Weekly national intelligencer., 1864-03-31
MILITARY DlSAYOWALS.

The New York Tribune of Saturday last, under
the head of "Fighting," informs its readers that
its editors "pretend to no acquaintance with the
art of war;" but at the same time "wishes to have
it clearly understood" that if we lose any moro
battles by persisting in the scatteration policy"
which has hitherto crippled our forces, such q
strategy is not of their invention, but is to them
quite incomprehensible.
We hasten to make this announcement, in JUS
tice to our New York contemporary and also in
warning to Gen. Grant The article in which it
makes this exculpation, By way Of preliminary de-
fence against the imputation of being responsible
for any future military mistakes which may be COM
mitted BY the Administration in carrying on the
war is as follows:
"We pretend acquantance-As readers already
know-with the art OF in far rs it is specially
We endeavor to exclude from our columns all tdlDgs OF
movements in progress in contemplation. We have
very little to OF movements on our side that have ter
minated except when commend or at least justify
them. We did not eveA commend the authorization and
appointment of Lieutenant General until all was
over when did approve the seec ion most heartily
Aud all that have heard from Of Gen. Grant
strengthens faith in him Without being the least n
hurry presume that he will, n his good time lead
of armies to BATTLE and trust to victory And
have strong premonton that he will avoid the
which have caused the miscarriage of some former efforts
The dispersion Of our forces-to extent unavoid
abehss caused the most of disasters in the past
After have Lost bate-at all events failed to win it
discover that d few more regiments would have in
sured decisive triumph, and that had the regi-
ments only they didn't happen to be whore they should
have BEEN II we lose any battles from this
which trust is not to be-we wish to have it clearly
understood that such strategy not of invention but
is to quite incomprehensible"
In the same number Of the Tribune, and in .
parallel and adjoining column, we find an elaborate
disquisition on the Intellectual campaigns set on
foot by the military authorities against Richmond.
We cite what cur contemporary says of the battle
of Charlottesville
"Chancellorsvle under Gen. Hooker comes next a
battle the 2d and Sd Of May 1868 Into all the
Of the defeat there suffered have space here
enter-though the truth shall time be told Suffice
to s6y that Gen. Hooker began that campaign with
army OF l23,0OO fighting men, present for duty His
plans in many respects well conceived aud executed
but the actual shock of battle found him incompetent to
WELD the vast force placed in his hands, and Lee, with
49 700 men, beat him and drove him back the Rap
pahanuock Or rather he not driven back. Not
than half his army had been in action when be retreated
and he reteated before enemy whose forces he out
numbered two to etreated because he physically
and mentally exhausted, and because one corps com
mander, paramount in personal Influence persuaded
his weakness Neither of those commanders will again
lnnge with hs fortunes Of the Army Of the Potomac.
There is to be said, but it is all to the same
point, and inust stop here Nothing could be palmer
than that hitherto have been the victims Of
and Of worse quaities-in commanders They are
put aside, With new leader, crowned with thickly-
gathered aures let bate jo of heart hope
let the propect before be clouded by memory
past defeats"