May 7, 1863, The New York Herald
The intelligence from General Hooker’s army brings us to the sanguinary conflict in Virginia up to Tuesday morning, at which time affairs looked more favorable for our forces than at any previous time since the movement commenced. On Monday the rebels in large force pressed hotly on General Sedgwick, who then occupied the heights of Fredericksburg. After a severe contest – in which he inflicted terrible slaughter upon the enemy – he withdrew his corps across the river, and moved on to assist General Hooker about two o’clock on Tuesday morning. In conducting this movement he was exposed to a raking fire from the rebel batteries and the attacks of the enemy on his rear, causing considerable loss of life. The movement, however, was made in good order across the pontoon bridges, and may be regarded as a success under the circumstances, and will, no doubt, greatly strengthen General Hooker’s position.
The action of Gen. Stoneman with his splendid cavalry force is not yet satisfactorily accounted for, although all the indications show the probability of his having succeeded in his principal object – as time may prove – notwithstanding that Longstreet got up to Lee’s aid with his reinforcements from Suffolk. To counterbalance this additional increase of the rebel forces, however, we have the fact that thirty thousand Union troops, under Gen. Heintzelman, is hastening from Washington to support Gen. Hooker. Thus the contending armies present an enormous opposing force, and the contest must prove of a terrific and sanguinary character.
Our army correspondents furnish another brilliant chapter today in the history of this grand conflict, describing in detail the battles from Friday to Tuesday morning; and to their graphic stories we refer our readers. We also publish today four maps of the scene of action, showing the position of our forces on Friday; the battle field of Saturday, with the disposition of the Union lines during the day; the battle ground of Sunday, and a comprehensive map comprising the theatre of the entire conflict as it raged on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
We also give today a full list of casualties as far as they have been ascertained to this date. Our loss in field officers was very considerable. The rebel Generals Stonewall Jackson, Hill and Ransom were wounded.
Despatches from Cairo yesterday bring one day’s later news from Vicksburg. The attack of the gunboats on Haines’ Bluff was repulsed, and were returning to Young’s Point. It is said that the Choctaw was much damaged, her turrets being penetrated with a sixty-four pound shot. Our loss was eighty killed and wounded. The Era was struck seventeen times by guerilla batteries on her way up the river, but got through. The Duke of Argyle with her twelve pound gun, however, drove the guerillas from their lurking place.
It would appear that the government intend to commence the enforcement of the Conscription act at once, from the fact that they publish today – as will be seen in another column – the full lost of provost marshals, as far as at present appointed, for the different districts.