Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-05-09
PUBLISHED (DA1LY) BY
EDGAR SNOW DEN, JR.
ess~ s~OFFICE-No. 104 King street, over
ona's. formerly French's) Book Store.
TIE MILITARY SITUATION.

:
the subject of general comment at the North,
sn1 Cen. HooFer is much censured in some
quarters, and warmly defended in others. The
National Inteligencer says
We must reserve further observations on the
recent abortive campaign until We are in pos
session Of facts as yet but imperfectly known
20 us or to the country There is one point es-
. pcciav respecting which we await definite in-
. formation as q preliminary condition necessary
20 afford the elements Of fair criticism uoon
\ Gen. Hookers conduct in orderinga retreat.
We are not yet authentically informed that
Cen Hooker was apprlzed of the brilliant
. success which had attended Gen Stoneman's
cooperative expedition in the cutting Of Gen.
Lees communication with Richmond. If Gen.
Hooker was apprized Of this fact, it will be ad-
. mitted by all that nothing but the most imper-
alive and obvious of prudential motives could
nave justified him in depriving the army and
. the country OF the advantages that must have
resulted from Gen. Stoneman S success, could it
have been followed up by an equally vigorous
and successful advance of the army We shall
look with lmpatience to Gen Hookers report
On this subject, and in the meantime we would
lnyoke in his favor suspension Of public
Judgment.
According to present appearances there are
certainly some things which call for explana-
ton, among which we may designate his dvi-
sion Of the forces under his command, and the
failure on his part to make any demonstration
against the enemy in aid Of the movement of
Gen. Sedgwick, when the latter had been or
dered to effect a junction with the main body
of the army at Charlottesville; and to do this
by route where he would necessarily come in
conflict with the enemy The inaction of Gen.
Hooker throughout the entire day of Monday
last enabled the enemy to mass his troops
70 inaict on the latter a reverse equally deplo-
rable in itself and it's consequences. The New
York Evening Post undoubtedly gives express
when it signalizes the following as defects in
Gen. Hooker's plans. In commenting on his
retreat it says:
There were two patent and unaccountable
errors of plan, which abated our hopes, and
indeed inspired us with strong feeling of ap-
prehenson and doubt.
These were, in the first place, the singular
disposition made of the forces under Sedgwick,
sent across the river to attack the heights be-
yond fredericksburg. We can understand
Why a grand show of crossing should be made
there, to bewilder the enemy; We can under
stand why considerable force should be kept
there to watch the fords; but why large body
OF troops should be thrown between a river
and four or FIVE times their number, for the
purpose Of taking batteries Of no use to US
when taken, we cannot understand. 1t was
not only dispensing with the services of twenty
thousand men when they were about to be
most needed, but it exposed them at any mo-
Ment ~; to the attack OF overwhelming numbers.
WY Sedgwick' entire divisions were not des-
,Iyyedl uoyyed is a matter of wonder; and his escape,
St WIN the loss of only five or six thousand men,
staer shows the weakness of the rebels, or
1;s Iust be regarded as miraculous interposi-