Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-16
THE ARmY OF THE POTOMAC,

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Acomprehensivis. n slsSyt q Q ensr4Is
1Ieade's Late CanapaIgn-The MANI
ner and the Causss OF its Fallure1
The Object, the Plan, the Advances
|. and the Retreat.
Correspondence Of the New York Times.
Army OF THE PoroMAo.
KELLY's FoRD, Va, December 8, 1862
1t is essential to the best interests Of the
country that the pnblie should at once be
made thoroughly acquainted with all the
facts connected with the late movements
of this army-the many obstacles which
presented themselves 70 the Commanding
General, and ltne frequent disappointmentsi
to which he was subjected from the COM
Imencement of the march TO the fnaI with
drawal of his forces to this side of the
R8pidan. To faithfully place these facts
before the public, 10 order that IL may APP
prove or disapproYe With an Intelligent
Judgment, is the object of this commuui.
cation. ~
THE EsEMY's FoRcE AEDsPosrTIoN.
The force of the enemy consisted Of
Ewell's and Hills corps and Pickett's dir
vision, of Eongstreet's corps, which was
not sent Sonth-not less, in the aggregate,
than 81, 900 men, while our own, in mum
lbefs; was probably somewhat its superior.
1 AT the time the Commanding General or.
lHdered The advance, the position of the ene-s
tmy was as stollows: Ewell's corps had
tbeen Withdrawn from the lower fords of
il the Raptdar, and posted behind entrench-i
Fmenfs, and On natural vantage ground, his,
left resting on or near the river, while his
causing his lfne, as may be seen on the
map. TO run nearly north and south; aud
70 front toward the east-thds leaving
EIy's, Oulpepper, Germanna, jacobs Mills
and other foFds uncovered. Hills corps
was in the vicinity and south of Orange
Court House, separated from Ewell's by
several miles. - /
"a go GEN. MRADN's PLAN. ~
The object,ot Gen. Meade was. to Cross
at the lower fords, and to push his columns
rapidly to the south and west, to the vicin-
ity OF, and, If possible, beyond Old Yerdier-
vile, ia the direction otTOrauge Court
House, thus gaining the interval between
Ewell's and Hills corps, and enabling him
to give them battle 10 detail. TWAS known
by Gen. Meade that the left of Ewell's line
was well protected by earthworks and the
character of the lcountry, but that his right
was less guarded, and that the plank road
from Old Yerdierville to. Orange Court
House was not strongly covered by his
forces. t.5.+ - t.{,,.s
PRELIMINARY FEATURES OF THE ADVANCE.
With this information, and the above
.objectin view, Gen. Meade ordered ianlad-
vance at day. light on the Oath nit, but q
severe rain storm during the preceding
night preventedthe movement The notice |
of the advance in the Washington papers
of that date, although premature, neither
delayed the movement, nor caused the ene-
my 10 change disposition, as has been al
legged. The enemy probably did moi, learn
of the intended movemen until it had com
menced, on the 26th of November. On the
26th the roads were in passable condition,
and the advance commenced at dawn. In
the meantime Gen. Meade had given orders
to the different corps commanders to recon-
hotter the respective roads they were to
take, and to put them in such condition
that their troops might move with rapidity.
This may have been faithfully accomplish |
ed by some of the corps commanders, but
by others 1t was negle cted, aud, on account
of this and other causes, serious delays
were occasioned. It should also be stated
that on the part of some of the subordinate
Generals there was an inexeusable igno-
ranceof the direction and termination Of
the roads over which they were to march,
and o want of promptness in pushing for.
ward their commands, which, as the sequel
will show, proved fatal to the success Of
the campaign. -
On the morning Of the 26tb, the. Second,
Third, Fifth and Sixth corps we're between
the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, while
the First was on the north of the Kappa
hammock. The distance to Old Verdier.
vile, from the position Of the most remote
corps, on the morning of the 26th, was
not more than twenty five miles, and from
that of a majority of the corps 1t was less
than twenty. Hence it was not unreason.
able for Gen. Meade to expect that each
corps commander would be able to march
his troops 70 the vicinity of this town in
side of thirty four hours, or, at the most,
by the noon Of the 9th.
TIE ORDER OF MARCH.
The order of march was as follows, viz. ::
The Fifth corps was TO Cross the Rapidan
at Gulpepper Mine Ford aud proceed to
Court House, and If possible, to New Yer.
dieryille, a town situated two or three
miles. and perhaps still further, in south
erly direction from Old Verdierville. The
First corps was to follow the Fifth, and
take position in its rear, while the Second
was TO cross at Germania Ford, proceed to
Robertson's tavern, and ifpossible, reach,
Old Verdierville, thus opening communi-
cations, by means of cross road, passing
near Mine Run, with the Fifthcorps. The
Third corps was to cross at Jacobs Mill
Ford, and push on to Robertsop,s tavern
and take position on the right, of the. Sec
ond, while the, Sixth was to follow the
Third and take position in its rear, as the
reserve ofthe right wing of the army, as the
First was the reserve Of the left wing. II