Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-05-27

Looking at the map, it will be seen that
the rebel army, in its encampment near
Fredericksburg, held a line running from
north west to southwest; its right wing
was extended as far down as Port Royal,
on the Rappahannock; its left wing rest
ed above Fredericksburg, on the same.
river. This army has only two main
lines of retreat. One toward Richmond,
the other toward Gordonsville. 1t can
not retreat to the east, or southeast, as
such a march would carry it into the Po-
tomac, or York River. Under these cir
cumstaaces, the natural point Of attack is
the rebel left wing. If this wing is seri-
ously defeated, and the victory rapidly
followed up, the rebel army would be
pressed from its two lines Of retreat
against the southeast; thrown against
the rivers, it would be finally obliged to
surrender-tlte same fate which befel the
Prussian army after the battle Of jena
Crossing, therefore, above Frederieks-
burg, at United States Ford, for instance,
marching rapidly to Charlottesville, and
from there to a point midway between
Charlottesville and Guinea, on the rail-
road, Cor, if the last move be considered
too daring, moving straight from Chan
eellorsvilIe against Fredericksburg, wo Id
be the correct strategieal move to obtain
the desired result, viz the destruction Of
the rebel army. Utmost speed, concen,
tration of force, and utmost daring, would
guarantee a complete success.
General Hooker arranged his plans Of
attack as follows: He had seven army
corps; of these, three we're massed below
Fredericksburg, to cross there and make
feint attack on the rebels, two Of the
corps, Immediately after the crossing, to
return and join General Hooker, who,
meanwhile, was crossing with the four
remaining corps at several fords, some
ten to twenty miles above Fredericks-
burg.
On Sunday, 9th Of April, the move
ment was commencedj on Monday it was
continued, and on Tuesday morning the
three corps below Fredericksburg, and on
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
the four corps above Fredericksburg,
made good their crossing.
On Wednesday and Thursday the main
army moved to Charlottesville, some five
miles from the principal crossing place,
making five miles in thirty-six hours.
Friday was occupied in throwing up in
trenehments; Saturday the fighting seri-
ously commenced; Saturday evening,
only, as it appears, the two remaining
corps arrived from below. Sunday, ano-
ther attack, and repulse Of the main ar
my. Meanwhile, Sedgwiek carries the
Eintrenchments behind Fredericksburg
By Sedgwick's mQvement, two lines of
operation are clearly formed, the two IN
ion armies separated by a distance of
some twenty miles ; the rebels in cen
trail position between them, While all
these movements are being carried out,
the whole cavalry under General Stone
man is detached on a raid, in the rear Of
the rebel army.
General Lee, without needing the cav
airy in his rear, waits quietly in his in
trenchments till the Union movement is
fully developed. He easily discerns the
feint from the real attack. He throws
his whole force against General Hooker,
whom he-eonfronts on Thursday evening,
giving up, meanwhile, his intrenchments
near Fredericksburg. Hooker Is beaten
on Saturday. On Sunday, scarcely is he
on the defensive when General Lee, by
means of his interior line, forces marches
Sunday night, and throws, on Monday,
the mass Of his forces against Sedgwick,
who the day before had carried the forti-
fcations near Fredericksburg. Sedgwick
is beaten, crippled, and scarcely escapes
annihilation. After this triple check,
General Hooker gives up the contest, and
reerosses the river
BY what we have said above of the pO-
sition of the rebel army, it will be seen
that the crossing at Charlottesville by
the main force was entirely correct; but
| it will be seen, too, that the crossing ef-
fected by four corps only, instead of sew
en-, or at least six, was entirely incorrect.
Had the army consisted of seven corps,
and marched on Wednesday morning, in
forced marches, toward Fredericksburg,
or in direction some five or six miles
south of fredericksburg, they would have
been, by Wednesday night, behind the
rebel intrenchments.
The great decisive bottle of the war
would probably have taken place on
Thursday, and would have been fought
under very different circumstances from
those of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday,
where our army was beaten in detail.