The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-21

OF the wounds is she'll wound. II lik,
manner our cavalry has been totally use
less, AZ cavalry. In all their engagement.
Inc men have been compelled 70 dismoun
and tight on foot. and the horse, except 70,
iocomotfon, has been q hipdrance rather
ntter 1mpossibility of maneuvering or ef
fecting any grand combination, the dif1a.
Guilty q generalship is enormously in.
creased. II will also be inferred from the
circumstances in which the battle OF the
Wilderness WIS fought, that it was quite
impossible for il TO- be decisive in its results
The combat lasted three days, but it might
have been prolonged 9 fortnight longe,
and still have left the issue undecided. -
Now that it il ended by the withdrawal Of
the enemy. though we are hardly justified
IN calling the result victory in the positive
sense OF the word, yet, If It be considered
that the enemy was signally tfoiled in the
purpose with which he Sought battle in the
Wilderness, that he was compelled TO fall
back, discounted, and that we are in Wig
orous pursuit, under circum stances that
gave us the shorter line of advance on
Richmond, even the most cautious and
skeptical will admit the gross and scope OF
the action to be most substantial advan-
tage to our arms. a-e@ - .Aeis.sts 90
When Grant, on Wednesday might and
Thursday morning, threw his army across
the Rapidap at Germania and Ely's Fords,
and the labofM Atwelvemonth' brought to
nought. The chief consideration that the
enemy's fortified position was turned,
prompted the Ranking movement on the,
enemy's right rather than on his left, was,
doubtless, that q successful movement bv
the FORMER direction would uncover Tor us
water communications BY Aqdia Creek
and Urhana-an advantage not to b over
looked and, indeed, indispensibie ID any
protracted march toward Richmond. The
disadvantage Is that the line OF march
southwark from the points Of crossing
leads through region in which no General
would seek to fight q battle. I mean. of
course, the /" wilderness" wild tract Of
barren country overspread with thick
growth OF stunted pine, extending from
Charlottesville up to Mine Run. g By
changing front by the right, Lee had it in
lorsville turnpike and the Orange and
Charlottesville plank road, to strike us at
right angles. The only escape would he to
make our passage Of the Rapidan i sur
prise-a conception which was very happi-
" carried ont. The march to the river
having been made during the night of
"Wednesday, Thursday morning found the
whole army planted safely on the South
complete, indeed, seems to have been the
surprise, that even after the whole army
had passed. the river, our. signal officers
reported the rebels stiil busy on their works
on the RApidan. III s. Il s@fta
But Of course, 1t was not long before Lee
became fully aware Of the situation, Ind
and he promptly changed front, and push
named, which, as you viii observe, runs
from west to tast. and strike the road on
which we must advance, the Germania and
Chancello rvilie plan k-road, precisely at
right angles. This was mastery move.
ment, for it Obliged Grant to halt, form
line Of battle, and dispose his force ia such
a way as to cover the fords. by which all
our teams we're yet 70 pass, end ,whch,.it
order TO preserve our line Of .commnnisea-
This, then. was how, Il came, strateeicall
~, that We were compelled to light the bat
lie, Of the Wilderness Nd encounter which
I am very sure both Gen. Grant and Meade
would gladly have avotdSd, had \ been
possible TO do so, This much credit At least
IL due Gen. Lee, who4e mf4ceuvre WAS one
Gen. lie intended 1 merely q Delay o mad
vance and gain time TOR the new combine
tions neoessiA1eds by our snnea1ful cross
ipG of the Rapidan. or whether he chose
this line ~ one, ON which to try the gage Or
Z, decisive battle, in the hope Of defeeing
ps in the same way he did in the same RE-
8ion (ChancellOrsville) at the same period
means Of dstermiDiAgpalt although the ,dss-
psrats vigog of the three day s, attack would:
give strong color to the, probability Of the
latter design. And it must be confessed
his advantages were great. He crowded us
into . restricted triangle, densely wooded
with few roads, which VA knsN impeFfsct5
y, and with sthei whole of!oqzy yast trail1
yet 70 pc 9roY9ht ever ~ rayeEs n.Qn "
ass h as9e sssa Bsss q
% much % we With q hundred thSlsapd,
and Ne had the siropgb Line eo6 Nine. Rp5,
six miles IN his reeex q Al W. back -ppQR u
case OF tepplsey When. u A9ye Mat A4ttr,
three days tight On which be- With 4espef-
ate fury, threw himself nepsefedly aaaiptt
every poiAtcf. ouz liNPr!ight, let and ceA.'
tre-ips thsn hope. 0f AEeakipg through and
tire disoomftedi the sum and substance of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. found Wsrrea's corps
(thec Finb, y Ct old Wilderness tavern, on the
GermaniA and. CbanQell0rsyille. IIplank-
road, Ave, miles south ,of' the ford, and
SedgWick in his reaE, Qp the same road and
extending down to- the river. Hancock's
corps on The came day CROSSED the river at
Ely's tord, fye0r aix, miles farther down
49,
Grove Church u Burnside'sg corps was
to, remain behind for twenty,four hours
Ct CalpsppsrJ ard then join the .msin
column. The maDpepvre Of The enemy
Compelled General sMsade ito form
line Of. battle north and south. and this was
done about ., mile, west Of the Germania
plank road and parallel to- it,, 6edgwick's
corps forming the right and resting on the
river It Germans Ford, and WarT0n join
ing his left. Finding the enemy was de-
10 t Hancock to move to shsdy az Grove Grove
Church was oountermanded, and he was
to diverge by what is called the
Brock road, swing round, come up and
form the leftOf the line. sew;s1
The disposition above given will have
shown that there must be for considera-
bic time great interval between our CEN