The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-05-21


The surprise of Lee had been complete !
and we'll might Hooker, when thus liked
in his firm triangle at Chancellorville. on
"Wednesday morning, assure his staff that
a the rebel army wasthe legitimate prop
erty OF the Army If the Potomac. -
Nothing could bulge him FROM that posi-,
ton, for his three corps alone were abs
to sustain 1t fshouid they stand firm ]
while nothing could save the epety from
ruin, but revisitstion Of the deluge IN
sufficient vviume 10 impcrh our ccmnu--
ncations. This. was the only thing which
mortal generaiship could not provide
srninst, but of even this danger Hooker
Ind hetbought him, for he stated before
starting, that should such calamity lei..iI
him, he would forego his sd,antaeea,
whatever they might be, rather than i'm
peril the whole army. Aside from the
two dangers we have named, however, hia
military problem was now psrfeot, and he
felt justified in Tightening the spirit Of
the troops, by issuing the following order.
1t is Of a piece with the audacious conf
denoe Of Napoleon on the plateau Of Iii
voh, when pointing to the troops of Los-
lyman, who were threatening his rear,
while be was engaged with another army
in his front, he said g They are ours. -
The cry was taken up by the French sol-
tiers, till they had passed to victory aud
Hoeksr's bulletin was hailed with an
equal enthusiasm, by the still mystifed
corps Of our army, which he had left IN
the face of Fredericksburg
at is with heartfelt satisfaction that
the General commanding announces to
the army that the operations OF the last
three days have determined that our
enemy must ingloriously fly, or come
out fipp behind his defeases and gise rs
battle on has own ground, where certain
destruction awaits him.
What commander will say this was not
justified under the circumstances Orr
who that vas present, will deny that il
added to the effective enthusiasmf
Everything, therefore, had been SUBJ
timely demonstrated problem, and a
grand triumph, till that moment. Let us
now see If the problem will unfoldin like
manner 10 the end. Ga the following
day, General Hooker was Joined by an
other corps, and another. still en- route to
his position, leaving bat two corps, under
Sedgwiek, in from. OF Fredericksburg, to
prevent the enemy from crossing, in his
desperation, to our weakened side One
Of these corps Of Sedgwick's was at the
old camp near Falmouth, and the other
below Fredericksburg 90 the rebel shore,
with means OF returning to the Falmouth
side, BY bridges Of pontoons. The taking
of the nights, by Sedgwick's corps, was
no part OF Rockers plan; its specific
! purpose was simply to prevent the cross
ing Of tho enemy to Falmouth. ns was
proven BY the half willing permission
which Hooker gave when Sedgwick
| wanted to assail them that he might do
50 IL he could effect the operation without
serious loss. He doubtless felt that.
though the nights we're already virtually
captured, their occupation would pay at a
low rte, for the proof ii would mike to
cur soldiers Of the Absoluteness of our
! position. As to tho assumption that the
1 troops of Ledgwick could be of any ser.
vice to him at Chancellorville, that is
simply absurd, as he had enough there,
twice over, TO maintain his position, and
more than could possibly be fought. until
the enemy should be so bsoken by defeat,
they could be rendered useful by wider
operations, to inclose his struggling col
umns. This was Hooker's plan, and We
have shown what were his calculations
and relances. Lee understood il in 4
moment and he prepared to make a most
desperate effort to plunge through our
lines, and secure the road to Gordonsvile.
Appfised by our movements Of the Mon
day previous. that We iaicud, to attack
{. him somewhere, hG had teicgraphed to
Lonastreet to abandon his operations
against Peck, near Newbern, and had also
drawn largely upon Richmond, and the
troops there, which had been released BY
our premature operations against Charles.
ton. Gen. Hooker, as we know, had
some weeks before. requested TO be al
lowed TO initiate the military operations
Of the Spring, in order that his troops
might not be demoralized by others fail
ures, and the enemy released 10 concea
tratc upon him. This request, however
not having prevailed, Lee had been en-
ablea TO gsoup . mighty hest together
: ere Stoneman had fairly got TO work
. Thus. indeed, the flower, if not the whole
of the really effective force Of the confsd
erscy. we're grimly gathered on The fear
ful lights Of Fredericksburg.
On Thursday, the Goth Of April, tn.
rebels found that their communication
with Richmond were rapidly being cut
and laundering Reconnaissance, respond
ed 10 BY ours, were poared along onl
lines. These feelers were again put ou
by both armies on the following day, aus
on the ed Of May the desperate enemy
learning his condition, nasssd two corps
! under the indomitAble jackson, and pre-
, pared to plunge them in oolamn agsins
our right wing. As they s,rsamed dag
, onally before our front, Hooker perceived
The Intention of the enemy, and calm,
!. npoa the Sd corps, he lsunched it agains
! the centre Of the Confederate column, ant
! TINS shifting it in two. commenced an Is
SAUL against it, broken rear. AT thi
! moment, however, when victory wa
within his grasp, and the promise Of hi
bulletin of "Wednesday almost fulfilled
the 18th Army Corps, composed almos
J entirely OF Germans, who stood in secur