June 11, 1863, The New York Herald
We give today very full details of the brilliant and successful cavalry fight on the Rappahannock, near Beverly Ford, on Tuesday morning – the results of which we before published – and which put a sudden check upon the enemy intention to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania with a powerful force of Stuart’s famous cavalry. General Buford, of General Pleasanton’s corps, commanded our troops, together with General Gregg and Colonel B.F. Davis. They crossed the ford ten thousand strong at daylight, and cleared the woods of the enemy after a desperate hand to hand contest. The fight lasted till twelve o’clock, noon, when our artillery opened on the rebels and drove them back six miles towards Culpepper Court House. Our loss is stated to be considerable, including Colonel Davis, of the Eighth New York cavalry, who is reported killed. That of the enemy is said to be fearful. It was undoubtedly a desperate and bloody combat; but it succeeded in thwarting the plans of General Lee to get into the rear of the army of the Rappahannock, and lay waste the fertile counties of Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Stuart and Colonel Fitzhugh Lee commanded the enemy. We give a pretty full list of our killed and wounded in another column.
The position of affairs at Fredericksburg remains unchanged. The enemy opened their batteries on Tuesday upon our camps for a few minutes with shell, but did no material damage. Some mysterious movements on the part of both armies are evidently going on, and important developments may be expected at any moment.
Despatches from Vicksburg, by way of Cincinnati yesterday, represent the condition of affairs there as still favorable, and the expectation of the army that Vicksburg must fall was confident. The total loss of our forces since crossing the river is said to amount to 7000 at the utmost.
Our news from other parts of the West is not very exciting. Everything is quiet at Murfreesboro, Tenn. No indications of new movements are telegraphed from there. At Monticello General Carter’s forces, who have been guarding the north bank of the Cumberland river, crossed over on Tuesday and drove the rebel General Pegram’s troops out of the place, and at last accounts were pursuing them and capturing prisoners and horses.
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Fox, reports somewhat favorably of the action of our blockading squadron. He states that up to the 1st of June they captured 855 rebel vessels, which shows that the Department has not been asleep all the time. The British steamer Africa, which arrived at Halifax on Tuesday, reports that the Alabama had destroyed during the month of April, south of the equator, four United States vessels, the Dorcas Prince, Sea Lark, Union Jack and Nye, with valuable cargoes.
The transport Cahawba, which arrived here yesterday from New Orleans and Fortress Monroe, with the Sixth New York Volunteers, brought quite a large number of rebel prisoners.
News from Port Royal of the 3d inst. states that the Second South Carolina regiment (negroes), under Colonel Montgomery, had defeated the rebels at Pocotalico, and were holding the railroad bridge between Savannah and Charleston. The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored regiment), was to be sent to reinforce Colonel Montgomery.
Admiral Farragut, at his own request, is now to be relieved of his command on the Mississippi, and is to be succeeded by Admiral Dahlgren.
General Fremont writes a long letter to the Secretary of War going to prove that General Butler does not rank him, as the latter was appointed major general on the 16th of May, 1861, while General McClellan and General Fremont were appointed on the 14th of the same month.