The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-15
Retreat of Gen. Hooker.

The army of Gen Hooker is again on the
north side of the Rappahannock. 1t began
to recross the river. Tuesday afternoon, and
was all over on Wednesday morning. The
troops were annoyed considerably by the fir
mg of the rebels from the neighborilg nights,
ard there were some casualties, but the ac-
counts 90 to indicate that the passage of the
river was made in good order and with ad
mrabe success under the circumstances
The first reports of the retreat stated that It
was preceded by severe battle and defeat Of
our forces on Tuesday, but later accounts
deny that there was any battle on that day,
and state that the army was deliberately
withdrawn from prudential reasons. Some
have already made haste to charge Gen Hook
er with cowardice in ordering this retreat.
but it is too soon, and the facts are too i'm
perfectly known, to make just judgment in
the matter possible, and it is quite likely
to appear that Gen Hooker has demonstrated
by the movement that he is a prudent lead
er, as he has already shown himself bold
one.
These are some obvious reasons for the
retreat. Heavy rains had softened the Dads,
and the rivers were rapidly rising. It was
probable that these difficulties would increase
to such an extent that retreat might become
extremely difficult or even impossible, when
II might become necessary to the preserva-
ton of the army. Besides, the rebels had
recovered possession of the nights along the
river, and we're already threatening Gen
fooksr's connections, which he could not
make secure. The enemy we're being rein
forced by way Of Gordonsville, and Gen
Hooker had not been informed of the sue
CesSes of Gen Stonemans cavalry in destroy
ING the railroad connections with Richmond.
Probably he did not know that Gen Heint-
z.eman was coming to his aid from Washing
tor with thirty thousand fresh troops. All
these considerations united must have had
great weight.
But we presume that Notwithstanding the
storm and the expulsion of Sedgwick's corps
from Fredericksburg, and the manifest diff
calties of defending his communications
Gen Hooker would not have retreated if the
battles of Saturday and Sunday had no,
gone heavily against him, and left his army
much crippled and in an exposed condition
We may credit the reports that in those bat
ties the enemy lost more than We did, but we
know that or Saturday Gen Hooker's army
was driven from an excellent position, com
manding the road to Gordonsville, and tha,
he only in part regained by Sundays battle:
the ground lost on Saturday, and did no
regain the control Of the Gordonville road 81
as to prevent the reinforcement Of the enc
my. We know also that he left many of Iii
dead and wounded in the hands of the enc
my. 1t also appears that after the battles o
was continually pressed upon and harrassee
by the enemy, until the question came to be
not how to destroy the enemy, but how te
save his own army. 1t is pretty evident tina
the enemy were stronger in numbers ane
had also the advantage of perfect familiarit.
with the region, in which they were opera
ting, and they were handled with great ski
BY their generals. The men of both armle
fought with well-ma.ched courage and obsti
macy, and Gen Hooker had no reason
TO expect success except by superiorit
of numeral strength or of position. 1t be
came his duty therefore to extricate his arm,
from its dangerous position, and there j