The weekly Butte record., 1863-06-20
Opinion OF Mr. Emil Schalk on General
Hookers Late Movement.

lowing opinion TO the Philadelp phia Press
SlR-When battles are fought in which
thousands Of brave soliiers are inundated, but
which, notwithstanding the great sacrifice. dc
not obtain az adequate result for the enoFmou:
loss Of life, is it then not the duty of every
friend Of the country to inquire into the cause
Of tie disasters which cover whole nation
with mourning, and which, in its history re-
mains dark spot in its glory?
| The late battles at Fredericksburg and Chan
cellorsville, with its hecatombs of human be
ings, may, Ike nearly all other lost battles Of
this war, be traced directly to the mistakes oi
the generals commanding, and it Is but Just
that the whole country should have an insight
into those mistakes. for it may be that thus
more errors in future will be avoided.
Looking at The map it will be seen that the
rebel army, in its encampment near Freder-
icksburg held line running from northwest
to southeast its right wing was extended as
far down as Port Royal, on the Rappahan-
mock; its left wing rested above Fredericks-
burg, on the same river. This army has only
two lines of retseat-one towards Richmond
the other towards Gordonsvie. 1t cannot re-
treat to the east or southeast, as such march
would carry it into the Potomac or York
River
Under these circumstances the natural point
of attack is the rebel left wing. If this wing
is seriously defeated and the victory rapidly
followed up. the rebel army would be pressed
from its two lines Of retreat against the south.
east; thrown against the rivers, it would finally
be obliged to surrender, the same fate which
beiel the Prussian army after the battle of
Jena.
Crossing, therefore. above Fredericksburg.
at United States Ford, for instance, marching
rapidly TO Cbancellorsville. and from there to
point midway between Charlottesville. and
Quincy, on the railroad lor if the last move be
considered too daring, move straight from Chan.
celloFsville against Fredercksburg), would be
the correct strategical move to tain the de
sired result. viz, the destruction Of the rebel
army. Utmost speed, concentration of force,
and utmost daring would guarantee complete
success.
Gen. Hooker arranged bis plans of attack
as follows: He had seven army corps of these
three were massci below Fredericksburg, to
cross there and make fsiat 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 re
naming corps at several fords, soma ten to
twenty miles above Fredericksburg.
On Sunday, April 26th, the movement was
commented 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 Fred
ericksburg made good their crossing.
On "Wednesday and Thursday the main army
moved to Charlottesville, some FIVE miles from
their principal crossing place, making FIVE miles
in thirtysix hours. Friday was occupied by
throwing up entertainments ; Saturday the
( lighting seriously commenced Saturday even
ing only, as it appears, the two remaining corps
arrived from below. Sunday another attack
and repu!se Of the main army.
Meanwhile Sedgwlck carries the entrench-
ments behind Fredericksburg. BY Sedgwck s
movement two lines of operations are clearly
fo7med-the two Union armies separated By a
distance Of twenty miles, the rebels in cen
tra position between them. While all these
movements are being carried out the whole
cavalry under General Stoneman is detached
on a raid in the rear of the rebel army.
General Lee without needing the cavalry in
his rear, waits quietly in his entertainments till
the Union movement is fully developed He
easily disceEus the ieint from the real attack.
He throws his whole force aginst Gen. Hooker,
whom be confronts on Thursday evening, Civ
ing up, meanwhile, his entertainments near
Fredericksburg.
Hooker is beaten on Saturday. On Sunday
scarcely is he on the defensive when Gen Lee,
by means of his Interior line of forces, marches
Sunday night, and throws, on Monday, the
mass Of his forces against Sedgwick, who the
day before had carried the Qualifications near
Fredericksburg. Sedgwick was beaten, Grip
pied, and scarcely escaped annihilaiiou. After
this triple check Gen. Hooker gives up the
contest. and rec.osses the river.
By what we have said above of the posi-
ton Of the rebel army, it will be seen that the
crossing at Charlottesville by the main force,
was entirely correct; but il will be seen. too,
that the crossing effected by four corps only,
instead Of seven, or at least six, was entirely
Incorrect.
Had the army consisted Of seven corps, and
marched on Wednesday morning, in forced
marches towards Fredericksburg, or in a direc-
ton some FIVE or six miles south of Fredericks-
burg, they would have been, by Wednesday
Il. Il