BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 76, 28 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

The problem which Hooker had to solve was to dislodge Lee from the fortified position which he has occupied for the last four months on the heights above Fredericksburg, without either attacking him in front or endangering the Federal communications with Acquia Creek. He had violently opposed Burnside's plan last December, and his vaticinations about it were justified by the event. He matured his plans with great secresy, and at last performed a feat unprecedented in the Union army, by actually putting his whole force in motion without asking anybody's advice, or giving anybody the least inkling of what he was going to do. He according threw between 70,000 and 80,000 men across the river at Kelly's Ford and the United States Ford, ten and sixteen miles above Fredericksburg, and about 30,000 near Port Royal, about four miles below. This done, he for the first time communicated his intentions to the subordinate generals. Upon referring to the map it will be seen that the Rappahannock, which above Fredericksburg runs nearly due east, makes, when near the town, a sweep southward, and in the curve lies the Confederate position. By crossing above, therefore, Hooker would face southward, and by pushing, forward a few miles from the river, he would find himself in the rear of Fredericksburg, and would leave Leo the alternative of either coming down off the heights, and fighting and winning a battle, or else of retreating along the Richmond Railroad with 80,000 men on one of his flanks and 30,000 on the other. This is precisely what Hooker did. On Wednesday, April 29, he crossed both the Rapidan and Rappahannock, and pushed his centre forward as far as Chancellorville, a hamlet in the rear of Fredericksburg, and about ten miles from it west by south, and occupied it, his left and right resting on the United States and Kelly's Ford, and there prepared to stand his ground. The crossing below Fredericksburg was effected with equal success and was also a surprise, the enemy's pickets being captured. On the following morning it was clear that Lee had either fco come down and fight Hooker on ground chosen by the latter, or attempt to fly. On May 1, it was evident that Lee bad wakened up to " a sense of his situation.'' lie had been clearly outgeneralled, but he met the crisis promptly and ably. He changed his front very rapidly, and on May 1 the two armies were fac a to face, the Federals having passed the day in fortifying their position and skirmishing. On Saturday, May 2, the ball was opened in real earnest. -Jackson, on the right, threw himself headlong, with 40,000 of the best troops of the Confederates, on tho Federal right, held by the llth Corps, composed almost entirely of Germans. The rascals broke and fied at the first onset, and rushed to the rear in mad confusion. All attempts to rally them were vain, nnd Jackson, pushing furiously on, hacl turned the Federal flank, and bid fair to be soon in their rear. Hooker's peculiar qualities now shone out resplendently. He was on the spot in an instant, brought up his own old corps, now commanded by Geueral Berry, and ordered them not to fire, but to go in with the bayonet, and ordered up masses of artillery to support them. Jackson was slowly driven back, but the success of Sickles, who had broken the enemy's centre, was neutralised by this disaster. The day closed without any material change in the position of either party. The Federals had held their ground with comparatively small loss, and this, of course, was success. The Confederates had lost terribly, owing to the reckless bravery of their onslaughts. They rushed tele baissee on the batteries, aud were mowed down with the same terrible carnage as at Malvern-hill. lhe action was renewed on Sunday, May 3, with similar results. The Federal right never completely recovered its lost ground, but this has effected no material change in its position. The centre is still at Chancellorville, aud the whole line is now strongly fortified, and the relations of the combatants may be said to remain unchanged. But there are 4000 Confederate prisoners in the hands of the Federals. The losses of the former in the three days' fightiug are known to have beeu enormous ; and Sedgwick attacked and stormed the famous heights of Fredericksburg, against which so many brave fellows beat their brains out last winter, on Sunday evening, capturing a thousand prisoners aud eight pieces of artillery.