The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-15
CHARDoN, GEAUGA COUNTY. OHIO. FRIDAY MAY 49, 1863.
Hooker's Great Battles. The Prelimi.
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Deferring 10 our next Issue the details Of
the great battles Of Saturday and Sunday
last, we give below brief review OF the
preliminary operation, 10 enable our read
ers 10 gain correct idea OF the whole
feld ard plan. We gain much Of this
from the very full cores |
pondence Of the New York Times. On
Monday morning, April 9Th, the army
was put IN motion. Columns Of troops
were being moved in every direction, but
concealed from. the enemy by ridges,
woods, DO. The army was 10 splendid
condition, larger, healthier and more en-.
thusiastic than ever before, even under Nc
Clelan. The great requisites of active
ard successful warfare, Iapidity OF mo.
ton and secresy, had been carefully
studied by the master mind OF Hooker
Pack mules had been substituted for cum.
brous wagons, only two Of the latter be-
ing allowed to a regiment. For the first
time complete secrecy had been observed;
nobody but Hooker himself knew what he
was going TO do.
On Tuesday, three corps,-Reynolds',
SedgwIck's and Sickles' were moved
down the Rsppahaunoek, to the place
where Franklin crossed at the time Of
Burnside's attack. At the same time,
Meade's and Slocum's corps moved up
the river, Whether the main movement
would be by the former or latter, re.
mAined 10 be seen. Pontoons were laid a
couple Of miles below Fredericksburg and
division crossed over. Another division
was crossed still further down. This left
four divisions on the north side. These
were not idle. They were put in motion
upon the slopes OF the hills which were
plainly visible TO the enemy, as if they
were vending their way 10 the crossing.
Instead o! this, however, they were qui.
eLy drawn back through gully 10 the
rear Of the ridge, where they would agsin
come into view upon the crest. They
thus made the appearance TO the enemy
of being at least one hundred thousand
strong, as II Hooker was msssing his army
for crossing at this point. The effect
upon the enemy was just what was in
'ended, for they hurried their available
forces down below fredericksburg TO pre-
vent crossing.
Meanwhile above Falmouth, oa the
night OF Tuesday, Howard's, Slocum's
and Meade's corps crossed the Rsppshan
mock and pushed on across the Rapidar
on Wednesday, which was accomplished
by wading, although the water was up tc
the mems shoulders, and the current swift
The troops wers pushed on to Chancellors
vile, ten miles southwest OF Fredericks
burg. The line of rebel defenses upor
the ridge in the rear Of Fredericksburg
was thus completely fankcd. 1t was il
view OF this achievement that Hooker sat
in his order that Lee must flee or come
out of his deienses 10 fight. The resul
has proved that he was right. On Thurs
day night four corps.-tIoward's, Slo
GUMS. Meade's and Couch's were massed
at Charlottesville, and Hooker had es
tablished his headquarters there.
This is wha! had now been accom-
plished: "To have marched colum
l'of $4,000 men, laden with 60 pounds c
baggage, together with artillery an
trains, thirty-six miles IN two days, I
have bridged and crossed two stream
along line which a valiant enemy under
takes TO observe and defend, with a los
Of perhaps half dozen men, one wasol
and two mules, is an achievement whicl
} assuredly has had few parallels"
Lees losses at this time were estimated
, at from 10000 TO 100000. He fel boil
enough to come out and give battle Of
, Friday, but was ropulsed, as has beel
described in these columns. He met will
similar receptions upon Saturday ant
Sunday, while upon Monday he was ter
: ribly beaten. With this sketch Of the pre-
liminaries The readers will understand th
details Clevs. Leader.