Charles City Republican Intelligencer

THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.

Three Days of Hard Fighting near Chancellorsville.

Mead's Forces Drive Lee Back and one-half Miles, with Great Slaughter.

The Grand Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan on Wednesday. The 2d Corps moved on Tuesday to the mills opposite Ely's Ford. On Wednesday morning at 4 o'clock, the cavalry crossed and drove the rebel pickets from the opposite heights, meeting no opposition. A position was gained, and the Corps moved on at 7 o'clock, taking the road to Chancellorsville, at which place Gen. Hancock would establish his headquarters. Here feelers were sent out to ascertain the enemy's position. It was discovered that the whole of Lee's army was in Gen. Meade's immediate front. Two severe engagements ensued, in which there was considerable damage on both sides. Developments showed Lee to have his whole force in our front. This knowledge of their position was of course highly important, and was thus obtained only by the greatest skill in handling our troops. It not being the purpose of General Meade to advance on the enemy, he ordered a line of battle to be held till morning.

The Washington Republican of May 7th says:

The Government has information this morning that, on Wednesday, at daylight, Grant's whole army was entirely across the Rapidan. It marched to a plain a little beyond and near the old Chancellorsville battle ground, when Lee was forced out of his works and offered battle, which was at once accepted. The fight became fierce, and lasted until dark, the enemy being forced back some distance with great loss, leaving most of his killed and wounded in our hands. The two armies lay on their arms all night Wednesday. At daylight on Thursday the battle opened again, and raged with the greatest fury on both sides until dark, when it was found that the enemy had been forced back, in the two days' fight, about two miles and a half, leaving heaps of dying, killed and wounded on the field. Various estimates are made of the number slaughtered, but at this moment it is useless to speculate on this subject. On Friday morning at 5 o'clock, the forces were marshaling for another conflict, Grant was moving on Lee's works.

Up to this time Burnside's troops, numbering 30,000 men, had taken no part in the battle; but at 5 o'clock he was marching into position to engage in the bloody contest of the third day's battle. The result of this day's battle we have no report of up to going to press. The battle commenced at 6 o'clock in the morning. Unless Lee received reinforcements equal to Burnside's Corps, the battle of Friday must have proved terribly disastrous to him. The fact that he received none, during yesterday's fighting, leads to the belief that Lee is endeavoring to get away to Richmond, and that Grant is in pursuit. It is evident that the rebel forces about Richmond cannot be spared to reinforce Lee, as they have discovered that they have enough to attend to there, probably from attacks upon the city by Gen. Butler's forces. The Government has unofficial advices that after a three days' fight, Lee's lines were driven in two miles, and that Grant was in pursuit. Gen. Butler was marching on Richmond in two columns. The report is that Lee left all his dead and wounded on the field. Many believe that it will be found that General Grant has flanked Lee, and is between his army and the works of Richmond.

LATER, BY WEDNESDAY'S MAIL.

On Saturday at three o'clock Lee was in full retreat through Spottsylvania, and when the messenger left Hancock was entering that place in pursuit. Gen. Wadsworth was killed by a ball in the forehead while leading his troops against one of the enemy's strongest positions. Gen. Webb was wounded. Longstreet is badly wounded. The condition of our army is represented as admirable. We have taken a large number of prisoners—more than we have lost. The War Department has just received from Gen. Butler the official report of Gen. Lee, who reports that the rebel Gens. Jenkins and Jones were killed, and Gen. Pegram badly wounded on Thursday. Butler is reported within 10 miles of Richmond. The belief at Washington is that Grant is achieving a complete victory. Lee was forced to fight at Spottsylvania on Sunday, and was again repulsed and compelled to retreat. A report from rebel sources says Lee has been wounded. Dispatches show that Butler is still holding the line of railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, preventing Beauregard from reinforcing Lee. He had a severe battle with Beauregard, whipped him, and succeeded in destroying the southern railroad.