The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-05-20

The Late Battles
We take from the correspondence Of the \.
Y Times the following additional particulars
concerning the late battles on the Rappahaa-
mock:
GIN. HOOKER's PLANS.
That Gen. Rockers plans for successful is.
sue of the past conflict should have failed is no
fault of MS When he sought the IT bells he bad
no intention Of lighting nearly the entire army
of the ConiedeTates. DE dep nded. a. all com
manders must depend i1padvancing on al enc
NV. on a hearty cooperation in the attack.
am sorry TO say, TO nv mind's eve. az least.
there were several General officers whose loco
motion on The h-ld indicate anything bat a
des r. o be Jealous aud energetic IN their a.
sistance TO the General-il Chief. This, though.
was the least Of Hookers difficulties. Stone
man was to have cut off all communication in
the rear Of Lees army by last Friday, week
ago aud thus prevent any reintOrcements reach
ing the vicinity Of Fredericksburgh Stone
man failed 10 accomplish the task at the time
agreed upon. nor had any tidings reached Gen.
Hooker Of his Whereabouts until be (Hooker)
had recrOssed the Rappahannock. and back TO
his old headquarters then be received word
from Stoleman. This was on last Wednesday,
and too late TO be Of any present practical ser
vice
1t was supposed that Gen. Dix. with his
troops near suffolk and Gen. KEYS near York
town, would press the enemy fronting them,
should they ascertain their intention 10 rein
force Lee; but instead of doing this Long
street with biz great force withdrew from Dix 5
front and, with two brigades that were on the
Peninsula Joined Lees main army before our
cavalry made their appearance. Troops also
came from Tennessee. what number il is i'm
possible to say The rebel Generals in North
Carolina also added part of their forces From
| Lynchburgh and the estern parts of Virgin
/ ia, Lee secured fresh additions, which came by
the way of GOrdOnsville After Sedgwick had
been defeated aud forced to cross at Banks
Ford by the superior forces Of the enemy il
became evident that we must withdraw before
the fresh troops Of the rebels concentrated on
one Of our fanks.-as they seemed evidently
dong-had we remained al Charlottesville
That could have held our position behind
| our breastwOrks, near Charlottesville is be-
| y0nd question; but tanks accessible to our en-
envy three miles in length with river in our
rear. needed or alter force than we possessed
These are few of the reasons why Hooker
withdrew his army. To fight longer in the face
OF such fearful odds against US, would have
been a wanton sacrifice OF life. The running
away Of the Eleventh. corps, just at the mo
meut Gen. Sickles had succeeded in dividing
the rebel army. which lost Us all the ground
wh'cb up to this catastrophe we had gained
! was. also. another r asOn for abandoning Chan
cellorsville.
No doubt the Copperhead press will malign
The great. glorious and gallant Hooker shame
fully for his retrOgIade movement, and com
mence a clamor Tor Mcclellan to be reinsta-
ted. They little know the feeling in this army
have not heard the voice Of a soldier raised
against Hooker. There may be some who are
willing 10 find fault. but they remain silent, but
| have heard the most enthusiastic shouts and
cheers rend the air. when the hero made bis
appearance among the men. and the ejacula
ton Of " God bless him" from almost every
tongue
Ii commenced raining on Monday evening
and continued, with scarcely any ntermisson
until Wednesday. The rain fell in torrents
making locomotion difficult. Late on Tuesday
night the orders were sent from Rockers head
quarters, to the different corps commanders, tC
have their men in readiness TO march 10 the
Ford and recross the Rappahannock. Directly
were these orders sent TO the division comman
| ders, and as quickly transmitted to the brigade
| and regimental officers. few knew, excep
ting the commanding officers where we were
going. At the time arranged the troops were il
motion. and on the way down to the ford
The artillery had preceded them. By some
singular mistake, our pickets-at least the main
| part-were Withdrawn an hour and half be-
fore the rear guard of our forces were on the
road. This Circumstance showed us plainly
the enemy were TOO much disheartened aud de
moralized to harrass our rear. No attack wa
made upon our returning columns BY the r. b
els ; nor did they evinca the slightest DISPOSE
ton to attack.
Through the mud sush and woody road oul
men marched. with hearts as light as feather
prepared at any moment to turn their front Il
the enemy, should be 80 desire.
The pontoon bridges at the ford were par
TALLY washed away. owing TO the heavy rise o.
the river on Thursday night. but were SCOT
repaired by splicing in half boats to ill tb,
gaps on shore The ropes were also fixed anc
the structure made as secure as ever.
The artillery crossed first We had no wag
Ons on the South side; our trains had beer
packed on the north side OF the Rappshannocb
during the fight, and the officers in charge Of
them received orders on Tuesday afternoon tc
move their trains, and reoccupy their old
ground
Following the artillery came the infantry
The corps commanders at the rear Of their res
pective corps until all had crossed. No los.
whatever occurred in our recrOssng
A III the wounded that were in the brick house
near the Ford known a. one of the Fitzhugh
houses. were safely brought over. Dr. Sim and
DR.. Dexter, Medical Directors Of the Third
corps. superintended their removal The
wounded speak in the highest terms Of these
gentlemen. who were most assiduous in their
attentions.
GEN. sIcELEs' CONDUCT
! On the Saturday morning previous to the bat
tie, Gen Sickles rode out along the entire front
OF our lines, examining with great minuteness
and circumspection, our outposte ard the DO
sitions occupied by our forces. preparatory to
advancing upon the enemv After a most dill
gent and thorough study o. the nature OF the
ground ard the positions occupied By tie reb-
els. Gen. Sickies formed plan to cut off the
main army Of the enemy. BY penetrating 10 the
Fredericksoargh and Gordonsville turnpike. over
which StOneEali Jackson had marched bis for
ces to attack our night flank. This plan received
the unqualified approval OF Geu. Hooker, aud is
success: seemed certain.
Gen. Sickes accordingly moved his First d.
vision, commanded by Gen. Brnev. consisting
% three brgades commanded bv Gems c. r
Graham, J e. Il Ward and Col Heynan, I'D
through the woods 10 a cleared field. where an
oil house and out building stood From this
point B.rney Kept steadily in advance, cohtiDs-
zly skirnishing With the enemy. until be gained
position o. the Mill near a. old foundry Then
Whipple's division was ordered 10 advance and
rest their right o. Birneys left Gen Williams
division, tn corps. was a'so ordered to adj
vance and unite with Biruey's right Birusy
beng the centre, pressed On and took posses
u i