Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-10
"Gen. Hooker,s Retreat.v
bic Is GRRELY's heading to an editorial artl.


Tbis is GRRELY's heading to an editorial artl.
Gle in the Tribune Of Friday last. He says:
Gen. Hooker's recrossing the Rappahaunock
during Tuesday night has given the loyal mil
llons very dissgreeablo shock. His advance
across deep and rapid river had been go ad-
mirably planned, and Effected with 70 little loss
on bis part, that the country confidently looked
to see II crowned by q decisive victory. And
especially since II is known that Gen. Stone-
mans cavalry raid upon the enemy's lines Of
communication had been at least partially sue
cesHful-that the railroads from fredericksburg
to Richmond and Gofdonsville respectively had
been go diemantled az 10 render them imrassa'
BILE for trains OF supplies and but partially
serviceable for the transportation OF men, 1t
will seem that be ought at least to have been
able to hold the ground he go easily gained I'M
I'll abundant reiniorcements could reach him
from Washington, Baltimore, and the
vicinity of Hampton Roads. But he deci-
ded on placing his army again in eafoty on
this side of the Rappahannock, aud effected 1t
with little loss. The presumption OF battle
on Tuesday, which was countenanced by briei
dispatch in cypber which reached US just 10 sea-
son for cur last, was not we'll founded. There
was little diminishing on Tuesday aud the fol-
lowing night, but nothing that could be mag
nfed into battle Our correspondents, who
lett Gen. Hooket's army on Wednesday morn E
Ing and reached our city yesterday morning, In.
dulged 10 come criticisms on the decision and
order to etreet which we do not indorse, but
which We did not zee fit 10 suppress nor even
modify. General who underttlnds his busl-
nees Is not 70 be made nor uDmade by the crit
icisms of a non military spectator OF his doings;
and, on the other hand, the reports OF eye.wlt'
nesses must lose all their peculiar value II they
are to be clipped and doctored to suit some
other persons notions of what they should
have been.
After como further remarks in Qualification OF
publishing bis correspondence criticisms just as
he receives them, GREELEY proceeds
General Hooker was doubtless keenly disap-
pointed and grfa,lY disconnected by the panic
fight Of the llth corps on Saturday, by which
his combinations we're defeated aud victory
snatched away when il seemed already within
his grasp. Il would seem that he did not ai'
terward trust his men 90 thoroughly nor risk
daring movements 80 freely as he had previous
ly done, and az was indispensable TO decided
success. II he had made any grave mistake
and we lack tue requisite knowledge, even II
we had the strategic ability to determine that
he did or did Hot--we should say that 1t vas his
inaction on Monday. On that day, the rebels,
finding that Sedgwick was close in their rear,
having sue esslully atormed the heights over
looking Fredericksburg, appear to have turned
upon him with the bulk of their force, over
whelming him with superior numbers after
gallant resistance, and driving him across the
Rappahannock at Banks's Ford. OE couree,
Hooker must have heard the roar of the cannon
and known that this fight was going on With the
odds fearfully against SedgWick, aud it would
seem that he should bave thrown himself In full
force on some portion OF the rebel lines confront
ing him, as SedgWick had pressed upon ther
rear the day before But we do not offer this
as o criticism, but as a mere non-military spec
ulatioD. There may have been excellent relsOns
not yet known to us for his acting precisely as
he did.
The rebels seem to have acted with signal
energy and ekill from the moment that they
iound Hooker in force on their right flank
Never troubling themselves about communica-
tions OF lines OF retreat they massed their forces
ROLLED them up into hard ball, as it were
and threw it with deadly uim upon whatever
Iortion of HoOker's largely extended lines they
from time to time found weakest. They, OF
course, exposed masses of iniantry to be plowed
through aud through by murderous volieys OF
shell and grape: but they knew the price OF sue
cess, and were ready to pay IL. Their loases in
killed and wounded PROBABLY exceed our own,
and in prisoners are scarcely, ii ct all, inferior.
Yet they will claim, and justly, agreat triumph,
In that they have checked and turned back the
advance oil the Army Of the Potomac.