The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-09
the CORRESPONDENCE Of Mr.. /. A. HENDRICKS


THE CORRESPONDENCE or Mr.. |. A.. HENDRICKS.
FIFTH Army CoRps HEADQUARTERS,
In OLD CAM, NEAR FALMOUTH. Va. May 9. 1868. II
Tho recent movement and Its result may BIO set down
as nine days wonder. Just nine days absence, and
are back TO our old camps again. essay no criticism
upon movement but will essay the allegation
that no anticipated the reoccupying soon our old
camping grounds Any ratiocination only ends In tho In
expiicablc If not philosophc conclusion that
There's divinity that shapes our ends.
Our army, to say the least, have had
rough time Of it, They had rough time
on tho march, q rough time IN the fights,
rough time In the sleepless nights and coeeess meals
and rough time in the march back again. whether tho
result will tell roughly upon any Of our commanding gen
erals or the military sagacity Of the powers Wash
ington the future win develop As the case stands the
facts resolve themselves into three propositions aud
three conclusions.
Frswe started to nnd the enemy, and we found him.
Secod-we started to whip the enemy, and did mot
whip him.
7h,rd-westarted to remain away, and we have como
back again.
How these propositions come TO DO followed
by thess conclusions future war investigating
committees may determine. For the present
4
the consciousness OF knowieg-ahough this conscious
ness confess attended with any high degree Of
satisfaction officers Of all grades with whom have
conversod CONFESS themselves similarly beolouded
is any philosophy in the principal that what
ever righ then the present seeming OF wrongful
laundering may resolve itself into rghtful reality in the
end.
RETURN ACROSS RArPAHAyxocx
Ny last despatch from the Rappahaunock inti
mated the possibility vacating the position then
held and withdrawing TO this side Of the river. The
order to this effect was made known late In the
evening. The time Of withdrawal was specified before
Daylight To the Fifth corps given the post Of henor
acting as rear guard The rain that had commenced in
the afternoon by midnight had merged into miniature
deluge. The moon that should have shown was hidden
behind the clouds EverE1hiug was favorable for
the quiet withdrawal OF troops. One by ono the va
rious corps left their ntrcnchmcns til only the Fifth
corps remained. Our assigned order Of withdrawal was,
Con- Sykes division rst Gen. Humphreys next and Gen.
Grin's last the second brigade Col sweitzer command
ing bengJ extreme respguard With such noseless
caution the retreat conducted that the falling back
of our skirmishers unknown to the enemy or, Of
least one Of two differences Is to DO drawn that they
did know IT, they did not deem prudent TO follow; or
clse that, while getting out OF their way, they
were executing similar retrogradc movement. And 10
in fact is pretty generally credited. from the circum-
cur retreating column, that the enemy at this
time was also performing a general skedaddls
In diverse direction. Uur men expected warm
and exciting time OF IT, and every defensive pre-
caution accordingly taken to make the exodus "a
secure a. possible Captain waernaa's Rhode Island
battery followed ia the rear, while continual line or
battle kept up by the retreating infantry, with
csab shmcut Of rife pits at convenient intervals, and
laying abas and pioneers foing trees across the road
obsruct the progress Of the enemy should be attempt
pursuit. An these precautions military ant'well
taken Of course but nothing In the shape Of the enemy
Was seen until arriving the United States Ford.
when dcpuiator OF rebel cavalry showed itself on the
left OF line elevated piazza, overlooking the
ford, about milo distant few well directed shots
from battery sent the cavalry scattering We reach
the ford by ous the regiments cross the ponteon
bridges tho Sixty second Peunsylvana 10 the last 10
cross the Engineer Corps take up the pontoops. Our
army has recrosscd the Rappahannock.
From this point the rest Of the retrograie easily
corpllshed Our troops usually march with rapid and
unwearied celebrity when going back 10 their old camps
The present was no exception " the general rule. The
pouring rain and deepening mud instead Of being obsta
ces seemingly incentives 70 rapid marching.
\ ARRIVAL IN oua CAMPS
Forage, baggage and ammunition trains had
preceded ~, and were In camp against ouI
arrival n old quarters. Before dark the Who'll,
occupied
days ago. FOR the third time the old log foundations
came into agreeable again In hours time sorps
division and brigade headquarters reessablshed
the log hu had resumed their canvass and pcncho cover
nss, tent Ores brightly burning and supps wsr
cooking
Tonghs thsre s no visible token Of our nine days. as
ssncs Assw familiar faces are nssIus. me- events o.
the pas. nine days afford manifold soptca q talk abort
and the agitasins query h." What nsxtr
iossrs on sm mn ooRS5.
And now comes the serious question OF all.hs iosss
sustained by the army In the recent lights. II win
several days before the losses DO oncially mad
known. A. present they estimated ct from ten I
fourteen thousand while the general belief that Of Oh
enemy much gycater. The troops OF this corps hay
the soIacng rensson that while they faithfully obsye
every order while they calamity did their duty 10 facin
the enemy, and shrank from danger 10 which the,
we're exposed their losses much less than that OF an
other corps
| SIB lam rTsara. ~.
ri. uai gerr,iy insisted ,by he experiences OF lha
pAa. Avs dAys have not bssu o trying severe upo,
~ pa .Aaa he nsuoyssh seven aaSs hshsDs - "