Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-28


FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK
NJ NffA
Part taken by the llth Army Corps
in the recent Battle. 4f0
Correspondence o:ths N. Y Tribune Nt
BROOKS STATION, VA, May II, '63.
While much has been written in praise
palliation, and censure Of the officers, aud
men oil the llth Army Corps, have seen in
none Of the Journals any correct statement
m detail Of tho important part and position
taken by them in the recent engagement on
the Rappahsnnock. When we remember,
also, that upon this corps has hinged all
that there may be of reverse, or defeat Of
Gen. Hooker's tARgt admirable plans, and
splendid aeveIopuisnts1c of them, it Is OF con.
sequence that not only the truth, but the
whole truth, be stated. That the genial
socialities Of headquarters" where Wost
newspaper reports afe written, may not be
most conducive Of justly severe aod impair
tally true criticism is possible yet an event
involving the momentous consequences of
human life, of orphange and widowhood,
US this has done, the just responsibility OF
such disaster shonld be made to rest unor.
ringly upon the right parties. 1t is with
this view that I give you sucoilictT state
neut,. made by one who has military skill
enoughfo form Legitimate conclusions from
the positive facts which came under his own,
personal observation while in the discharge
OF his duty on that ever memorable field. :
Whatever may have been the degree of
success won BY the general movement (and
i claim il was great, and the Potomac Army
SO deem it to day. it cannot be denied that
q needless disaster was permitted to happen
at Chsncellorsville. Upon whom rests the
fault? Our own correspondents, in all
the journals, have attributed it in turn to
the .di+afectiou, the. panic, the cowardice Of
the Eleventh Corps, and the editorial
no niles have charilably insisted upon the
ineAitability Of panics, proving their posi-
tions by quoting repeated instances among
the best drilled French troops and English
machines. 1t is true that no consider
able war ever was carried on which would
.r.L w.. ahoru US the saee ,essohs oI coniol. IL
SUD D.. s.oy 20 Io.n'1'.ns y, w" po"'Sy i:c,
a. oJs sacu eA,nna,ons ,:h res'oIe no he "
VIZ uedu " IDst hups " .uc nu,.neu, nol
Snd'J .ny ualf snauV"S irypI p'eeuhR nesl's
M Mu %uosoa,e1 % nomes' t,ei.ner oo 5ney cuIs
VIC "vannea nonor Vi .ne soiuler auu
,hos. y ai, .n .pi' cnse, ausmor not sGt
nhn utmaus VI .lu Dui suRpse ,"gy uiu,
mho % responslote i9r 'ne panlc nancs
Iave tneir iawS, anu they are generaiV un
uGr the controi Vi human iolecast' aug
seluom 40 they occur wnere that importan'
Iacuity mas presided, Inc great generator
oi panic y surpI'se-Surprise' surprise,
especially IN broad daynght' Is most hateo
w ah nnhtary co!hn'ahuers, because in tne
majority OF cases it rs synonymous WITH In
compe.eneys 1N s1sNuniqsiy, Or treaciiery. Ina
one Drls9ne lfsr1nan) oehayed padiy II
aaihi'ted tnat tney ran pane stricsef
tnrough tne lines OF other pr,gades, disor
ganizing them, is true; out that the iaui'
was .ne commangers --or commander s.
anu 'nat the result must nave Deen the
same with any troops, OF any. condition OF
eisclpiine or nationahty, IN from three &c
hve minutes, Is most certain, as the public
may Judse wnen stare the iacts' e..
l.ora ID THE MARCH.
The march was the most remarkable on,
of this war, or any other. All the sick ant
doubtful cases were left behind, and tn,
campaign undertaken by the hardy ant
buoyant. With enthusiasm they broke u,
their Winter camp, and full of confidenc,
! in Hooker, began a march thew hoped would
be crowned with decisive results for III,
country How patiently thew toiled beneatl
i their kuapsacks weighed down bv eiab
davs' rations, marched by dav and by n;vht
through sun and storm. arc matters o o
heroic record. And crossing the Rapida,
without opposition, concluding that Tor ono
our plans were not q evealed to the enemy
they became hopefully jubilant. There wer
numerous regiments which took into III,
/ fight every musket with which they lef
camp, The latter part Of the march wa
made on the plank road leading from Or
ange Court House to fredericksburg. The!
continued the march on this highway dowI
to the point whore the old turnpike leading
from the same plase joins it. distant from
Charlottesville about mile and o hal
when the boys filled left aud camped fo
the night, mile from the point Of junctur,
and slept in peace. Friday was spent il
making preparations for the decisive hour
skirmishing and occasional cannonadine
giving an earnest of the coming fray
The line of battle taken by the llth Corp,
was formed early Saturday morning, ant
kept during the day. II was a long, weal
line, that might have been pierced at al
most any point; and, ma king il still feebler
one brigade was detached to pursue the re-
treating ~ Rsbals ! No advantage O
ground was gained py thus extending il. :
tihe, pits had beenrdug along the fr0nt