New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-06
CHANCELLORsvILLR.

Two general actions have been fought at
Charlottesville. In the first there was a par
tal disaster ut the start that enabled the enemy
to gain some ground, but his effort to break the
lines of Gen. Hooker was finally repulsed. In the
second the enemy again drove our forces at some
points, but were again beaten of. The result
of the two days fighting was that Gen.
Hooker reconstructed aud narrowed his lines
without changing their profile, and awaited
the attack which Lee was expected to deliver
on Monday morning. Our letters announce
the opening Of the third contest at daylight on
Monday, but we are without news Of its ter
mination.
If we had absolutely Trustworthy intelligence
of Gen. St0neman't success, We should regard
the issue of the first two battles ss wholly in
Gen. Hooker's favor. Ii depends on Gen.
Stoneman whether Lee receives reenfOrcements
and supplies. II he does not, bis fate is sealed,
unless he can drive Gen. Hooker into or
over the Rappahannock. If tie rail-
road remains open to him, troops may arrive
from Richmond, from near Suffolk, from North
Carolina, and even from Charleston, in sufi-
cent numbers to oyerwbelm our forces, and
BY the same route supplies enough may be
brought to enable Lee to protract the contest
| 1t cannot be doubted that the seyerence
Of the railroad ia essential 10 Gen. Hook
er's complete success, and II may be
even to the maintenance Of his present position.
Now, there are numerous positive statements
that Stoneman's expedition has accomplished
its object but we are not yet able to say pos
itively that they are true. We trust they are,
and should they prove So We regard the whole
news as favorable, and the prospects OF sue.
cess all that could be desired.
But We are far from saying that the battle,
which have already occurred are equal to our
expectations. 1t is evident that the first battle,
on Saturday, ought to have been won by Gen.
Hooker, and that he would have won it but
for the cowardy fight Of the 18th Corps a,
the opening Of the conflict. The position was
this:
When Gen. Lee found himself fapked,
strategy against Gen. Hooker. jackson
marched straight past Hookers front,
concentrated on his right, and hurled his
whole division against that part of the line.
The movement was not effected without
Hooker's knowledge, but was met with mar.
vellous promptness while it was executing by
the advance Of Sickless corps on Jackson''
flank. and at the moment of the Rebel attack
jackson was himself assailed BY Sickles. II
the 18th Corps had then held it,
ground, the defeat and destruction Of
jackson would have been inevitable, but
when they fed it became necessary to recall
SlckIes, the whole maneuver was foiled, and
lockers efforts were demanded to save his
imperiled position from being pierced and his
army divided. With what splendid courage
and GOODNESS and capacity he met the e1iseucy
our letters show; and they also show that the
first days battle would have been the
last but for the unaccountabls fight Of
this dishonored corps. Gen. Howard. who
commanded 10 il o bravo and skillful General
but neither bis efforts nor those of Gen. Dow.
ems and Gen. Schurz could arrest tho pauic.