infantry, ieg. David Smith, F, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, side. P. Paul, F, 3d TJ.'S. Infantry, leg amputated!,, - John White, I, 6th TJ. S. Infantry, foot. John Bright; A, 146th New York, leg. Clumback, F, 146th New York,'arm. F Curran. G, llth TJ. S. Infantry,leer, N. Fitzgibbon, B, llth TJ. S. Infantry, leg, John Bignon, I, 6rh TJ. S. Infantry, hand. Wm. Herbro, D, 6thTJ. S. Infantry, shoulder. OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED IN ACTIONS OF SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. Major Gen. Berry, killed, while gallantly fighting hie division. ' .Gen. Devins, of'Massachusetts, commanding Ist division, 11th corps, severely wounded in foot. Gen. Mott, severely wounded in two places. Col. McKnight, 105th Pennsylvania, killed. Col. Riley, 75th Ohio, wounded, and left on the field. Col. Lancaster, 175th Pennsylvania, killed. Col. Pierson, Ist New York, severely wounded. Col. Stainrook, 109th Pennsylvania, killed. Col. Stevenß, 4th Excelsior brigade, killed. Col. Parks, 2d New York, wounded. Col. Burling, 6th New Jeraev, wounded. Col. "Willetts, 12fch New Jersey, wounded. Col. Potter, 12th New Hampshire, thigh. Lieut. Col: Scott, 3d Wisconsin, killed. Lieut. Col. Chapin, 86th New York, killed. Lieut. Col; Coggswell, 2d Massachusetts, am. . Lieut. Col. Cook, 149th New York, foot. Maj. Keenan, Bth Pennsylvania Cavalry, killed. Maj. Strouse, 4Gth'Pennsylvania, killed. Maj. Angell, sth New Jersey, left shoulder, Lieut. Col. Lounsbury, stli Excelsior, face.’ Capt. Hampton, Pittsburg Battery, leg shot off, Maj. Willoughby, 137th New York, severely. Maj. Higgins, 86th New York, leg. Lieut. Collins, 149th New York, wounded. Lieut. Eckel, 149th New York, wounded. Capt. Ellsworth, 86th New York, killed. Capt. Allen, C, 145th New York, missing. Capt. Smith, C, 7th Naw Jersey, neck. Capt. "Witherell, F. 7th New Jersey, leg. . Capt. Hart, E, 7th New Jersey, leg. ' , . Lieut..Gephartj’E, 7th New Jersey, wounded. Lieut.-McDonald, I, ,; '7th'NewJersey, head. Lieut. Berdan, -7tn New Jersey, killed. Lieut. Cooper, F, 7th New.Tersev, wounded. Lieut. Dingle, F, 7th New Jersey, wounded. ' ' SIXTH KKW JBBSET. Lieut. Joseph Note, wounded. Lieut. John Hoagland, wounded. Lieut. Howeth, severely wounded. Capt. Thos. M. K. Lee, head. Lieut. JamesH. Tallon, hip, - EIGHTH NEW JI2RSET. Col. Ramsey, wounded. - Capt. Stelle, F, severely wounded. Capt. Stevenson, E, wounded. Lieut. Peet, B, wounded. Lieut. Beaken, C, wounded. FIFTH NEW JERSEY.’ Capt. Gamble, mortally wounded. Lieut. C. H. Rogers, arm, Lieut. Clancy, neck. Lieut. Geo. J. Lawyer, mortally wounded. Lieut. Austin, ankle. Lieut. Moore, killed. Lieut. Nafew, wounded. Lieut. F. Fields, 6th New Jersey, wounded. Lieut. Ayres, 6th New Jersey, wounded, slightly. Lieut. Thomson, Gen. Mott’s staff, wounded. Capt. Cromley. O, lloth Pennsylvania, killed, Capt. Conley, K, 115th Pennsylvania, killed. - Capt. Dillon, B, 115th Pennsylvania, wounded. Lieut. Mulloy, B, lloth Pennsylvania, wounded. Lieut. Davis, D, lloth Pennsylvania, wounded. O. liSth Pennsylvania, ankle.; Adjt. Stevens, lloth Pennsylvania, wounded. Capt. H.’ J. Murphy, 37th New York, wounded. Capt, J. W. Bailey, 37th New York, wounded. Lieut. Kearnin, 37th Neiv York, wounded. Lieut. J. H. Markey, 37th New York, wounded. Capt. Temple, 2d Begular Infantry, killed. Lieut. Miller, 4th Maine, killed. Capt. Morehead, 17th InfaDtry, wounded.* Capt. Aines, • Regulars, wounded. Lieut. Rueated. 44th N. Y., wounded by shell. • Adjt. Thomas, 20th Indiana, badly, in hack. Capt. "Walker, 38th*New York, wounded. Lieut. Morana, 38th New York, missing. Lieut. Martin, 2Sth New York, knee. Copt. J. R. O’Biernc, 37th New York, wounded. Capt. Elwood, 2d Excelsior, leg. - . Lieut. Felney, H; 4th Excelsior, wounded. Capt. Falen, A, 4th Excelsior, wounded. - Lieut. Denman, C, 4th Excelsior, wounded. Lieut. H. M. Aller, C, sth Excelsior, wounded. Lieut. C. S. Preßton, A, ——, shoulder. Capt. Grafton. 2d Massachusetts, leg. Lieut. Fitzgerald, 2d Massachusetts, killed. Lieut. F. B. Crosby, Battery F, 4th United States Artillery, killed. '* . Capt. Murray. 149th New York, leg. Lieut. Priestly, 46th Penna., mortally wounded. Col. Miles, 61st New York, fatally, in stomach.' Col. E. H. Gregory, 91st Pa., wounded severely. KILLED AND "WOUNDED AT FREDERICKS- Col. Spear, 6lat Pennsylvania. Major Joel Haycock, 6th Maine. 'MajorFaxon, 36th New York. Major Basset. S2d Pennsylvania. Cspt. Young, 6th Maine. • -—Grey, 6th Msine. v. ' ; -—Ballings. 6th Maine. Orderly Sergt. Hinman, B, Ist U. S. Chasseurs. Thomas Canfield, 6lst Pennsylvania. wounded. Maj. Hcaly, latU. S. Chasseurs, perhaps mortally. Capt. Murphy, 20th Massachusetts. Capt. Holmes, 20th Massachusetts. - Lieut .Allen, Ist Rhode Island battery. Lieut. Kelly, Ist Rhode Island battery, Capt. Ellis, D, Gist Pennsjdvania. Lieut. Kerne, B» 61st Pennsylvania. —..Sergeant Chas. Bixby. Maoßncliuaettß.^ —- Ssergeant sinie; Oflst United State's Chasseurs, Corporal Gibson, o,lst United States Chasseurs. Corporal Butcher, B, Ist United States Chasseurs. • Corporal Connolly, I,lst United States Chasseurs. : Corporal Rice, K, Ist United States Chasseurs. Corporal Holzheimer, 6lst Pennsylvania'. Corporal Shumaker, 61st Pennsylvania. "William Ely, B, Ist United States Chasseurs. ; —*— Connor,' Ist United States Chasseurs. —— Healy, Ist United States Chasseurs. Felter, Ist United States Chasseurs. . Philhan, Ist United States Chasseurs. Flannery, C, Ist United States Chasseurs', ■ Donnelly, I,lst United States Chasseurs. - Murdock, I, Ist United States Chasseurß. [The list of killed and wounded of the Chasseurs is lcomplete, and all not named are'safe. Col. Hamlin, reported wounded, had a horse killed under him, but was not bit. J : Charles Brown, O, 23d Pennsylvania. ' John Gilbert, C, 23d Pennsylvania. Charles Donohue, G, 23d Pennsylvania. James Pringle, 0,23 d Pennsylvania. Edward Baxter, C, 23d Pennsylvania. William Norton, I,sth Wisconsin. Peter Fenault, A. sth Wisconsin. A. Davis, F, Ist Minnesota. Thomas Lanzy; 7th Michigan, bugler. John H. Penning, D, Gist Pennsylvania. Hiram Kelly, 61st Pennsylvania. • .Tames S. Neal, A,’ 61st Pennsylvania. BEBEI REPORTS. [From the Richmond Examiner. April 30.3 FROM FREDERICKSBURG-ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY-FIGHTING COMMENCED. The news from Fredericksburg is exciting. - The long silence is broken, and fighting—probably • the prelude to the great battle—has commenced again between the two armies. Early yesterday morning the enemy in large force effected a crossing of the Rappahannock at a point known as Deep run, a few miles below Fredericksburg. It is also reported that the'enemy crossed at Kelly’s Ford and other points, but we have no confirmation v of this. On crossing to this side of the river, at Deep run, the enemy engaged the 13th Georgia and the 6th or 2d Louisiana —it is not certain which—and severe skir mishing ensued. Loud.and continued firing was heard from other pointß along the line, and the be lief at Fredericksburg was confident that the ene my was advancing in strength, and that the move ment would lead to a general action. • It is not known in--what foroe the enemy has crossed, but it is believed by those most competent to judge, that Hooka- has thrown over the river the whole strength of his army, and that he inte7ids to give ws battle in earnest; It is thought that he has been encouiaged to this by the rumors which have reach ed the North, icpreeenting that the bulk of our army had-been withdrawn from Fredericksburg and Bent to Suffolk.and,North Carolina. If i& thought that he has made this advance, thinking that hcwould strike- tts when icc were weakest and when his chances were most favorable. At the time of the cars leaving Guineas Station THE WAR (PUBLISHED WEEKLY. > Thb War Press wiii be Bent to subscribers by mail (per annum in advance) at.... ■&% 00 Thrcecopiee “ “ 500 Five copies “ “ 8 00 " 15 00 barker Clubs than Ten will bo charged at the earn & rate, SX.SO per copy. The money •must always accompany the order, and. th no J nstan &s can these terms 5s deviated from* as very little more than the cost of the paper. T‘ostma>-ters* are requested to act as Agents for The Was Pubs*. . - f®' T°getter-up of the Club of ten or twenty, as extra copy 0 f the Paper will he given. ?£ft 8lK "i! one P. M., the train was not bey^nd ’ f a . pid natl continued firing was distinctly heard, and it web supposed that the enemy was still crossing. A thousand rumors were rife, but we are not disposed to tax the credulity of our readers by their repetition. J All indications point to a battle to-day. Move ments are going on which we cannot, nor would it be prudent to tell our readers. The telegraph fine was laßt Dight, under the exclusive control of the Government, and there were other signs that our authorities are looking for a great battle. THE REBELLION. What it "will Cost to talse Fort Pcmbertmir [From the Correspondence of the Mobile Register, j , . Fort Pemberton, April 1, 1663. Fort Pemberton is a line of breastworks, composed of cotton bales and mud, running acroßa from, the Yazoo to the Taliahatchee rivers, forraiDg something in the shape of aW. The right rests upon the Tal lahatehee, and the left upon the Yazoo, and the dis tance across in a straight line does not exceed two hundred and fifty yards. This work was constructed by order of Major Ge neral Loring,. who was sent up into that section of country to Ete if some place could be found to stop the advance in ease he passed the obafcruc tipre which were placed in the Yazoo Pass by order oflieutenant General Pemberton. ~ Though poorly'adapted for the purpose intended, it was the best position to be found above Yazoo City on the Yazoo or Tallahatchee rivers. The gal lant manner in which General Loring has held it, and his pertinacity in standing his ground, now that the enemy have appeared before him with large re inforcements, (after being badly whipped.) justifies the choice made.- DESIGN. OF THE t{ YANKEES” ON VICKSBURG. The idea of the Yankees, as publicly expressed and privately spoken of in all their unofficial corre spondence, iB to flank Vicksburg, capture Jackson, cut off Grenada, and destroy all possibility of our obtaining supplies throughout that rich country, by this one bold stroke. TTie getting into the Yazoo river, below where the Yallabusba .enters it, and quietly drifting down to Yazoo City would, they Euppoee, accomplish all but the flanking of Vicks burg. Vast numbers of troops were to do the re mainder. ’ THE MOVEMENT CHECKED, BUT RENEWED. But the mud works of Fort Pemberton, backed by a brave commander and an indomitable force, inter posed a check to this on to Vicksburg movement, and the proud foe, after trying nine days to get by our woike, ingloriously fled before an inferior force, nor stopped till reinforced to double the number which originally attacked us. Having received re inforcements, they returned to the attack on Mon day evening week,.and immediately resumed opera tions. Since that day, as far as your correspondent .has been enabled to learn, all has been quiet. The * doubtless manoeuvring Tor position, or the rivers, so that he can land his worktP in v,, ' iLli attempt to storm our THE STORMING OF PEMBfiRTON~"SUIo« v *r _Thanks to the GgA of battles, who controlaTfte ri2e and fall of streams, it will be many weary weeks before the water subsides, and if Gen. Loring does not make that river too hot for them inThe mean time, I am much mistaken. Should they attempt, however, to storm the works either before or alter the water in front subsides, God help them l for the slaughter, at Chickasaw Bayou will not compare with the slaughter at Fort Pemberton. I cannot be more explicit on this point; blit I hardly think that General Ross, who has the reputation of being & cautious.man, will attempt anything so absurd, so suicidal, as the storming of Fort Pemberton. THE WaOLE EXPEDITION TO BE CAPTUBEDe I have no hesitation in saying that I firmly be lieve the entire Yankee expedition will fall into our hands—infantry, cavalry, artillery, gunboats, bAggage and all. “ Old Blizzard” will never allow them to pass the fortifications, for Lieutenant Ge neral Pemberton, fully alive to the importance of the position, has sent forward to him men and ma teiials for holding it. They acknowledge themselves the impossibility of ever getting back through the Yazoo PasstotheMississippi. Therefore they must fight to the victory and pass us or fall into our hands victims to the universal Yankee greed and rapacity. U THE RAGLAN OF AMERICA.” Fort Pemberton is now the key of the Mississippi valley, and we cannot attach to it more importance than it deserves. It should be held at any hazards. Lieutenant General Pemberton, in placing General LoriDg there to defend it, has put the “right man in the right place.” Hie troops love him, the citizens of the country have the utmost confidence in him. He has whipped them back once, and I have every reason to believe he will do it again. He will justi fy the language of Mr. Barksdale, in the Congress of our country when he said “ General Loring waa the Raglan of America.” SECESSIONISTS CONDEMNING SECESSION. The Southern leaders are becoming traitors to their own treason. It grows evident that the very doctrine on which they found their withdrawal from the Union, and revolution for independence, is no more or less than a doctrine of absolute disorgani zation and ruin.- Secession from, the Union will work secession from the Confederacy; and, accord ing to their own rule and acknowledgment, they have greater right to secede from the latter. This amounts .to., secession, seceding from secession. Ip the new Southern Republic we have also this astounding paradox—Liberty based on slavery, and Union upon disunion. The absurdity of their posi tion; Southern politicians perceive, and are now endeavoring to crush out secession as a heresy. A Richmond correspondent of the Chattanooga Rebels in arecent- letter on the bill organizing the “ Confe derate judiciary,” which has agitated for some time, the Richmond “ Congress,” sayß: “ Some twenty-five or thirty speeches were made during the debate, but they have not been published —scarcely glanced at by the Richmond press. Very strange political doctrines were elicited during the discussion, very remarkable conceptions of the na ture of the. governmental structure of these States were delivered. Among them , this one , by a distin guished Senator: Ko State had a right to secede, and if one seceded hereafter , he was in favor of forcing kei' back with the bayonet—ov words to that effect. Truly a notable sentence. On the ears of the weather-beaten and war-worn soldiers who dropped in the lobby, on their return to camps, it must have sounded with a perplexing dissonance; since they had thought pro per at one time to stake their fortunes, nay. their lives, on the preservation of which they innocently -believed Wfis worth the ven ture,” T "*' • - ironic cniLiTr to the peace commissioners. [From the Richmond Enquirer, April 4.3 NORTHWESTERN COiI^TSSIONERS. (Cut of tiro couriers on horseback: is here inserted in the original.) We have the Eolemn satisfaction of announcing— and it is fondly hoped the Enquirer is the first to announce—the near approach of Commissioners, two or more, sent expreßßly by some person or persons unknown, in the State of Illinois, bearing to Rich mond a message of peace, a white wand in their bands, healing on tbeir wings, and an olive branch all round their hats. They are coming 1 They are almosthere.l Have been seen with the naked eye at Knoxville cm route to this city, and all hearts rush out to meet the heralds and harbingers of concilia tion. Critical cavilers may ask who has seat them? W ell, it was not the Governor of the State, cor the .Legislature, cor any convention of the people, or Of any county or town. So ranch we feel at liberty to reveal. The factious enemies of>peace are web come to the avowal. All that is now proper to make known is, that the heralds and harbingers in ques tion come from the State of Illinois j and, albeit that State is now, unhappily, at war with the Con federacy, and has about seventy thousand soldiers (more or less) engaged in ravaging our country, still this public action does not bind the person or per sons unknown, nor the commissioners whose ap proach we have the honor to announce. Let ih not be uncharitably surmised that these commissioners are, perhaps, spies, and that, entering our lines, a 3 they an enemy’s country, with out flag of truce, and without credentials, they should be arrested and commended to the hospitali ties of the « Libby.” No, let us repel the idea that these are'speculators, thieves, or Bpies: let us re spond with gratitude to the appeal of Illinois’ heart; let us meet the commissioners as they enter, and strew flowers in their path; let thegallant City Bat talion turn out as a guard of honor, (we do not mean to the Libbv); let Congress go into secret session' to receive the celestial message; finally, let a special exemption be issued for them, lest the conscript offi cers, not aware of their noble mission, should tender them the hospitalities of Camp Lee. This time it is hoped that nobody will say we repel advances and reject friendship with disdain. Look out for the Illinois commissioners l THE CONDITION OP THE SOUTH. The Daily Richmond Examiner of April 21 contains the following interesting statement, based upon the narrative of-a three months’ trip of a Government agent through the South. The statement of South ern abundance is, of course, exaggerated, if we re spect the large amount of contradictory intelligence which we gleanfrom rebel papers; but, on theother hand, the destitution of the South may be also ex aggerated. This report, however, taken from a Go vernment officer, is perhaps merely in the interest of the Government, and is apparently in itself ex travagant: THE.GREATEST PLENTY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH'. We -are assured that the greatest plenty exists throughout the South, and that there was never a greater mistake made than to. suppose there is a scarcity within our borders. In the far Southern States the country is flooded with all kinds of pro duce, and the people have more than they can make way with. In Louisiana, forinstance, corn was so plentiful that it was a drug in the market, and the Government was buying all it wanted at forty cents a bußhel, the highest price known in that region being half a dollar. In some parts of Alabamar and Mississippi the same thing exists, and nowhere could the complaint of scarcity be.heard. The spirit ofthejjlanteroiji-rciation.to'tKewarlßsanrnrbe of iiie most generous and patriotic character, and the most earnest desire is manifested by them to supply the wants of our. army and distressed communities. WANT OP TRANSPORTATION THE CAUSE OP SUFFERING. There are thousands of barrels of corn, sugar, bacon, and other supplies, in the South, that the owners would be willing to make a free gift to the Government or a donation to the thousands oE refu gees in our State,-but they cannot get transportation overour railroads, which are clogged up with barrels of whisky and the wares of speculators. We would ask why it is that railroads are prostituted to the liquor smugglers and speculators in giving trans portation to barrels of whisky and bales of goods, when the supplies tendered ourGoverumentand the poor, from noble generosity, are refused transporta tion, andthe bread kept Jrom the mouths of im poverished refugees'? FULL OF FOOD AND HARVEST. The whole South, we are assured, is full of food, both meat and breadatuffs, and the only impediment to getting it is that no adequate transportation can be had. Thousands of barrels of corn might be gath ered up at fifty cents to a dollar a'bushel, and hun dreds of thousands of bacon can be had, we learn, in the remote South, at forty to fifty cents a pound. The crops through the are reported, too, to be in a very promising condition. There is nothing, except some calamity not to be anticipated, that can now prevent a plentiful harvest. The farmers, we are glad to learn, have planted very little land in cotton—hardly more than enough to supply seed for the next year’s planting. The consequence is that an unusual amount ot land has been set in corn and grain, and an immense harvest may be looked for, if nothing should occur to mar the prospect. If this policy of planting only what is needed by the army and people is adhered to, as we hope it will be, we have no fears for the future. THE ARMY IN THE SOUTHWEST, During his travels our informant was at Vicks burg, Port Hudson, and other points of interest in the Southwest, and gives the most encouraging ac counts of our army. He never saw a better class of men, or an army in better condition and discipline. The material of the army is splendid, and as gallant a set of men as ever breathed. The greatest confi dence was felt, and a spirit to fight to the last man seemed to animate the whole army. It would not be prudent to speak of their numbers, but it is safe to say tbAt they consider themselves able to repulse the enemy whenever he may come. YIOKSUUKG AND IT3 COMMANDERS. At no point was a greater spirit of confidence felt than at Vicksburg, and our informant Bh&res in this, in feeling assured that the plaoe can never be carried by the Yankees. The garrison there feel confident of holding the place, and the people there feel as un» concerned of their danger as if the Yankees were & hundred miles off. We are glad to hear that our own.old Commonwealth figures so bravely and is so well represented in the aimy at Vioksburg. Major General C. L. Stevenson, in command there, is a. Virginian, and so are Major General Maury, and Brigadiers Generals Barton and Reynolds, all en trusted with important commands at Vioksburg.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers