Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-06-11
A British Criticism OF cHmPaign on the Rap
pahannock.
Er0Do %ha

From the Montreal Gazette.
The doubts perplexlties and rumors Of the past six
dave nave eliminated into the admission that Hookera
nlnn 10 cnt of the Confederate army has totally failed
that he mas been repused, and ANONYMOUSLY driven
across the Rappahannock, and may thank Providence
tired of the useless slaughter for the timely swelling of
the Rappahannock and the savatign of the remainder
of his army. For downright pluck, up and down fight
ing and determination to corquerf the battles of the
Rappabannock outshine those OF the PENINSULA but will
stand forth in history the Inevitable result OF the dis
raoard of two strategic rules of importance. Napo-
leon might have them at defiance aud substituted
bs genius for the natural law which rules the fate OF bat
ties Hooker attempted to do so and failed, dragging
down gallant army fully Us 900 strong, in the futile
attempt And vet bis plans were well weighed and
carried out SLOVENIAN to cut the communication
with Richmond, Sedgwick to turn the Confederate LETT
and Hooker himself the right with the bulk OF his army
But this movement enailed two perllous man01vres-
the first the passage of the Rapidan, at point over
tapping the Confederate left, succeeded or rather
vas designedly allowed to succeed the mar G1vre-a
Ey's Fod aud Gemania Mills, the turning OF the
Confederate ief-faed at its inception, and with it the
entire movement fell through Hooker relied upon the
rapidly aud secrecy Of his dispositions to cross the
RapdaH ard force the enemy 10 meet him upon open
oronnd while Lee cool and wary ever fed his de.
fusion with the treacherous camp fires of Fredericks-
burg withdrew bis army out of sight into the country,
and gave Hooker the very opportunity be thirsed for.
As soon as the Fed rails had established themselves
upon the plain which extends between Fredericksburg
AID Germania Mills, aud comes point like TRAN
gle at Charlottesville, pCstomce station equldis-
ant OF the above points, Lee advanced his army threw
10000 men under the mpetuous jackson, on Rockers
right put an entire army corps to the rou captured
Of large number of guns and instantly forced Hooker to
the defensive contract his lines and protect II
with bre astwors and entreuchmens Here was re-
snt of HCOkers trst blunder 10 turn Lees LETT he
shOnld have concentfa ed his forces at point near
GermAnia Mills and instead of deploying in line should
have mas 3ed his men and broken through the oppcs ng
line by weight OF numbers The Contederatts
S1rHa oN1 tNT a.
Hookar WAS forced to contract bis lines still further,
l, and would probably have recrossed the Kappa
hammock Sunday mig were 1t not ot cue ne
paced on 5edgwicks left attack ana otonemau u''
e sion as a means 10 exricate his army from false posi-
tion wick took the first line OF entrencAmenls III
n rear of Fredericksburg at time when the Conieder
ates had concentrated their troops on their lett Tor h
nc purpose of turning Hookers right and driving hin
10 6ock n the Rappahannock and the entrenchmenh
conse Quenty FELL easy prey into his hands out h
to hap scarcely established himself in them and prepare
"a 70 oin in the battle which raging to his northWes
- when Longsreet came up from Suffolk IN SoutherL
de Virginia end drove Sedgwitks army back across th
Ra6nahanpock Rockers left thus uncovered aIC
| the result was longer doubtful Longsueet nae
nd merely to turn Hookers eft by advancing along the
ow ain which extends between the hills bahlnd Freder
nd icksburg aud the Rappahannock 10 rear OF hooA
III ers position This he appears to have DONE anG
he Hooker has retired utterly dlscomfed His fall proves
that in bis case it was highly lnprudentto dVae Oh
IN army still to give battle with deep river
bis ear and culpable to expect SedgWIck 10 hoid Po
Is sition of great importance and danger with mere ~
Isl 900 men, Fredericksburg the key Of the position
Mt and covered Hookers lett Lee perceived tins as 500
Ms ~I,r, u,o~a nd il the
ment its possession involved the fall of Rockers army
re- We are told that Hooker repeated Burnsides ruSe
the Tuesday night strewng his ponoons with pine boqgh
Inc and noee8sy escaping at the dead OF night TO the oP
L. poste shore that the swollen waters OF the Kappahal
mock STAYED the Confederate pursuit and in the hur
OF retreat the wounded and dying left writing
agony on the open roads, and exposed to the dresch
my Of thunder storm. Iu fact, everything leads TO tn
it'll belief that the T0u IS one o. the most 0HSI'CS s'D
led od IN hsoyU and that it will stop at Falmouth