New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-04
THE POSITION.

Potomac as late as o'clock on tie morning
of Saturday, Mayo. At that time Gen. Hook
er's headquarters were in Charlottesville, a
town which consists of one brick house, now
or formerly kept as tavern. In position near
the same place were the llth, 10Th, 9TH, "a,
and Sd Corps, whereof the first three had
crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford on
Tuesday and Wednesday, and the last two at
United States Ford on Thursday. TIE posi-
tons of 9th and LIST Corps are uncertain, but,
according to previous information, the LIST is
probably still below or opposite Fredericks'
burg and the 9th at United States Ford ready
to cross if it has not already joined the main
column at Charlottesville.
On Friday. about 2 in the afternoon, the
18th and 10Th Corps moved forward to feel the
enemy in front, with order to fall back if the
opposition became serious, in tho hope to draw
the enemy into pursuit. The reconnotering
column was soon met by rather heavy ar
tery fire, and retired as ordered, but the
Rebels did not follow. Shortly after, about 3
o'clock, q similar movement was made by the
enemy, on armed Reconnaissance dashiDg rapid
" against and along the entire lines of Gen.
Hooker's army. Artillery firing was quite
general, closing with the approach Of night.
Thi. evidence tends to show that the Rebel
army is in front of Gen. Hooker; that when
he crossed the Rappahannock on Wednesday,
Lee still occupied Fredericksburg or its neigh
borhood in force; and that the Increment OF
Gen. Hooker has surprised him in position
from which retreat became at once inevitable.
But the evidence is not conclusive, and until
more ia supplied, all other questions as to i'm
mediate movements may be suspended, for
upon this point depends the conduct and direc
ton of the campaign.
1t is pl ain that Gen. Hooker fully believed
that the main body Of Lees army was in it's
old position when the movement. across The
RappahannUck was made. His order declares
that "the operations OF the last three days
have determined that our enemy must either
iugloriously fly, or come out from behind his
delenses and give us battle on our own ground,
where certain destruction awaits him." Sup
posing Lee to have been in or near Fred
ericksburg, the announcement of Gen. Hooker
ia beyond question correct. But it is possible,
and Rebel sympathzers in this city are swift
to assert, that the enemy abandoned the line
of the Rappabannock some days since; that
picket line without support has been main
tanned to deceive Gen. Hooker; and that
force OF no great strength, perhaps two or
snIeo D,ie-i-, = Ill chad now opposes the I'D.
vance from Charlottesville In vther words,
! it is supposed that Lee has anticipated Gen.
Hooker's movement, aud has fallen back in
season to save his army, and to occupy q new
defensive line on the North Anna, branch of
the PaInunkey which the Richmond and Fred
ericksburg Railroad crosses.
The weight of evidence is against this suppo-
sition. There was sharp connc. below
fredericksburg where the bridges were thrown
across the river Oh Wednesday morning, in
which artillery was used by the Rebels, and
str pickets occupying rifle pits near the
rive, were captured by our forces. Cars were
running all through Wednesday and Thursday
into and out Of Fredericksburg, whether
bringing or taking away troops can only be
conjectured. Pckets were found also, and in
almost every instance captured, at all points
on the Upper Rappahannock and Rapidsn.
where the 18th, 18th and 9th Corps crossed. A
considerable Rebel force is known to have been
at Port Royal, twenty miles below Frederick
burg, where an attempt TO pass the river seems
to have been anticipated. And still mere con-
clusiyely, the letter of one Of our special cor.
respondents in this mornings paper, asserts that
the enemy in the reconnaissance which they d.
rected against Charlottesville on Thursday
afternoon, opened with rapidly an artillery fire
along tue whole line occupied by our forces. Add
to all these Indications the evidently unbesitating
opinion Of Gen. Hooker, publicly expressed in
a general order so late as Thursday, and it is
difficult TO believe that Fredericksburg was
evacuated on or before Wednesday, the day
when three Corps Of the Army of the Potomac
crossed the Rappahannock. 1t is nevertheless
q question which must await further informa-
ton before it can be decisively answered here.
Ii Lee were still maintaining his deienses on
the RappahannOck when Hooker forced the pas
sage, he must, as We have before said, abandon
Fredericksburg at once, and either march ont
to give battle on ground Of Hooker's selection
or retreat precipitately toward Richmond. In
either case his communications will be delayed
by the cavalry under Gen. Storeman, and the
battle which hs would thus be compelled to
fight would hazard the existence OF HIS army
If he retreats, Hooker falls Oh bis flank or
rear. If he does not, he has only the alterna-
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