Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-07
TOW WANDA:
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

nulsed. with immense losses on both sides, and
the death of several Major Generals on ours
We do not vouch for the statement any fur.
ther than to say that it csaiea TO I'd from
source likely to be we'll informed, and that
we know of nothing to make it improbable,
snd nothing by way of evidence to contra
dict it. The silence OF the Government, which
is quite generally interpreted to indicate bad
news, does not seem to Us suggestive in either
way.
A reverse on Saturday was considerably
discussed on Monday. To speak of reverse
even is using a stronger word than the re-
port justified, since it only alleged in sub
stance that the enemy attacked Hooker's line
on Saturday, and after a severe contest pierced
bis center, handled bis right wing rather rough
ly, and compelled him to reconstruct his lines
during the following night. 1t may be pre-
sumed that nothing less than geneFal.attack
could accomplish so much as this, and If
general attack accomplished no more, the
eventual defeat of Lees army may be deemed
certain. But to this account we attach little
or no Importance. 1t is quite possibie-It is
no more than probable-that there was light
ing at Charlottesville on Saturday, bat in
the absence of authoritative statements, we
do not suppose it to have been general en-,
gagement.
On the left, below Fredericksburg, there
was q decisive movement. Gen. Sedgwck
crossed his whole corps drove the Rebel pick
cts before him, advanced by raVne, occu-
pied Fredericksburg, and subsequently took
the first line of redoubts in rear Of the town.
This was accomplished in obedience to tee
qraphed order from Gen. Hooker at Chancel-
lorsyiIle, which late on Saturday afternoon
announced an appearance of the retreat of the
enemy in front of him. That telegram is quite
sufficient to show that he had sustained no re-
verse at that time, yet the report above refer
red to date the disaster on Saturday. More
over, the lst Corps, under Gen. Reynolds
moved leisurely aud ostentatiouSly up the
Rappahannock on Saturday, to Banks Ford
in order TO induce the enemy to march out
mis- forces from Fredericksburg-of course to
the rebel position at Charlottesville. Now
if General Hooker were hard pressed on Sat
ufday, he would in the first ploce have order
ed Reynolds'S corps rapidly up aud, in the
second place, its movement would not have
been displayed to the enemy for the purpose
Of tempting him TO send more forces against
position already threatened
We have assurance Grom three points that
Gen. Stoneman has been successful in cutting
the enemys communications by rail with Rich
mond and we see no reason to doubt the feet
If it be fact, it will 60 far to dispel all Ut
certainty as to the success of the whole grand
movement of Gen. Hooker For it must he
remembered that Lee depended on his supplies
from Richmond on that line, and can receive
them on no other. If it were possible to trans
port them on the GardonsVille road-if there
were any means Of doing it in any way-it can
be OF no avail, because Hooker holds that
road at Charlottesville But Lee has neither
wagons nor horses enough to feed bis army,
nor can it be supposed that lie had any con
siderable amonnt of supplies on hand near
Fredericksburg. The commissatiat of his ar
my has been hard pressed to keep bis men fed
from Richmond. Nothing can have accumu,
lated in camp. Among the rumors in Wash
iDgton is one that dispatch from Gen. Lee
had been intercepted in which be stated that
be was surrounded aud without supplies.
1t follows, therefore, that General Lee must
fight or starye Gen. Hooker knowing the
railway is cut, might wait at Charlottesville
till famine forced Lee out of his trenchers in
the hope to defeat the national forces and SO
recover his communications. Lee, however,
did not wait ill he was forced, but, like the
brave commander he has shown himself to bs,
marched at once to Charlottesville, and flung
himself against Hookers lines 1t is hardly
to be doubted that bis whole army was hold
ing the Rappahannock line when Hooker
crossed it, and had not, as yesterday seemed
possible, fallen back to North Anna. In
these circumstances, delay is all in Hookers
favor. He has beer deemed an impetuous
leader. Mark the consumate Judgment and
GOODNESS with which he halted after concentra.
ting bis forces south of the river, and await
the attack which he knew bis out-generaled
enemy was compelled 10 make. He need not
hasten to assume the offensive Let Lee dash
against those veteran lines till he hes worn out
his own forces with the persistence and des,
peration of his effort. While Oh his side vic
tory is necessary. to the preservatiou-even
to the existence Of his army, General Hooker
has only to hold his own Not to be defeat
ed is for him victory.
Neither fhnrnfnrn in thn mama -.L:.l