ceived to move on and join the other divisions, which had gone through the city. The height and the city were thus abandoned, to be occupied soon after by the enemy. About five o'clock, the advance was overtaken a few miles out of Fredericksburg, engaged in a brisk fight with the enemy. The division of Gen. Howe was deployed to the left of the road over a broken country, with the left wing to the rear, so as to confront the enemy reoccupying the heights and massing in the rear. In this position Gen. Sedgwick's force remained in line of battle during the night, distant about six or seven miles from Gen. Hooker. By morning of the 4th, the enemy appeared in strong force in front and on the hills to his left. About 4 P. M. they moved up to attack, and Gen. Sedgwick's artillery opened fire on every quarter, but could not check their slow and steady advance, before which he gradually fell back toward Banks's Ford. The engagement was hot, and lasted until 9 P. M., with a loss to Gen. Sedgwick of nearly four thousand. That Monday night he recrossed the Rappahannock. The crossing was effected in good order, with the camp equipage, mule trains, etc., except a few of the latter, which were taken when the enemy first appeared in rear at Fredericksburg. All the work on the left was performed by this corps of Gen. Sedgwick. It built three bridges, constantly skirmished with the enemy, stormed the heights of Fredericksburg, and advanced to support the right, when it was flanked by a heavy force of the enemy and forced to retreat across the river.

The movements of the enemy in this affair were thus reported by Gen. Lee: To His Excellency President Davis:

At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville on Sunday, the enemy was reported advancing from Fredericksburg on our rear. Gen. McLaws was sent to arrest his progress, and repulsed him handsomely.

Sedgwick over the river.

That afternoon, learning that his forces consisted of two corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, I determined to attack him, and marched back yesterday with Gen. Anderson, and united with McLaws early in the afternoon, and succeeded, by the blessing of Heaven, in driving We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, and no enemy remains south of the Rappahannock or in the vicinity. R. E. LEE, General Commanding. While these operations were going on under Gen. Sedgwick, the enemy made no serious attack upon Gen. Hooker. On Monday, at daylight, they placed guns on the heights, which commanded the ground north of United States Ford, and began shelling the trains of Gen. Hooker. These guns were soon silenced by the twelfth corps, which relieved the eleventh, and now occupied the extreme left. During the day, the enemy continued to feel the lines of Gen. Hooker from the extreme left to right, making vigorous feints, driving in pickets, picking off artillery horses and officers on horseback. It was in one of these forays that Gen. Whipple was mortally wounded in the spine, while standing against a tree in his own camp, supposing himself to be in perfect security. Gen.

Hooker continued during the day to strengthen his position with a second line of rifle pits. During Monday night slight skirmishing continued along the lines, with frequent volleys of musketry from some portion of the rifle pits. Batteries of flying artillery were used to shell the camps, which changed position as often as guns were brought to bear upon them. Thus the Federal troops were harassed and exhausted during the night.

Early on Tuesday all the pioneers and men, with extra tools, were employed on the roads leading from the army back to United States Ford. Old roads were repaired and new ones cut through the woods. The trains and artillery commenced moving toward the river early in the evening. The rain then was falling rapidly, and the night became quite dark. The crossing commenced at ten o'clock, and at three o'clock on Wednesday morning all the wagons and mule trains and artillery had passed the bridges, and the passage of the infantry commenced. The second corps, under Gen. Couch, led the advance. The fifth corps, under Gen. Meade, formed the rear guard, with Gen. Sykes's division of regulars to cover the retreat. The passage of the river was effected without any disturbance from the enemy. The dead on the battle field of Tuesday were left unburied, and many of the wounded remained behind. The rapid rise of the river prevented the immediate advance of Gen. Lee.

The movements of the cavalry force, under Gen. Stoneman, do not appear to have produced any advantage in favor of Gen. Hooker. As has been stated, the storms which ensued prevented active movements by Gen. Stoneman until the 29th of April. On that day he crossed at Kelly's Ford. The division of Gen. Averill moved to the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and encountered two regiments of the enemy, who retired toward Gordonsville. Thence he proceeded to Culpepper, and dispersed a force of the rebels there, capturing their rear guard, and seizing a large amount of flour, salt, and bacon. The enemy were pursued by way of Cedar mountain toward the Rapidan. Here he received a despatch from Gen. Stoneman, desiring him to push the enemy as vigorously as possible, and keep him occupied. On the 1st, scouting parties were sent up and down on both sides of the Rapidan. On the 2d, orders were received by him to join Gen. Hooker at United States Ford at once.

Gen. Stoneman, after crossing at Kelly's Ford, moved the main body of his command across Fleshman's creek, and encamped for the night in an open field. On the next day, the 3d, Gen. Buford crossed the Rapidan, two miles below Racoon Ford, and drove a body of infantry from the ford, where Gen. Gregg crossed later in the day. A lieutenant and thirteen privates of an artillery company were captured here. At night the whole force bivouacked one mile from the river. On the next day the march was commenced, and at Orange Spring a

force of the enemy, approaching by railroad, barely escaped capture. That night the command encamped at Greenwood, one mile from Louisa Court House, through which the Virginia Central railroad passes, connecting Gordonsville with Richmond. On the next day, the 2d of May, a squadron of the 10th New York, under Col. Irwin, was sent five miles above the town, and another of the same regiment, under Major Avery, was sent the same distance below, to destroy the track of the road, while Col. Kilpatrick took possession of the town. The track was torn up for some distance, the telegraph cut, and some commissary stores seized. In the afternoon the command moved to Thompson's Four Corners. From this place, as headquarters, several expeditions were sent out. On the next morning Col. Wyndham proceeded to Columbia, on the James river, where the Lynchburg and Richmond canal crosses the river. An unsuccessful attempt was made to destroy the aqueduct. Five locks were injured, three canal boats, loaded with commissary stores, and five bridges, were burned, and the the canal lock cut in several places. A large quantity of commissary stores and medicines in the town were also destroyed. Another detachment, under Capt. Drummond, of the 5th cavalry, destroyed the bridge over the James river at Centreville. Other small parties were sent out in different directions, and some skirmishing took place with small parties of the enemy. At the same time a force, consisting of the 10th New York and 1st Maine, with two pieces of artillery, was sent out under Gen. Gregg, to destroy the railroad bridge at Ashland, while Col. Kilpatrick, with the Harris Light, and 12th Illinois, Lieut.-Col. Davis, were to go between Ashland and Richmond, destroying the railroad, bridges, &c. Gen. Gregg destroyed the bridge across the South Anna on the road from Columbia to Spottsylvania; thence he moved east, and destroyed the road to Beaver Dam Station. He then turned north to the Richmond and Gordonsville turnpike, sending out a detachment to burn the Ground Squirrel bridge. That night he bivouacked eight miles from Ashland. A detachment sent out to burn the bridge at Ashland found it too strongly defended. Some portions of the railroad track, however, were destroyed. Leaving Col. Kilpatrick and Lieut.-Col. Davis, Gen. Gregg returned on the next day to Gen. Stoneman. On the night of the 4th, Gen. Gregg moved near Yanceyville, and was followed the next day by Gen. Stoneman and Gen. Buford's command. On the 5th, the retrograde movement commenced, and crossing Racoon Ford, on the Rapidan, the command arrived at Kelly's Ford, on the North Fork. Meantime, the advance of Col. Kilpatrick was made, and thus subsequently reported by him:

By directions from Maj.-Gen. Stoneman, I left Louisa Court House on the morning of the 3d instant, with one regiment (the Harris Light Cavalry) of my brig ade; reached Hungary, on the Fredericksburg railroad,

at daylight on the 4th; destroyed the depot and tele graph wires and railroad for several miles; passed over to Brook turnpike, drove in the rebel pickets; down the pike, across the brook, charged a battery, and forced it to retire within two miles of the city of Richmond; captured Lieut. Brown, aide-de-camp to Gen. Winder, and eleven men within the fortifications; passed down to the left of the Meadow bridge on the Chickahominy, which I burned; ran a train of cars into the river; retired to Hanovertown on the peninsula; crossed and destroyed the ferry boat just in time to check the advance of a pursuing cavalry force; burned a train of thirty wagons loaded with bacon; captured thirteen prisoners, and encamped for the night five miles from the river.

I resumed my march at 1 A. M. of the 5th; surprised a force of three hundred cavalry at Aylett's; captured two officers and thirty-three men; burned fifty-six wagons, the depot, containing upward of twenty thou sand bushels of corn and wheat, quantities of clothing and commissary stores, and safely crossed the Mattapony, and destroyed the ferry again just in time to es cape the advance of the rebel cavalry pursuit. Late in the evening I destroyed a third wagon train and depot a few miles above and west of the Tappahannock on the Rappahannock, and from that point made a forced march of twenty miles, being closely pursued by a su perior force of cavalry, supposed to be a portion of Stuart's, from the fact that we captured prisoners from the 8th, 1st, and 10th Virginia cavalry. At sundown discovered a force of cavalry drawn up in line of battle about King and Queen Court House. Their strength was unknown, but I at once advanced to the attack, only to discover, however, that they were friends -a portion of the 10th Illinois cavalry, who had be come separated from the command of Lieut.-Col. Davis, of the same regiment.

At 10 A. M., on the 7th, I found safety and rest under our own brave old flag within our lines at Gloucester Point. This raid and march around the entire rebel made in less than five days, with a loss of one officer army-a march of nearly two hundred miles-has been and thirty-seven men, having captured and paroled upward of three hundred men.

At the same time, Lieut.-Col. Davis, of the 12th Illinois, was ordered to penetrate to the Fredericksburg railroad, and, if possible, to the Virginia Central, and destroy communications. If he crossed the Virginia Central he was to make for Williamsburg on the peninsula. Leav ing the main body on the South Anna, on Sunday, May 3d, he passed down the bank of that river, burning a bridge, and, dispersing a mounted party of the enemy, struck the railroad at Ashland. Here he cut the telegraph, tore up some rails, and burned the trestlework bridge south of the town. At the same time a train of cars, filled with sick and wounded, arrived, and was captured. The prisoners were paroled, and the locomotives disabled. Twenty wagons, with horses, were destroyed, and several horses taken. Leaving at 6 P. M., a train of eighteen wagons was met and destroyed, and Hanover Station reached at 8 P. M. Here thirty prisoners were cap tured, and the railroad line broken. The depot, storehouses, and stables, filled with government property, were destroyed, also a culvert and trestlework south of the station. Among the property destroyed were more than one hundred wagons, a thousand sacks of flour and corn, and a large quantity of clothing and horse equipments. The command then moved down within seven miles of Richmond, and bivouack

ed until eight o'clock the next morning. It then marched for Williamsburg, but at Tunstall's Station, near White House, encountered a train of cars, filled with infantry and a battery of three guns. This force formed in rifle pits, so that Col. Davis, by a charge, could not penetrate their line: he therefore determined to cross the Pamunkey and Mattapony, and proceed to Gloucester Point. He thus reports the result of his movements:

Our total loss in the expedition has been two commissioned officers and thirty-three enlisted men; we brought with us one hundred mules and seventy-five horses, captured from the enemy. We captured, in the course of our march, a much larger number, which we could not bring in. The amount of property destroyed is estimated at over one million of dollars.

Respectfully submitted,

H. DAVIS, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding. The army of Gen. Hooker, after recrossing, as before stated, moved immediately to its original camp opposite Fredericksburg.

On the 6th, Gen. Hooker issued the following address to his army:

General Orders No. 49.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 6th, 1863. The Major-General Commanding tenders to this army his congratulations on its achievements of the last seven days. If it has not accomplished all that was expected, the reasons are well known to the army. It is sufficient to say, they were of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or re

source.

In withdrawing from the south bank of the Rappahannock before delivering a general battle to our adversaries, the army has given renewed evidence of its confidence in itself, and its fidelity to the principles it represents. On fighting at a disadvantage, we would have been recreant to our trust, to ourselves, our cause, and our country. Profoundly loyal and conscious of its strength, the Army of the Potomac will give or decline battle whenever its interest or honor may demand. It will also be the guardian of its own history and its own arm. By your celerity and secrecy of movement, our advance and passage of the rivers was undisputed, and on our withdrawal not a rebel ventured to follow.

The events of last week may swell with pride the heart of every officer and soldier of this ariny. We have added new lustre to its former renown. We have made long marches, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in his intrenchments, and, wherever we have fought, have inflicted heavier blows than we have received. We have taken from the enemy five thousand prisoners; fifteen colors; captured and brought off seven pieces of artillery; placed hors du combat eighteen thousand of his chosen troops; destroyed his depots filled with vast amounts of stores; deranged his communications; captured prisoners within the fortifications of his capital, and filled his country with fear and consternation. We have no other regret than that caused by the loss of our brave companions, and in this we are consoled by the conviction that they Lave fallen in the holiest cause ever submitted to the arbitrament of battle. By command of

Major-General HOOKER.

General Orders No. 59.

duct displayed by officers and men, during the arduous operations in which they have just been engaged.

Under trying vicissitudes of heat and storm, you attacked the enemy, strongly intrenched in the depths of a tangled wilderness, and again on the hills of Fredericksburg, fifteen miles distant, and, by the valor that has triumphed on so many fields, forced him once more to seek safety beyond the Rappahannock. While this glorious victory entitles you to the praise and gratitude of the nation, we are especially called upon to return our grateful thanks to the only Giver of victory, for the signal deliverance He has wrought.

It is, therefore, earnestly recommended that the troops unite on Sunday next in ascribing to the Lord of Hosts the glory due His name.

Let us not forget, in our rejoicings, the brave soldiers who have fallen in defence of their country; and, while we mourn their loss, let us resolve to emulate their noble example. The army and the country alike lament the absence for a time of one to whose bravery, energy, and skill they are so much indebted for

success.

The following letter from the President of the Confederate States, is communicated to the army as an expression of his appreciation of its success:

I have received your despatch, and reverently unite with you in giving praise to God for the success with which he has crowned our arms.

In the name of the people, I offer my cordial thanks to yourself and the troops under your command, for this addition to the unprecedented series of great victories which your army has achieved.

The universal rejoicing produced by this happy result will be mingled with a general regret for the good and the brave who are numbered among the killed and wounded. R. E. LEE, General.

On the 8th, the following despatch was sent by the Secretary of War to the Governors of the Northern States:

WASHINGTON, May 8th, 1863. The President and General-in-Chief have just returned from the Army of the Potomac. The principal operations of Gen. Hooker failed, but there has been no serious disaster to the organization and efliciency of the army. It is now occupying its former position on the Rappahannock, having recrossed the river without any loss in the movement. Not more than one third of Gen. Hooker's force was engaged. Gen. Stoneman's operations have been a brilliant success. Part of his force advanced to within two miles of Richmond, and the enemy's communications have been cut in every direction. The Army of the Potomac will speedily resume offensive operations.

(Signed) E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. On the same day, the President issued the following proclamation, preliminary to executing the law for obtaining soldiers by enrolment and draft. It would appear that the events on the Rappahannock had hastened the decision to put the law for this object in operation, and the proclamation notified all foreigners who had merely declared an intention to become citizens of the United States, that after sixty-five days they would be liable to draft, if found in the country.

By the President of the United States of America:

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, the Congress of the United States, at its last session, enacted a law, entitled an act for the enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes, which was approved on the 3d day of March last; and whereas, it is recited in said act that there now exists in the West and South an insurrection against the authority thereof, and it is under the Constitution of the United States the duty of the Government to suppress insurrection and rebellion, to

guarantee to each State a republican form of government, and to preserve public tranquillity; and whereas, for these high purposes, a military force is indispensable, to raise and support which all persons ought willingly to contribute; and whereas, no service can be more praiseworthy and honorable than that which is rendered for the maintenance of the Constitution and Union, and consequent preservation of free government; and whereas, for the reasons thus recited, it was enacted by said statute that all able-bodied male citizens of the United States, and persons of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath their intention to become citizens under and in pursuance of the laws thereof, between the ages of 20 and 45 years, with certain exceptions not necessary to be here mentioned, are declared to constitute the national forces, and shall be liable to perform military duty in the service of the United States, when called on by the President for that purpose; and whereas, it is claimed, by and in behalf of persons of foreign birth within the ages specified in said act, who have heretofore declared on oath their intention to become citizens under

partment. If the management of the line will stipufate to transmit no military intelligence without the sanction of the War Department, they need not be interfered with so long as the engagement is fulfilled. This order will be executed so as not to interfere with the ordinary business of the Telegraph Company. By order of the President:

E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Captain Rowello, aide-de-camp, will proceed by the first conveyance to Boston and execute the above order, viz. Take military possession of the Independent Telegraph Company's lines, and forbid any transmis sion of information relating to the movements of the Army of the Potomac or any military forces of the United States. If the principal or owner of the line will stipulate not to violate the condition imposed, without the sanction of the War Department, he will not be interfered with. If, however, he violates the stipulations, he will be severely dealt with. JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.

To E. F. Leighton, Manager Boston Office, Independent Telegraph: Do not fail to send us the news just the same as heretofore; that is, everything that is made public in Boston or New York. No military dietator can prevent a legitimate use of our facilities fr the transmission to any station of intelligence already J. W. STOVER, made public. Manager of Boston and Portland District. The official statement of the killed and

Now, therefore, to avoid all misapprehensions concerning liability of persons concerned to perform the service required by such enactment, and to give it full effect, I do hereby order and proclaim that no plea of alienage will be received or allowed to exempt from obligations imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress any person of foreign birth who shall have declared, on oath, his intention to become a citizen of the United States, under the laws thereof, and who shall be found within the United States at any time during the continuance of the present insurrection and rebellion at or after the expiration of the period of sixty-five days from date of this proclamation; nor shall any such plea of alienage be allowed in favor of any such person who has so as aforesaid declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and shall have exercised at any time the right of suffrage or any other political franchise within the United States under laws of any of the several States. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my seal and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this 8th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1563, and of the independence of the United States the 87th.

(Signed)

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Previously, while the movements of Gen. Hooker were in progress, the following military orders were issued. The object appears to have been to prevent the transmission of premature and unreliable reports to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and by steamer to Europe:

WASHINGTON, MAY 1st, 1863.

To Major-Gen. Wool, commanding at New York. By virtue of the act of Congress authorizing the President to take possession of railroad and telegraph lines, &c., passed February 4th, 1862, the President directs that you take immediate military possession of the telegraph lines lately established between Philadelphia and Boston, called the Independent Telegraph Company, and forbid the transmission of any intelligence relating to the movements of the Army of the Potomac or any military forces of the United States. In case this order is violated, arrest and imprison the perpetrators in Fort Delaware, reporting to this De

lows:

Officers killed..

Enlisted men killed.. Officers wounded.......... Enlisted men wounded.

Total.....

154

1,855

624

8,894

..11,000

Some of the wounded remained on the field of battle at least ten days, as appears by the following, which was made public:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Tuesday, May 12th, 1563. Dr. Luckley, medical director in charge of our wou ded on the field, reports that they are all comfortable, and are about twelve hundred in nuraber. An amba lance train has been sent for them. They are expected to return to camp by to-night.

A flag of truce from Gen. Lee stated that he had exhausted his medicines and hospital stores, and fresh supplies were sent over for the wounded of Gen. Hooker's army. The num ber of prisoners taken was estimated by the enemy at eight thousand. It was an overestimate.

Gen. Halleck, in his annual report, thus speaks of the losses and of these operations:

For want of official data I am unable to give any de tailed account of these operations, or of our losses. It time he was placed in the command of the Army of the is also proper to remark in this place that from the Potomac till he reached Fairfax Station, on the 16th of June, a few days before he was relieved from the command, General Hooker reported directly to the Presi dent, and received instructions directly from him. I received no official information of his plans, or of their execution..

The loss of the enemy in numbers was less than that of Gen. Hooker, but far greater in the importance of the officers. Among their wounded was Gen. Jackson, who subsequently died. Upon hearing that he was wounded, Gen. Lee addressed to him the following letter: