New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-08
GEN. mOOKER,s RETREAT.

GEN. HOOKERs RETREAT.
Gen. Hookers recrossing the RappshannOck
during Tuesday night has given the loyal Mil
lions d very disagreeable shock. His advance
across deep and rapid river had been 80
admirably planned; and effected with so little
loss on his part, that the country confidently
looked to see it crowned by q decisive victory.
And especially since it is known that Gen.
Stoncmsns Cavalry raid upon the enemy's
lines of communication had been at least par
tally successful-that the Railroads from
Fredericksburg to Richmond and Gordonsvlle
respectively had been so dismantled as To
render them impossible for trains OF supplies
and but partially seryicable for the transporta.
ton of men, it will seem that he ought a. least
to have been able 70 hold the ground be SO
easily gained until abundant reenforcements
could reach him from Washington. Baltimore,
and the vicinity Of Hampton Roads. But be
decided on placing his army again in safety on
this side Of tho Rappahannock, and effected it
with little loss. The presumption Of battle
on Tuesday, which was countenanced by
brief dispatch in CIPHER which reached US just
in season for our last, was not well founded.
There was q little diminishing on Tuesday
and the following night, but nothing that
could be magnifed into battle. Our
correspondent, who left Gen. Hookers
army on Wednesday morning and reached our
City yesterday morning, INDUCED in some
criticisms on the decision and order to retreat
which we do not indorse, but which We did
not see fit to suppress nor even modify.
General who understands bis business ia not to
be made nor unmade by the criticisms Of a
non military spectator Of bis doings; and, on
the other hand, the reports Of eyewitness
must lose all their peculiar value if they are
TO be clipped and doctored to suit some other
persons notions of what they should have
been. As with regard to another correspond
ents letters from the Peninsula during the
progress of McClellan's " change Of base" we
print exactly as we receive, knowing that
those who make an uDgenerous use OF this
course by parading the basty criticisms of our
correspondents as the opinions of The
TRIBUNE would find some other mode Of eI-
hibitiDg their knavery if We deprived them of
this one The letters of our correspondents
sometimes embody their own opinions on what
passes under their observation, but ours are
expressed in our own department of these col
umD6, not in theirs.
Gen. Hooker was doubtless keeny disap-
pointed and greatly Disconnected by the panic
fight Of the 18th Corps on Saturday, by which
bis combinations were defeated and victory
snatched away when it seemed already within
his grasp 1t would seem that no did not az
terward trust his men SO thoroughly nor risk
daring movements 80 freely as he had previ
ously done, and as was indispensable to de-
cided success. If he made any grave mistake
and we lack the requisite knowledge, even
if We had the strategic ability to determine
that he did or did Motive should say that it
was his inaction on Monday. On that day,
the Rebels, finding that Sedgwck was close in
their rear, having successfully stormed the
nights overlooking Fredericksburg, appear to
have turned upon him with the bulk of their
force, overwhelming him with superior num-
bers after q gallant resistance and driving
him across the Rappahannock at Bankss Ford.
Of course, Hooker must have heard the roar
of the cannon and known that this fight was
going on with the odds fearfully against Sedg-
wick, and it would seem that be should have
thrown himself in full force on some portion OF
the Rebel lines confronting him, as Sedgwick
had pressed upon their rear the day before.
But we do not offer this a. a criticism, but as
mere non-Military speculation. There may
have been excellent reasons not yet known to
Us for his acting precisely a. he did.
The Rebels seem to have acted with signal
energy aud skill from the moment that they
found Hooker in force on their right flank.
Never troubling themselves about communica.
tons or lines of retreat. they massed their
torcss-rollcd them up into hard ball. as 1t