Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-05-13
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

oAA AAE VI EnEDEN1CASBUNVs
We publish entire the following editorial from the
Examiner of Friday. It gives clear and concise
account of the movements of both armies from the
time of Hooker's advance with " the finest army on
the planes" to his hurried retreat beyond the Rap
pahannock, by which he saved his beaten and dis
pirited leg,ons from total destruction: -
"Nearly a week has passed since the great battle
was fought, and yet no full or consecutive account
of it has been obtained. The main facts, however;
are not known. All statements that seem anthen-
tic may be briefly related.
Hooker's first object in crossing the Rappahan
mock above the town was to get in the rear Of Fred
ericksburg His second aim was to prevent flank
attack on the left by the Conederates, who, he sup
posed, would march up the banks of the river to
cut his army at the fords. Hence, he determined to
cross the RAppahannock above the confluence with
the Rapidan, to march through portion OF Cul-
pepper, and passing the latter river at Germanna
and Ely's to keep his communication behind him,
the Rappahannock on his left flank, and the Con-
federate army and Fredericksburg always in front
of him:
On Tuesday week his troops were drawn up in
full array on the hills of Stafford, in view Of the
town, pontoons thrown over, aud strong detach-
ment sent across at Deep Run. This first step was
mere feint to distract attention Next day his
army disappeared, and the detachment was with
drawn, while the main body passed the rivers above
in the order stated Still believing that Lees onset
would be made close to the river, and on his left
flank, he rapidly strengthened that PIT Of his line
with field works, and thea swung the rest forward
to Charlottesville.
1t appears, however, from the dispatches of the
Confederate General, that his ways were not a. the
ways Of Hooker, nor was his attack made in the
manner which Hooker had decided be should make
it The Confederate operations were aimed At tn.
right wing-that reaching to Spotsylvania Court
House-of the Federals. Gen. jackson. did flank
them, after all but it was the right fank-thst
nearest Rlchmond-not the left flank, which Hook
er had carefully guarded with q river and field
works. General jackson appears to have turned
the Yankee line somewhere beyond the Court House.
and penetrating to the wilderness, creek between
Culpeper and Spotsylvania, got partly in their rcnr
Attacked by the rest of the Confederates in 'front.'
while Jackson's corps came down from the wilder.
ness the finest army on the planet, commanded,
though it was, by General Judas Hooker, was
shortly defeated with great slaughter, dlslodged
from all the positions around Chancellors, doubled
up on itself and pressed down in copfusion to the
banks Of the Rappahannock. In this condition their
rout and humiliation nearly certain could the
attack have been continued as commenced.
But the Confederate victory appears to have been
married by the news from Fredericksburg A part
of the army, supposed to have been sufficient he'd
been put to guard the old heights back of the town.
Hooker had left large force-said to have been two
full corps-on the opposite hill under old regu-
lar officer General Sedgwick by name, always bette,
and commonly swimming in whiskey. What or
dcrs he had whether to pass when the sound Of
cannon announced the engagement at Chancellors-
vile, or to wait till message was sent him, We do
not yet know. 1t may be assumed, however, as
certain that his important part in the play was to
pass the river and "carry the crest If possible,
while Lee had his hands full of Hooker, and then
rush upon his rear. But such man was sure not
to come up in time. After long delay, he crossed
the river and did actually get possession Of Msryes
was now in Lees rear, and the event might have
been fatal to that General If Hooker hid held his
own in front But Hooker was already beaten, and
at that time helpless.
Lee, therefore, could turn on Sedgwick with safe
ty. He did so, whipped him at once, sent him back
to Stafford and reoccupied Fredericksburg 1t is
reported that he then went to finish Hooker.
| 1t Vas too latei The Yankee General had gotten
his beaten army il very defensible position. sup
ported BY the Rapidan and RaPpahannock, end had
erected strong works in front The Confederate
General might we'll pause before he attacked him
there without necessity.
Those who know the character of those rivers
need not be told that there is no necessity to- attack
an army which depends on their ords for every par
|
sition that which Hooker is said to have assumed
but impossible to remain in it. This is the season
of heavy showers. One of these converts those
streams in an hour from insignificant creeks into
terrible torrent, which would sweep off Phsroah's
host No pontoon could live minute on its food
Hooker had the choice to come out and fight for
ward, or get back to the Northern bank % soon az
possible. AS bis army is q beaten army. we wer.
not surprised to hear last night that he had chosen
the latter alternative, and retreated while still sbe
The Fredericksburg correspondent Of the Rich
mond Enquirer gives the following minute and in
teresting account of the several battles from tn,
first movement of the enemy below Fredericksburg
on Wednesday evening" He says:
"This movement can hardly be said to have bee,
feint. 1t would be perhaps more proper to speal
of it as a movement designed to cooperate with tn
main attack at Charlottesville it 10 possible tina
this force was left in front of fredericksburg t.
prevent rear movement on our part, which, if sue
cessful, and the river crossed by our troops
point near to&n, their access to the railway cou
have been cut of, and their base of supplies rem
dered useless to Them To guard his rear and pro
tect his base, the force which aftevards operates
Extensively was at first intended to act defensivey
in all probability.
How it afterwards acted on the offensive, and sue
ceeded in carrying by storm "Maryes Heights,
can prOoaOiy De expMlneu Oy tue Iact tnat HO0ke
had been hard pressed and whipped in the fight Q
Saturday and Sunday morning at Charlottesville
and made this in order to create . diversion, an
enable him to cover his retreat.
Charlottesville having been the real point o
battle it will be the most fitting 10 treat Of it first
On Thursday evening Gen. Anderson, who wa
holding q Resition in front Of the United State
Mine Ford twelve miles 9oove Frederickeburg
ascertained that the Yankees, numbering fv
army corps. with at least eighty thousand nen
crossed the Rapidan at Keily's and Germsna Fords
having previously crossed the North Fork Of tn
Rappahsnnock at Eys Ford, in Culpepper county
Anderson at once fell back to Charlottesville, an
took up line of battle in front of the plankrosd
and extending to the river, and reaching over to
wards the old Catherine Furnace. Gen. Anderson
however, having too small force to hold the enem,