The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-29
The Surprise That Brought Defeat.
GEN HOWARD RESPONSIBLE.


our army was defeated at Charlottesville OIL
Saturday. 1t shows that somebody wa
criminally careless, and it goes far to reliev
the 18th corps of the severe blame thrown
upon them for breaking before the enemy
The line of battle taken by the llth corp
was formed early Saturday morning, ant
kept during the day. 1t was long, veal
line, that might have been pierced at almos
any point aud, making it still feebler, ont
brigade was detached to pursue the retreat
ng rebels No advantage of ground wa:
gained by thus extending it. Rihe-pits had
been dug along the front, affording our troops
a large measure of safety while firing upon
the enemy, attempting to sweep over the
open field before them. MEANWHILE the reb
els were busy trying our line, in order tC
seize upon and profit by its weak points
About noon it became quite evident they
had made their decision, for large bodies
were distinctly seen passing along the ka-
thaupin road in the direction of our right
flank. This road branches off from the
plank read. eight miles from Fredericksburg
at place called Deckers. At FOrd's tavern,
four miles from Reckers, it receives Brock 5
road, running almost at right angl les with it,
and intersecting the plank road I'd the old
turnpike. CA glance at any one Of the pub
lished maps or diagrams of the late fight viii
show the great facility these roadways gave
for masSins forces upon om right Their
course and relation to each other ought to
have suggested the probability Of the move
ment and caused such disposition Of !urces
as would have enabled US to meet it prompt
ly and eiftclually But the wiscSt of Men
seem fated to seasons of stupidity. The
commander of the Isl division was not even
aware of the existence IF the roads. or the
topography of the locality. When asked by
one OF his ablest regimental commanders,
L" DO you know where you are ~ he answered
NO, don't know as | &C." &" DO YOU know
anything of the roads Of this section? ?" No. y
This same regimental officer that Went 10
an old resident Yankee clock pedI!er, AID
got description of them, and then m.Ge a
rough diagram. and brought it to his undi>-
turbed general. But even after this he fail
ed to appreciate the Significance OF these nu-
merous roads as channel Tor the lupIj
movement OF troops. The day wore iGiy
away with US, while the rebels were perfect
ing their plans. At about > 2. NJ. Capt san
ter, company b, j5ta Ohio. cut on picket,
sent in his first sergeant with word that the
enemy were massins On the extreme right
with infantry and artillery. Subsequently
scouts from the 25th Ohio brought the gen
eral Intelligence that the enemy were IN fall
force upon our right. After while cayal-
ry officer came dashing down the read an
nouucing that the enemy were IN force on
our right with artillery. These thrice-re-
peated warnings ought 10 have reused tie
most ethargic keeper OF such holy interests
as were trembling in the balances of that
hour But they fell upon ears that needed
them not. No change of front was ordered.
No adequate distractions were placed in the
way of the advancing hosts. The artillery
all remained in lis former position, ready to
repel only front attack-the front and flank
! skirmishelS had not even Il line OF commu-
nicaton with each other Sach was the po-
sition of affairs with the first division occu-
pying the extreme right. No wonder the
fear became general and painfully evident to
every subordinate officer that our flank WAS
| being turned
At 6 p. NJ. the attack commenced without
premonllion. No mounted sentinel came to
galloping up with the news; but very little
picket firing heralded it. The first note OF
warning that the shock had come was the
shock itself. A Tremendous yclley OF mus
kerry, Immediately followed by deluge OF
grape and canister, and the rebels were up
on US in overwhelming numbers in three con-
centric CO umns. One was moving down the
turnpike, one down Brooks road, and the
other further to the left, and, as their priso
ners stated in full brigade line and fort,
deep, while section of their artillery wa:
brought up to a position in the road com
manding our line, which it swept Wha
could 1000 men do with 10000? Thei
flank and rear being entirely exposed to it
foes, and their position entiladed at tnat. Bu
now surely after this surprise in the rear
> they will change front: Common sense de
mands that. and military science may wel
q blush in shame if it be not instantly DONE
The commander of the 18th Ohio, his ey
upon the right, detects it completely fanked
Putting spurs to horse, he hastens to the d
< vision commander and shouts, "Our right
D turned may | change 'front.'" No."
f the reply. In moment he is with his reg
e ment again, and seeing his right giving wa
: he flies to his general second time. "Th
right is breaking, and no enemy in front
= US; may not change front and at them
= the rear ?" NO" was the gruff reply; an
if thus soldiers who never yet failed to do the
n duty, and whom Napoleon would have deem
ed worthy place in the Old Guard" wei
left in the trenches under an enflading fl
of of grape and canister, and unable to di
t charge musket directly or oblique ly at the
d foes, who were sweeping them down. VINE