Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863-1.55 A. M. Major-General Butterfield: Direct all of the bridges to be taken up at Franklin's Crossing and below before daylight, and for Reynolds's (First) Corps to march at once, with pack train, to report to headquarters. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General Commanding. May 2, 1863-7.45 a. M. General Butterfield: Heavy cannonading has just commenced in a westerly direction about twelve miles. T. S. C. Lowe, Aeronaut. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 2, 1863-10.10 P. M. Major-General Sedgwick: The Major-General commanding directs that you cross the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg on receipt of this order, and at once take up your line of march on the Chancellorsville road until you connect with him. You will attack and destroy any force you may fall in with on the road, and march to be in the vicinity of the General at daylight. You will probably fall upon the rear of the forces commanded by General Lee, and be tween you and the Major-General commanding he expects to use him up. DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 2, 1863. General Sedgwick: I send a contraband who knows the Plank road leading to Chancellorsville. Push on without delay. I have ordered Gibbon over the river to-night, and to avoid interference with your column, will have the Pontoon bridge laid at the Lacy house for him. Look out that your troops do not come in contact with his. DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 2, 1863-10.20 A. M. Brigadier-General Gibbon: I have hardly time to post you fully in regard to the condition of affairs. As matters stand now, General Hooker is at Chancellorsville with the Third, Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth, with two divisions of the Second Corps. Reynolds is en route there from the lower crossing. Sedgwick will be at the lower crossing alone after Reynolds is gone. Twenty-eight or thirty pieces of the Reserve Artillery are at Banks' Ford, with one of your regiments and some engineers. Two bridges ready to be thrown across whenever the ford is uncovered. Stoneman's cavalry is supposed to be in the enemy's rear, on the line of his railroad. Sedgwick has one division of the enemy in front of him, and the balance are in front of General Hooker. Very respectfully, DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, Camp near Falmouth, Va., Brigadier-General Gibbon: Your command must cross the river to Fredericksburg to-night. Pontoon bridge now at the Lacy house. Get under way soon. General Sedgwick is ordered to move through Fredericksburg toward Chancellorsville. Look out you do not come in contact with him. You must see to the laying of the bridges. DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, United States Ford, May 3, 1863. General Butterfield, Headquarters, Camp Falmouth: A most terrible, bloody conflict has raged since daylight. Enemy in great force in our front and on the right, but at this moment we are repulsing him on all sides. Carnage is fearful. General Hooker is safe so far. Berry is killed. I return to the front, but will keep you advised when in my power. RUFUS INGALLS, Chief Quartermaster. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States: Though not directed or specially authorized to do so by General Hooker, I think it not improper that I should advise you that a battle is in progress. DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, General Butterfield: I think we have had the most terrible battle ever witnessed on earth. I think our victory will be certain, but the General told me he would say nothing just yet to Washington, except that he is doing well. In an hour or two the matter will be a fixed fact. I believe the enemy is in flight now, but we are not sure. RUFUS INGALLS, Chief Quartermaster. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863-1.30 P. M. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States: From all reports yet collected the battle has been most fierce and terrible. Loss heavy on both sides. General Hooker slightly but not severely wounded. He has preferred thus far that nothing should be reported and does not know of this, but I cannot refrain from saying this much to you. You may expect his dispatch in a few hours, which will give the result. DAN'L BUTTERFIELD, Washington, D. C., May 3, 1863-4.35 P. M. Major-General Butterfield: Where is Hooker? Where is Sedgwick? Where is Stoneman? A. LINCOLN. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1863-4.40 P. M. His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President, etc.: General Hooker is at Chancellorsville. General Sedgwick, with fifteen thousand to twenty thousand men, at a point three or four miles out from Fredericksburg, on the road to Chancellorsville. Lee is between. |