The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-05-14
THE rLryENru CORPS.


The unaccountable and inexcusable
conduct of large portion of this corps,
was the means of turning to ashes a
grand victory almost within our grasp,
while the position was only retrieved
by the superb gsneralship of the Com
manding General A portion of the
troops, the brigades of Coils. Bushbeck
and Mclean, stood their ground man.
fully until oyerpowered by superior
numbers. Gen. Barlow's brigade was
absent with Gen. SickIes.
The manner in which Gen. Hooker
proposed to checkmate the rear attack
of Jackson strikingly illustrates the
bold and daring character of our COM
mander. Finding that Jackson was
marching by the old Catharpin road
past our right front, Gen. Hooker
promptly ordered Gen. Sickles to at
tack that impudent column on the flank.
This was not more quickly conceived
than vigorously executed. In one
hour and half from the time the
movement began the head of Gen. Biz
ney's division was engaging the enemy,
and our. force and vigorous attack
were 90 great that the enemy's left
flank was speedily turned, his columns
doubled back. one upon the other, and
his men seized with Generalization and
panic. Williams division ably assis-
ted the dashing movement, while Gen.
Geary attacked sharply on our centre
front, and the prospects were cheering
indeed. The 18th Corps was strongly
intrenched. Its position ought to have
been held, and somebody is to blame
for this disgraceful affair which smote
us so sorely, just as we were about to
reap rich fruits from the boldest move
yet projected since we crossed the
river. And to remedy the effect of
this disaster, we have spent this day in
fighting, which only puts us in our for
mer condition, and the enemy once
more in our front. Albeit we have in
hicted on Lee murderous loss, and so
shattered his columns that he must
have time and reinforcsments to enable
him to fight again as savagely as he
fought to-day. Besides, his position is
now such that he must inevitably at
tack oursstrong position, or retreat
Retreat in his case, with our swift
marching army after him, is most sure
ly disastrous. He may precipitate his
whole force upon Sedgwick, who can
retire to the Heights of Fredericksburg,
and wait for Hooker to follow up in his
rear. Two or three times Gen. Hook
er has said that he would compel the
rebels to come out of their Notifications
and attack him on his own ground. 1t
is brilliant gensralship, indeed, that
has so faithfully fulfilled this promise.
TO day, the enemy literally leaves his
Notifications, and stands before oar in
trenched camp, essaying its capture.
The question of supplies must now
be of great moment to the enemy
His communication by rail, if not total
ly severed by our cavalry, must be
seriously interrupted by the presence
of our forces in the vicinity of Hamil-
tons Crossing, five miles below Fred
ericksburgh, which has been the rebel
supply depot during the winter. The
prisoners taken to-day had nothing to
eat, and some of them say no rations
had been issued to them for three
days.
SPIRIT OF OUR TROOPS.
Our men never behaved more mag
ni6cently. Cool, confident and brave,
they fought with splendid yalor, and
were even complimented by the pris-
oners who fell into our hands, The
Decentralization of the 18th Corps did
not affect the rest of the army in the
least. Some how or other they looked
upon it as matter of course. Gen.
Hooker's appearance on the field,
under severe fire, created tumultuous
enthusiasm among the men, aud he
was. cheered to the echo time and
again. When it became known tina,
he had been struck by a piece of spen,
shell, (although uninjured) the cheers
grew louder still.