The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-05-21
rFIom Wllkes' Spirit ~ the II@ss
ANALYSIS Of EaOOkerss Cam
paign.
TIE SOLDIER OF THE AGE.


reni to press, have made 2 reyelalloa O
the viruience and scope of faction, when
goes far to account for the dull prolonga-
t,on of The war, and the want OF unanim-
ity and fxed purpose of the Government.
A covert treason, uniting with political
rivsIrscs end smouldering malice, has 30
multiplied itself. that it 10 capable, BY
sudden and concerted raids on public SEN
timent. to cut 1t from its true supports
and alarm ii into temporary enscf'es
against its soundest measures aud It's wor-
finest &C, wants. This trescherous strate-
py has been practiced upon the simplicity
Of the general public al every Federal
fsilue 10 the war but on No occasion has
j. been exhibited with such malignant and
such marked effect, as against Gen Hook
or for his feeeH, retirement across the
Rappahannoek. Long watching for his
ruin, those whose policy it has been to
stife patriotism and paralyHe our armies,
have sprung at his throat at the first prob
lem in his bold career, and by heimpctu-
osity OF their assault, have carried along
with them q whirl Of the surrounding al.
mosphere. Nay. even we'll mentioned
journalists, who were disposed, with loyal
hopefuiness. 10 regard him rs a new Ma
poleon. have suffered themselves to be
staggered with the force of vicious ciamor,
and have sunk to puerile references, or d.
dactic theories. Chief among these. is .
pragmatic Dutchmau, who eager Tor any
thing that will shield his flying country
g-nru tLo Jiaar.aa of bav,nr hat y al
the success of our maneuvers IN the tight
eli cAaHeel!ersEiley patades the theories
of the wa- for the plan OF campaign,
by way of fixing a verdict against single
action. He knows of nothing but ''inte'
rior lines )" as if there were no indepea
dent Operations, and no eecenuicities in
war Tie admiration of this unpracticed
pedsgcg,re is altogether for the rebels, his
praise entirely for Lee; and we are sorry
to see the loyal journals, which gave bis
trite rudiments kindly notice, reprint
ing his wholesale errors, and giving pub
iicity to bis false ststements without the
slightest Protest. We, are reminded by
these Ger ,nan criticisms, of the severe
handling which the Ouch theorists al
WAYS gave Napoleon, and particularly OF
the scene which took place between him
and the Austrian General Mack. By a
series Of mastery victories and marches,
Bouapar.e had finished his Italian cam
paign 10 he neigaborhooa of Vienna, and
Mack. very great General among the
Austrians, was his prisoner. "What do
you think of this young French comman-
der :" said Napoleon to Mack, who did
not yet know his conqueror, The veteran
looked at bis youthful questioner FOR q
moment, and then with supercihous
smile, replied. what do think of him ?
Why. he is constantly perpetrating the
greatest OF absurdiiies. AT one time he
is sssaliing our right flank, whom be
should he attacking US upon our loft !; and
nov be is miles away in one quarter, when
he should be operating in another; in shori
he conforms to 40 theory--he obeys ne
rule All, such invasions of the art OF
var, (and here the old veteran shook his
head very profoundly such invasicus o
the art ot war are not to be tolerated II
The enemy at Richmond reason in the
same way in regard to General Hooker
Finding he had cut their communications
and placed that lair Of treason, and al
within it, at the mercy Of the first Fedc
raj squad that might choose to march IL
from the Peninsula-nay, at the mercy o.
Hooker's own infantry, but for the threat
ening fury Of the rising river, they de
nounee him as "a reckless gambler, fron
whom any desperate adventure NAV hour
ly be expected" They are right, and un
less we are much mistaken in the cbarac
ter of the soldier they mslign, be may b.
expected in Richmond atany hour during
the next ten days.
We have never claimed that Hooke
was new Napoleon, as have those i'm
presslb|e historians, whose fortitude cal
not endure an unexpected fall of rain
but we have always thought be was
brave and able General. We felt he ha,
proved that, by his exploits in Mexico
and by the more recent career whc
wound up 80 superbly at Antieiam bu
we are now persuaded, from the name
IN which be has opened this years cam
paIgn, aud pnt himself upon the road t
Kichmond, that he will soon prove him
seit the abiest soldier Of the age.
Already, his exploits BY far excel tbos
OF any General in the service, while til
single act of taking his vast army and, q
one huge bound. planting it in the rear G
Fredericksburg, thus cutting Lees arm
virtually adriil, is worth all the militar
exploits that have been performed durin
the present war, put together All wiz
ter, Hooker lay, with his legions, direc,l
under the eye OF the most Boosted tact
clan OF the Toe. General Lee, perfect
acquainted with his enterprising chara,
ter, knew that be would endeayor to mo,
at the hrst opportunity. but he declare
fredericksburg to be impregnable. an
never once dream. of being visited viii
The disgrace of having that position tur,
ed. Least Of all did he expect that Il
asnkee Chief before him, who lay so to
Pa IN the surrounding mud, would be Il
man to do It, and ~ wake him up son
nne morning with the tdings. that Il
martial host al Falmouth was lifted fro
Tue meadow aud planted in his rear. I
had nothing to DO bu, TO watch again
such daager while Hooker required
supreme audaclty to even contemplate
Mh'le, however. the Federal Comnand
was thus anchored to the sodden cart
us mind Was busy with his plans, Al
ooi'y he was engaged in urenaratio