Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-05-08
THE BATTLES ON TIE RAP
PAHANNOCK.

Two general actions have been fought at
Charlottesville. In the first there was II par
tial disaster ut the start that enabled the enemy
to gain some ground, but his effort to break the
lines OF Gen Hooker was finally repulscd. In the
second the enemy again drove our forces at some
points, but were again beaten OIL. The result
Of the two days fighting was that Gen. Hooker
reconstructed and narrowed his lines without
changing their profile, md awnited the atinck
which Lee was expected to deliver. on Monday
morning.
If we had absolutely Trustworthy intelligence
of Gen. Stoneman's success, We should regard
the issue of the first two battles as wholly in
Gen. IIoOkei's favor. 1t depends on Gen. Stone
inan whether Lee received re endorsements and
supplies, If he does not, his fate is sealed, I'm
less he can drive Gen. Hooker into or over the
Rappahannock. If the railroad remains omen
to him, troops may arrive from Richmond from
near Suffolk, from North Carolina, and even
front Charleston, in sufficient numbers to over
whelm our forces, aud by the same route sup
plies enough may be brought TO enable Lee to
prOtact the contest 1t cannot be doubted that
the severance of the railroad is essential to Gen.
Hookers complete SUCCESS, and it may be even
to the maintenance of his present position, Now,
there Hre numerous positive statements that
StOueman's expedition has accomplished its oh
ject, but we are not yet able to say positively
should they prove SO, we regard the whole news
as favorable, and tho prospects Of success all
that could be desired
Bat we are far from saying that tho battles
which have already occurred are equal to our
expectations. IL is evident that the first battle,
ON Saturday. ought TO have been won by Gen.
Hooker and that he woull havo won it but for
the cowardy Aight Of the llth Corps at the
opening of the conflict The position was this
When Gen. Lee found himself fanked, he at
once undertook to repeat the same strategy
against Gen. Hooker. Jackson marched straight
past Hoolier's 'front.' concentrated on his right,
and hurled his whole division against that part
of the line. The movement was not effected
without llOOker's knowledge, but was met with
marvellous promptness while il was executing
by the advance Of Sickles corps on Jackson's
flank, and at the moment of the Rebel attack
jackson was himself assailed by Sickles. If the
1llh Corps had then held its ground, the defeat
and destruction of Jackson would have been in
evitable, but when they fled it became necessary
to recall Sickles, the whole vancouver was foiled,
and Hooker's efforts were demanded to save his
imperlled position from being pierced and his
army divided. With what splendid courage and
GOODNESS and capacity he met the eHigency the
details of the battle show and they also show
that the first days battle would have been the
last, but for the unaccountable flight Of this dis
honored corps. Gen. Howard, who commanded
il is brave aud skilful General, but neither
his efforts nor those Of Gen. Dsvens and Gen.
Schurz could arrest the panic.
The battle on Sunday was repulse to the
Rebels, although they gained ground, and il is
to be constantly borne in mind that nothing less
than complete success can save them from ami
hilation. Hooker is apparently stronger for de-
Tense than he was on Saturday morning. His
lines are shorter, and of course more easily de-
feasible by massing troops on the points Of
5everest attack. IL is not possible to believe
they can be broken by any force which Lee, I'M
reinforced, can launch against them. The
Rebel attack ceased at noon on Sunday, and
ceased after Hooker had for the second time re-
tired from the line he had occupied
That Hooker has taken six thousand prisoners
among them Major Gen. Evans and Brig. Gen
Fitzhugb Lee, is alone evidence how successfully
he has fought, and that the retirement from hi
first and second lines has resulted in no harm
and dimiAishes no probability of victory.