Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-15
Mr.. Emil Schnlk, author of a work on tn,

/ Mr.. Emil Schalk, author of a work on the
present campaign, has communicated the fol-
lowing opinion 70 the Philadelphia Press
SIR; When battles are fought in which thou
sands and thousands Of brave soldiers are immo-
lated, but which, notwithstanding the great
sacrifice. do not obtain an adequate result for
/ the enormous loss Of life, is it not the duty Of
every friend Of the country TO inquire into the
cause Of the disasters which cover a whole nation
with mourning, AMI which in It's history, remain
dark spot in il glory
The late battle Of fredericksburg and Chan
cellorville, with It's hecstombs Of human beings.
may, ike nearly al other battles Of this war; lo
traced directly To the mistakes Of the general.
commanding. AMI it Is but Just That the whole
country should have clear insight into those
mistakes, for it may be that thus more crrar- in
future viii be avoided
Looking AT the map, 10 wli Dee seen tI1t tho
rebel army, in It's encampmcnt, near Frederick
burg, held a line running from northwest 90
southeast, its right wing was EXTENDED as far
down as Port Royal, on the Rapplhannock; IFS
left wing rested above Fredericksburg on the
same river This army has only two main
. lines Of retreat One towards Richmond, the
other towards Gorionsville. 1t cannot retreat 20
the east or southeast, as such march would
carry il into the Potomac, OF York river.
Under these circumstances, the natural point
Of attack Is the rebel left wing II this wing Is
seriously defeated, and the victory rapidly fol-
lowed up, the rebel army would be pressed from
its two lines Of retreat against the southeast,
thrown against the rivers. it would finally he
obliged to surrenier-the same fate which hefel
the Prussian army after the battle Of Jena.
Crossing, therefore, above Fredericksburg, at
United States ford, for instance, marching rap
idly 10 Chancellorvile, and from there To-
point midway between Chancellorvillc and GUM
ey, the railroad, Cor, if the last move be con-
sldered too daring, moving straight from Chan
cellorville against Fredericksburg,) would be the
correct stragetical move to obtain the desired
suit, viz; the destruction Of the rebel army 1t
most speed, concentration Of force, and utmost
daring, would guarantee a complete sue
cess.
Gen. Hooker arranged his plans of attack as
follows He had seven army corps; Of these,
three were massed below fredericksburg. 10 cross
there and make feiDt attack on the rebels, two
Of the corps, Immediately after crossing, to re
turn and join Gen. Hooker, who meanwhile,
was crossing with the four remaining corps at
several fords, some ten TO twenty miles above
Fredericksburg.
On Sunday, 9th Of April, the movement was
commenced on Monday it was continued. and
on Tuesday morning the three corps below Fred
ericksburg, and on Tuesday night and welnes-
day morning, the four corps above Fredericks-
burg, made good their crossing.
On Wednesday and Thursday the main army
moved to Chsncellorville, some FIVE miles from
the principal crossing place, making five miles
in thirty-six hours Friday was occupied by
throwing up entertainments; Saturday the fight
ing seriously commenced; Saturday evening, on
ly, as il appears, the two remaining corps ar
rived from below. Sunday. another attack. anil
repulse of the main army
Meanwhile, Sedgwick carries the cntrench-
ments behind Fredericksburg. BY Sedgwick's
movement, two lines Of operations are clearly
formed, the two Union armies separated by dis
lance Of some twenty miles; the rebels in a cen
trail position between them. While all these
movements are being carried out, the whole
cavalry under Gen. 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. lie
easily discerns the feint from the real attack.
He throws his whole force against Gen Hooker.
whom he confronts on Thursday evening, giving
up, meanwhile, his entertainments near Fred
erieksburg
Hooker is beaten on Saturday On Sunday.
scarcely is he on the defensive, when Gen. Lee,
Sunday night, and throws, ON Monday, the
mass Of his forces agains; Sedgwick. who the day
before had carried the fortifcations near FREEZER
icksburg. Selgwick is beaten, crippled, and
scarcely escapes annihilation After this triple
cheek, Gen. Hooker gives up the contest. and
recrosses the river.
BY what we have said above Of the position
of the rebel army it will he seen tina; the cross
ing at Chancelorville by the main force, was en-
tirely correct but it viii be seen, too, that the
crossing effected by four corps only, instead IF
seven, or at least six, was entirely correct
Had the army consisted Of the seven corps,
and marched on Wednesday morning, in forced
marches towards Fredericksburg. or in a direc-
ton some five TO six miles south OF Fredericks-
burg, they would have been, by wednesday
night, behind the rebel Entertainments.
The great decisive battle of the war would
probably have taken place on Thursday, and
would have been fought under very different
from those of Saturday, Sunday
and Monday, where our army was beaten in de
tail.
The fiea Of general, who Is on tue offensive.
whose svowei subject IS the capture or dsstruc-
ton Of whole army, making six miles in thn-
ty-six hours, just in the most critical moment Of
bis operations, and finally. after entreaehing