Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-14

We yesterday stated, on the same authority which
gave currency to similar representations in all pa
per having telegraphio communication with
Washington, that the late demonstration Of Gen,
Hooker had "proved no disaster, but simply fail
ure, owing to the impracticability Of the position
which the army hal gained with 50 much skill and
energy" To this il was added that " less than
three-eghths of our whole force was engaged, or
could be engaged, the ground being covered with
forest, without any practicable roads," and that
therefore the "reinquishment of the position across
the Rsppahannock was made simply because it af.
forded no6sld for themaneuvring Of the army, and
from anyrevcrse injury sustained 10 the late
battles" ! aci 7s9AG s,Si IN 4sflq aefss
1t will be readily understood by the reader that
these Representations were derived from sources
supposed to be well informed respecting the views
which obtained in Official quarters concerning the
causes that Lad brought about Gen. Hooker's re.
trogrsd movement; and i. could not have escaped
the notice 0f4any one that these representations,
In seeming to excuse the retreat Of Gen. Hooker,
imply at the same time agrave reflection the stra-
tegy ard generalship which had brought the Army
of the Potomac into position which was found so
\" impractcabe" that less than three-eiehths of
force could be engaged against the masses
Of the enemy-so narrow was the field for the "ma.
rGuyring of the army" 8 ,sstr
Az our knowledge respecting the topography Of
that region and Of the roads by which il is inter
sected did not justify this statement, and as more.
over Gen Hooker bimself had very different appre.
~sa IF tho unsisfarv L. L
coDgratalaiory order of the Both ultimo announc-
ing that he operations of the last three days had
determined that the enemy must either inglorious-
Iy A. or come out from behind his defences and give
us battle on our own ground, where certain de-
strueticn awaited him, We doubted at the time the
accuracy Of the causes thus assigned for the unex
pected movement Of Gen. Hooker in recrossing the
Rappahannock Be.ides, we could not very clear
ly perceive how il was proper to speak of an army
as having gained with skill and energy" posi-.
ton where j. q had no field for maneuvingo and
where there were no "practicable roads," since
such positions conld be more easily gained with
cut skill than with it, AZ, however, the source
through which, in common with our contempora-
flies, we received this communication induced rs
to suppose that this vie obtained in official quar-
ters, we gave it currency in Difference to what We
supposed might be the better information of the
War Department in the premises
Apart from cur own Impressions as to their pur.
port, We have since been convinced that these re.
presentations could not have been authorized by
the military authorities 10 this city, especially as
we tiad DO endorsement Of them in the local Jour
nal whose relations with the War Department would
enable it TO speak systematically, if not officially,
respecting the military situation, as far as that
situation was known at headquarters in this CITY
We therefore deem it due to copy from yester-
days Morning Chronicle the following paragraph,
in which, under this head, it intmates that the
precise reasons why Gen. Hooker withdrew his
army across the Rappahannock can be developed
only by time. To this purport that journal says:
Time only develop the precise reasons why Gen.
Hooker withdrew his army across the Rsppahaunock It
may DC ans' no. only inc swelling OF the streams b the
movement which unexpected TO the public tsrge
We do not to speculate. We content with GER
more damage on the enemy than they have on u.s. Tho
whole smount OF wounded caunot exceed Ave thou
sand and our Killed fifteen hundred This We learn from
reliable sources There is means Of telling how many
prisoners have taken but it certainly than ave
thoutand the number reported Lee and dispatches
from Suffolk show this 10 be over-esmate. The fact
that the enemy not willing to follow as we with
drew to tho river nor able to interfere with crossing
certain indication Of their exhaustion They wcro I'M
questionnby terribly cut Gen. Stoughton reports
they acknowledge 10 unprecedented LOSSES and that they
suffered especially from artillery"
It is yet too early to indulge in any criticisms
on the campaign of Gen. Hooker which has ended
50 suddenly and so unexpectedly almost before it
was begun. 1t does not appear that the division
Of the army under his immediate command was In
any case the attacking party, but simply repealed
the ASSAULTS Of the enemy, losing SEINE ground, in
each instance, until on the night Of Tuesday last
it was judged prudent by himself and hi, corps
commanders to retreat across the Rappahannock
Of course there will be many /" military critics.
ready to pronounce this movement injudioious and
premature, If not cowardiy as indeed is more than
iosnusted by military correspondent Of the New
York Tribune, whose letter we reproduce to-day
Fortunately, the public is tolerably familiar with
these imputstions on Generals who exercise eau
ton that cannot be always understood, either in its
causes or in its necessity, by those who are not
placed in situation to take the responsibility Of
military decisions on the field Of battle. IL Gen.