Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-05-06
rbe Sitnation..A decisive ba1Glc imminent on
the line of the RappahannOck.

rhe sitnation-.A decisive bsHic imminent on
the line of the Rappahannock.
The imminence of a decisive battle, involving the
e of our Capital has again attracted all eyes to the
ines of the Rappahannock. By a series of move
nents swiftly and sklfuy executed, the Federal
rmy has crossed the river and succeeded in flank
ng the position held by General Lee. As stated
our last issue, the terms of enlistment of thirty
light Federal regiments within a few days of
1nring and they have persistently refused all in
ocements to reenlist # is obviously Hooker's
n;ention, by. placing in his rear both the Kappa
nnock and the Rapdan to precipitate the collision
long deferred, and risk his all on the desperate
szsrd, before his army should be weakened by the
departure ofthese homesick regiments, The knowl
1sc too that our forces in his front had been. d.
FINISHED by the withdrawal Of troops to menace
hints of lesser moment was probably not without
.eisht in inducing an immediate attack. From the
Richmond Examiner Of Saturday, we get the fellow
no interesting account Of the cnemy's movements
up 10 that time:
.The passage Of c'Rappahannock on Wednesday
rss feint The bulk Of the Yankee army moved
no the river while the Confederate attention was
ycd on the detachment which had crossed at Deep
Esa. The detachment was then withdrawn to.
laHord. Meanwhile Hooker passed the Kappa
hammock at Kelly's and other fords, then marched
through that portion Of Culpepper which fills the
Jerk of the river till he reached the Rapidan at Ger
hanna Mills and Ely's Ford, skiTmished with our
tsyary near Charlottesville, and having got pos
sss;on of that place is said to have reached point
,ery near to Spotsylvania Court House.
The line Of battle has been completely changed.
stretches from E!y's Ford, on the Rapidan, to
Eno,srlyauia Court House. The Federal army is
now on the south side of both branches Of the Rap
bahannock, and its froat is parallel with the Rail-
cad from Fredericksburg to Richmond. 1t is upon
he flank, and partly upon the rear of the position
defended by the army under Lee in last December
According to this statement, which we consider
xact, Hooker has turned the famous hills of Fred
kricksburg. 1t is evident that this maneuvre will
tecesstate corresponding alteration in the dispo
ton of the Confederate troops, and that the new
battle will be fought in the country between Fred
ricksburg and Spotsylvania Court House. unless
he enemy should endeavor to continue his flank
Dov.ment beyond the last named place to cut the
Whether the eneuy has gained an advantage by
he execution of this movement is quite doubtful.
is true that the deadly slopes AROUND FrederckS-
urr. and all the we'll contrived Notifications which
efsnded them, are avoided. The ground on which
he battle is now to be fought is without fortifca
on, and offers no remarkable advantage of position
either party This much Hooker has gained
ut in other respects his situation is far worse than
efore, His supplies must come either Gy wagon
the way from Alexandra, OF follow him-through
he circuit he has made from Acquia Creek. Our
wn army still commands the supplies of the two
airoads, the Richmond and Fredericksburg and
he Central road Both pass within ten miles Of
potsyvania Court House Surprising that to be
be point of contact between the two armies, it is
vident that our supplies will have to be wagoncd
ny ten miles, while those Of the enemy must be
ragoned thirty-fiv miles at the least. The whole
Guntry is more or less wooded, and except that
art of it close to the rivers, is red clay. a rain
ri render it bad A heavy rain will raise, the Ra-
dan and Rappahannock in one night, till they are
nford.ble, and thus cut off the supply of the Fed
raj army altogether. Hooker must force fight
Immediately, or incur great risk from these causes
But hazardous and difficult supply Is not the
MY thing to be balanced against the apparent sue
ess of his flank movement In his new position
lis army stands in very great danger of being itself
anked. HE'S now thrty-five miles from his nase :;
lis communications pass along the are Of circle
While the Confederate army holds the diameter
bne operates on the long line, the other on the
hort and in theory, at least the adyantaseis de-
isive.
The result will be known in very few days
berhaps in one day. The Federal General has net
Plsced himself in this perilous position to hold it
png.
lie will fight at once if Lee will let him, for by
his time he is sufficiently well acquainted with the
haacter of the rivers which be has crossed to know
hat rainy day will ruin him. He has set every
hing On the hazard of battle, for if he is defeated
this side Of the river and in the heart Of Spotsyl
sna neither he nor his army win ever more see
ehllS of Stafford. The whole design and execu-
)onaf.this manceuvre marks the character of the
ban how at the head Of the Federal troops. He has
opacity, some courage, and much natural reckless
less, improved and cultivated by long experience
i the gaming table,. This war found him dis
raced and broken adventurer, bankrupt in fortune
nd in fame without respectable friend or IN hon.
fable hope. He has been lucky enough at the
PINE OF Drag no has played with the army, and like
true gambler, be will not finch from the d" Gu
He wins or loses all before he rises from, the
bic. If he loses he is no worse of than he vas
fore; if he wins he will laom up Yankee Ma
bloom, and will soon be the Dictator of bis country
The situation of the moment is certainly one of
ave interest to the Confederacy, but We can see
Ohing in it to occasion apprehension. . If the
ahce OF war falls against U.S. the worst that will
obably come Of it will be contraction Of our
hes to points nearer Richmond; for We cannot
aasine that the Confederate coNnander, under any
'cumstances, could permit Hooker to interpose
tween Fredericksburg and Richmond before be
.. completed its evacuation. Whilca defeat, er
easta disadvantage; is always possible thing
war, there is not one fact now known that renders
Oh event likely. The Confederate army in Spot
7'nla is far SUPERIOR now to what it formerly
and it was always superior to the best Federal
F"ps. Lee and jackson are ADLER men than
toker., They hold the interior line, and possess
advantage o. concentration. A decisive victory
he Confederates may be reasonably anticipated"
The Richmond Sentinel of the I'd instant, says:
We learn that our own army was in motion on
Nday from right to left, and vas changing 'front.'
wet this new front, of the enemy. The demon
I'm ,i and the cannonade at Fredericksburg, were
rMreavy feint.' The two armies are now SO near
[us ~ and no water between, that we presamea
b. "aay or to morrow is probable, If not inesl-
d e., Hooker Is certainly making a>bod move,