New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-20
FROM THgE RAPPNuANNOCIS.
Part taken by tho Gfth Army Corps in the
recent BngtIc.


While much has been written in praise, rslliaon,
and cepsure Of tic officers and men Of tho lth Army
Corps have seen in none Of the journals any cor
rect statement in detail Of the important part and
position taken by them in the recent engagement on
the RspIalGnnock. When we remember, also that
uron this corps has hinged all that there may be OF
reverse or dcfea, Of Cen. Rockers most admirable
plans, and splendid developments OF them, 1t is OF
consequence that not only the truth, but the whole
truth be stated. That the genial sociaies OF head
quarters, vhoro most newspaper reports are writ
ten, may not be most conducive of justly severe and
;mpartiaIy true criticism s possible; yet an event
involving the momontou' consequences Of human
life of orphanape and widDwhOOd, as tins has done,
The lust responsibility of such disaster should he
made TO rest uuorrugly upon the night Tares II
is with this view that / give YOU succMct state
meut made by one who has military skill enough 10
form legitimate conclusions from the positive facts
which came under lis own IertoDal observation
while in the discharge Of his duty on that ever men,
orablc field. Whatever may have been the degree
Of succcss won by the general movement laud
claim il was great, and the Potomac Army 30 deem
il tO-dsy i, cannot be denied that needless uisiS-
ter was permitted 10 happen at Chancelorsville.
I7non whom rests the fault! "Our own coTrespon-
dents" in AL the journals, have attributed II III
turn 30 the dsShcclOn, the panic toe c0wlr Ice OF
The Eleventh COrps and able editorial hounhes nave
proving their positions by quoting leated Instances
pmong tue beei-dr He'd lench troops and English
"machines" j, is true that no considerable war
ever was carried on which would not afford u the
same lessons OF comfort II such history IS couiIOi'
ing or compensatory.
Put snct explanations restore no life TO tie dead
or lost limLs 10 the manned, nor chase { e darh
shadows from bleeding hearts ami dlsos'ei homes
Neither 90 they cure the wounded lonos Of tie
soldier; and most OF all in this case, anset not the
demands Of truth. But suppose they did, who is
responsible for the panic Panics have thtlr laws,
snd they are generally under the control oil human
forecast and seldom Go they occur where that I'M
portaut faculty has presided. The grea' generator
of panc is srpfiiC- surprise. Surprise especially
in broad daylight, j. most baed by ali mlil!arE com
mandefs, because in the majority OF cases IL Is
SYNONYMOUS with iLoompetency, s'uWdi'y, or
treachery. That one brigade German behaved
badly is admiitedi that they ran panic'stnckcn
through tie lnes Of other br0ades diso' ganizlns
them is true; but that the fault WAS the connbnd-
ers--Or a commander sand that The result must
have been the zane with EytrOops, OF any condition
Of discipline or nationality, in from three TO I'VE
minutes is most certain, as the public may Judge
when state The facts.
THE MARCH.
The march was the most remarkable one Of this |
yyar or any other Al the sick and doubtful clses
wee left behind, and the campaign undertaken 10y
the hardy and buoyaht. With enthusiasm they |
broke up their Winter camp, and full Of confidence /
en- Hooker began a march they hoped would he /
crowned with decisive results for the country. How
patiently they :oied beneath their knapsscks !
weighed down by eight days rations marched by /
day and by night, through sun and storm, are mat
tefe Of heroic record. And crossing tue RApidan
without opposition, concluding that for once our
plans were not revealed TO the enemy, they became
hopefully ubilant. There numerous reRi- |
IneLts which took into the fight every musket with
which thew left camp The latter part Of tue march |
was made on the plank road leaoing from Orange
Court Ilouse to Fredericksburg. They continued
the march on this highway down 10 the point where
the old turnpike leading from the sane place JOINS
IT, distant from Charlottesville EbOnt Dile and
half when the boys filed left aud camped for tie
night nile from the point Of Juncinre aud slept
in peace. Friday was spent in making preparations
for the decitye hour skirmIshiug and occasional
eannobading giving earnest II the coming fray.
The line Of battle taken by tue I'm Corps was
formed early Saturday morning, and kept during tie
day. Ii was long. weak hue, that might have
been pierced OF olmos. any point; aud, making II .
stn feebler one brigade detached to pursue /
the retrea,InR D Rebels No advantage Of ground
was gsined by thus extending it. Rife-pits had
been dug elong the front, affording cur troops a
large measure Of safety while hnng upon the enc
my attempting 70 sweep over tie open Fed before
them.
Meanwhile, the Rebels were busy trying our line, |
in order 10 seize upon and prof, by s weak points
About noon it became quite evident they had made
their decision, for large bodies were distinctly seen
passiDg along the ka'hanIin Road in the direction
Of our right flank This road branches on from the
plank road eight miles from FTedericksburg, nt
DECKER.
miles nom Deck ere il receives Brooks Road, rnn-
Ding ALMOST at light angles with it, aud nterseeioR
the plank road and the old turnpike. "a glance al
ANY one Of the published maps or diagrams Of the
Iate fight will show the great facility these road
xyayg gave for MISSING forces upon our rghil Their
ourse and relation 70 each other ought TO nave sug
Oesed the probability Of the movement, and cansed
eueh disposition Of forces as would have enabled
us 10 meet IL promptly and efeetuay. But the
vises, Of men seem fatcd to seasons OF stupidity
The commander Of the Fnst Division was Lot even
aware Of the existence Of the roads, or the topo-
praphy Of the locality. When asked by one OF biz
ablcst Teeinentbl commanders: DO you KNOW
where you are 2" be answered No, don't Know
as l dol' " DO You know anything OF the roads Of
this sectionl" "No."
This same regimental officer then went 10 an old
resident +" Yankee clock peddler," and got de-
scrp'iOn OF them, and then made q rough diagram,
end brought 1t TO hls undisurbed general Blu even
after this be failed 10 appreciate the significance OF
these numerous roads ar channel for the rapid
movement Of troops. The day wore idly away
with us while the Rebels were perieclng Their
plans. At about 2 p N. Capt. Santer, Co. Is, 55tl
Ohio out on picket, sent III his first sergeant with
word that the enemy were masHing On tie extreme
right with infantry and artillery. Subsequently
scout, from the 25h OHIO brought tue general intel
igence that the enemy were in foil force upon our
right. After a while cavalry officer came dash
ing down the road announcing that the eDemy We're
In force on our right with artillery There thrice
repeated warnings ought to have reused the most
Iethargic keeper Of such holy interests as were
trembling IN the balances OF that hour. But they
fell upon ears that needed them noti No change OF
front was ordered. No adequate distractions were
placed In the way Of the advancing hosts. The ar
iilery all remained in its former poson, ready 10
fepef only O front attack-the front and flank
skirmishers had not even q line Of communication