May 11, 1863, The New York Herald
The recent movements of General Hooker’s army are not positively known, but it appears evident that a portion of it has crossed to the south side of the Rappahannock. The General reports that all the wounded are well cared for and have all their wants supplied.
Our army correspondents furnish an accurate and most interesting account of the expedition of Stoneman’s cavalry. The general result is already known, and may be summed up in a few words: – After remaining ten days within the enemy’s lines, destroying all the railroads and bridges between Richmond and Fredericksburg, capturing more than a thousand horses, destroying millions of dollars in public stores and inflicting incalculable injury upon the rebels, they have come safely through to report their success.
It was stated in Washington yesterday that as soon as the information was received at Richmond of the advance of General Hooker’s army the defences were stripped of every available man to reinforce General Lee, and on Monday last, when the gallant dash of Stoneman’s expedition was made to the very walls of the city, the places of these troops had not yet been supplied; but that Longstreet’s corps and other forces stationed at points south of the rebel capital were then on the march to occupy the deserted defences.
The activity of our army on the York river will be seen by our correspondent from West Point, Va., and our despatches from Fortress Monroe. All the bridges in the vicinity of White House were destroyed. West Point is now occupied by our troops, General Dix having returned to the fortress, reported, as we before stated, that Colonels Fitzpatrick and Davis had reached Gloucester Point with 700 cavalry without losing a man.
It was rumored yesterday that General Buford’s light cavalry had gone as far as the Alleghany Ridge, in Western Virginia, and cut the Richmond and Tennessee Railroad in several places, destroying at the same time large quantities of rebel stores intended for the Army of the Southwest. A reconnoissance of Gen. Pleasanton’s force to Chancellorsville resulted in finding none of the enemy there except a few stragglers.
It is stated by private despatches received in Richmond that Gen. Stonewall Jackson’s left arm as been amputated in consequence of his late wound.
Another rebel raid is threatened in Western Virginia, this time probably on Clarksburg – the attempt on Fairmont and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad having proved a failure. On Friday night they destroyed the railroad bridge at West Union, on the branch line from Parkersburg to Grafton, and commenced moving in the direction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Weston and Buchhannon.
The success of our cavalry raid to Tuscumbia, Ala., seems undoubted, although it is reported from rebel sources that Colonel Straight and his command were captured at Rome, Georgia, but not before he inflicted terrible damage upon the enemy throughout the country into which he advanced. It is said that he was so closely surrounded that his surrender to General Forrest became a necessity. These reports, however, come from the Chattanooga Rebel. We give a map today of the theatre of our Western cavalry raids.
From the Southwest, we also learn, by way of Cairo, that General Grant was within twenty miles of Jackson at last reports, and was advancing with several days rations supplied to his men. The bridge over the Big Black Bayou was destroyed, cutting off the retreat of the rebels from Vicksburg should they be forced to such an emergency.
Our correspondence from the Mississippi gives very full details of the late bombardments at Grand Gulf and Haines’ Bluff, respectively conducted by Admiral Porter and General Sherman, the results of which we have before announced.
By the arrival of the United States transport Dudley Buck from Newbern yesterday, we have North Carolina news to the 5th inst. General Foster was still there, but the enemy was not visible in that vicinity or near Washington.