Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-15
m. 1o,a MISUNDERSTANDING Features.

The more We hear about IL the more We are co-yrctd
that the lste victory strictly what General Lee
styled t. great aud glorious one. Housse papers, the
World the Freid agd even lie Times snd Tribune all
admit that Hooker was defeated out-generaed AMI ous
fought Tue r,per 6rst named pays this tribute to orr
men. 'gNolaue could excite more admiration Tor the
besrouates Of de veteran soldier than the manner in
which the enemy sssps out as they moved steadily on
ward the forces which we're opposed TO them We say
IL reluctantly, and for the hrst time, that the enemy
have showed the finest qualities and acknowledge
on this occasion their superiority in the open field 20 our
own men They delivered their ire veh Treesi, Z
aud were apparently iDaexble aud immOya0ie unc er
the Storm Of bullets ard shell 6licb they were constant
Il receiving. Coming 70 piece Of timber which was
oceuuedby a division Of our own, half the uunba-
we're detailed to clear tie woods Il seemed certain
that here they would % repulsed, but hey marched
right through The wood driving our soldiers out, who
delivered their Are and ebaok, ,ad rgain, Hred Ead
Eel back as before, seeming TO eoneede 10 the enemy,
as matter Of course the superiority which they evident
ly felt themselves"
Marx, this eucorilm applies 70 infantry, which,
as We an koow, always superior to theirs; uothing
is said about artillery, concerning which We shall
have word or two further on. Tue World closes its
description Of the battle ls Strange say; the ar
my CHooker's) failed to bea, tae enemy on compare
lively equal ground and upon footing Hooker
knows what the writer in the World does not that the
ground vas BY 40 msans equal and the footing any
thing bu; even. Under bis own hand, Hooker stated
that he had obtained position which compelled Lee
either TO ay ng,Odously, else to come out from BE-
hind biz deieaces and SIGHT him upon ground Of his own
choosing where certain destruction awaited him. The
congtuatory order that contains this assertion is fatal
to Hooker but It based upon reason for his seven
lines Of breas,vOrks composed Of logs and earth
piled feet high and protected in front by an abattis
Of feled trees one hundred yards in width, through
which without a musket could hardly pass in less
than half an hour. Moreover, Hooker knows that he
had fully twice and ne ary thrice many men as Lee
had
Bat what the Yankee General may know IS Of little
importance compared to the knowledge gained by Us
during the memorable 6rst week in Nav, '6S. There
pleasing features connected with rhe victories
achieved during that week which deserve especial no
tee.
First Itwas battle Of manoelvre, In which we beat
the enemy utterly in strategy. We marched from below
ChanceuOrsyie, where their left wing rested, by tie
flank in front Of their fortified position order to get
sfound their right wing and attack them in rear-ns-
king circuit Of from eleven 70 thirteen miles to reach
position less than three miles from where We started
IN this we had grand success. Il was . bold move
veFgng the extreme Of rashnes thus 70 expose our
flank and weaken Our centre but leaders knew the
men they led and the men they had to attsck.
Second. There vas no struggling Reorganization
Our men came out, after sighs az nine days Of forced
marches, and aghtRg against great odds in perfec.
Trim, ready to aght and march again The army is nov
truly army. L move in compact column TO
front rear or flank, and lose no men By the way-a
thing VAieh WOeld have been simply impossible eight
mouths ago thing too which lie worth all the rest Of
ths ostle Adding this new found sOidity to the old
IRE the army is capable Of every task that may be set
X In the late actions Il formed front in three different
directions, exclusive Of the movements made in the en-.
counters with SsdgEisk at and about Fredericksburg.
Tsird Oar artillery Is dtlast perfected Under thsnsS
Organzitoo for which the officers Of this important
arm have 4 IN. long and earnestly camoring and
vhc red tape has 50 o7g delayed tsD batteries can
b. pa g,ther With more facility than, unr the old
ga, red SYSTEM two eOad Moreover the artillery q
now composed Of The bss. and ncst approved PIECES
consisting wholly Of Nsleoas, ths best Rass Parrots
a1d inch guns Of he Parrot o. Dahlgren model
Hence the late battle an epoch in tbat branch Of
the service. On occasion, 80 pieces were massed
on single point, aud tue duel THAI followed proved
what our aFlsrsts have always asserted that gun for
gun, the enemy be shipped With ease. At Chan.
oellorsvle our artlsistS ireve them from their ~
The SIGHT rs waEed At distance af froa 500 ~
yards; and Ct or Inside. q tlst distance ~
nod courage are 60 theirs ssOGr Infantry 20 ,b.s.
TIE impOrtanes Of thee iaOts ia ss'.saOp = -,
Hlszy, which nay be fully relied on. ssDpo, ;. ov.-
.stnased Bat foE artillery IN which The enemy Tre1,.
szcssd us the war would lng sipos have been over
l0Csaaa knew th, Shsa Be declared hat Il vas 70 ss