February 28, 1863, The New York Herald
The particulars of the rebel cavalry raid across the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, which we announced yesterday, have been received, and it appears that it was a force of Stuart’s famous corps, commanded by himself, which made the attempt, in which they were completely defeated and driven back over the river, barely in time to save themselves, as the waters began to rise at that moment. However, about fifty of General Stuart’s men, including two officers, were taken prisoners. It is presumed that it was the determination of General Stuart to make his way to Potomac creek and destroy the railroad bridge over which the supplies of our army are now conveyed. The enemy, after crossing at Kelly’s Ford, succeeded, by a strong attack, in breaking our thin line of cavalry outposts at one or two points, capturing a small number of our men. Our cavalry outposts reserves were brought up, the lines immediately re-established and a force sent in pursuit. At last accounts they had not returned.
Rumors were rife in Washington yesterday that General Hunter was about to be relieved from the command of the Department of the South, and General Burnside’s name was spoken of in connection with the succession. It was also said that certain parties were preparing charges against General McClellan with a view to a court martial. These reports were extensively talked of in the streets and places of public resort.
The news from Kentucky confirms the intelligence which we published yesterday that the rebel retreating force near Mount Sterling were severely handled by our troops. Two hundred prisoners were taken, and all the captured wagons were recovered which the rebels had seized in their bold attack upon our trains.
Reports from Lake Providence, via Cairo, state that the canal across the peninsula is almost completed, the work having reached from the lake to within a few rods of the river. The canal is one hundred and fifty feet wide, and is dug down to within one foot of the level of the lake.
It is said that General Van Dorn has crossed the Tennessee river at Florence with 8,000 cavalry to reinforce General Bragg. The expedition from Corinth, under Colonel Corwan, is reported to have captured two hundred rebels, under General Rodley, at Tuscumbia, on the 22d inst., with a large amount of ammunition and a provision train.
Our news from the South today is not very important. The Richmond Enquirer of the 24th, which has been received, contains nothing relative to the news from Vicksburg, but it furnishes some additional news of the capture of the Queen of the West, the principal facts concerning which we have published before.