Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-21
GEN. HUNTERS CAMPAIGN m VIRGINIA

the 18th instant contains the following reference to Gen.
Hunters campaign, which it says is " from reliable
source We could wish that it might prove to be in
respects exaggerated
One thing sure-Gen Crook saved the army as much
80 as Gen. Thomas saved the army during the memorable
contest ut ChicksmauRa The loss of the entire command
VIII probably be seven hundred killed wounded and
hg one hundred and fifty wagons fifteen hundred head OF
noses ana mules SIX pieces Of artillery and eleven Gals
sohsthe two latter tins lost by sheer caressness and
gross neglect OF duty the part of somsbody Gen Hun
er not Napoleon by means, while Gen. Crook
the King Bee" OF the expedition We lost LyDchburp
by nexcusabe delays and could have taken it easily forty
gnt hours before got there and might have been
Gsre mad we not remained at Lexington two days The
virginia Military Institute burned with it's valuable
library philosophical and chemical apparatus relics aud
geological specimens; nothing saved Washington
College was sacked and its fine library destroyed auto
graph letters of WssbDgt carried off &c Mrs Gov
srhor Letchers residence destroyed by fire. she only
having ten minutes to get out sni only saved what
contained in three or four trunks and boxes this
myself The Institute and Mrs. Letchers residence
destroyed by order Of Gen Hunter The sackipg of Wash
ngton college done without orders but wnked at by
the same official The lady Principal of the college went
to Gen informed him of the proceedings and asked for
protection which was fatly refused Gen Crook pro-
Tested against the destruction of prvae property but
without avail II great outrage the burning
OF Inc library ut Washington by the British in 1872
Were but half the truth known in regard to this e1pedi
non 1t would damn officers forever Had it been
or Gen Crook our retreat from Lynchburg would have
been complete route aud terrible disaster As it was
MS trmness and the fact Of Hunters giving him virtually
the direction OF every thing and the unbounded confidence
the entire army had in Crook (or the felt that he
posing the AFFAIR." saved all and prevented stampede
and general demoral cation These all facts which
every officer and soldier cognizant Of 1t terri
Die trp-Worse on the men than Mogans retreat from
Cumberland Gap. We did ncacuabe injury the rebels
IN the destruction OF mills factories furnaces Government
shops railroads. bridges culverts depots wood and crops
WHY LYNCHBURGwAs NOT TAKEN.
The Cinclnnsti Gazette several days ago published let
ter Gated at Gauey West Vrgnia) the LIST of July
which the writer undertakes to say why Lynchburg
not taken. We quote what he says:
1--WE didn't take Lyuchburg, and why2 Simply be-
cause MAJ Gen. Hunter allowed failure in the frat most
important element Of raid CELEBRITY of movement. raid
is advance far into enemys country where at very
short notice vastly superior forces be hurled against
the invading party The only hope for in such
movement depends upon the surprise Of the INVADER
suddenness OF the blow and he has time and
lect hs orces the rapidly of return the original
bess where the parties nearly equal footing Now
did Gen Hunter move in accordance with this requisite
Gen Crook with his command joined him at Stanton on
Wednesday noon, june g. where he had been resting his
men two days.
ALREADY among the rebe Is it was believed that Lynch
burg the point at which aiming Yet we lay
at Staunon until Friday morning, the 10th, and by short
entered Lexington the evening of the 1lh
aud rested here until Tuesday morning the 4h By this
Time belief in the rebel mind had become certainty ami
heard that they taking the Lynchburg to
Danve, and making preparations to resist US at Lynch
burg. Lexington is only fory-one miles distant from
Lynchburg by the direct route. Gen. Crook here inn
plored permission to march his gallant KanaWba dvi
sion by this road and prise and take Lynchbure
cordalc5 with his raid like custom but he
fused and compelled to march with what be knew al
most fatal sownsss.
Instead Of taking the direct route Gen Hunter leads
US of to Liberty by way OF Buchanan-both trng places
10 neither Of which did gain any peculiar advantage
taking two sides of triangle instead of the shorter
line.
"Now notice the result Of all this delay Of four days. and
how it defeated design against Lynchburg We
arrived at Lnchbug Friday afternoon attacked aud drove
the rebels miles and only halted with the coming night
During the night the heavy reporcements from Richmond
division under Early arriUed in Lynehbug having been
just five days on the way This latter fact we have
tanned from undoubted testimony With these reinforce
mens the army 10 Lynchburg FAR oulnumbered ours and
that too, with The addition of strong bresstworks rife
pits and forts In such situston but left,
and that Is, speedy and cautious retreat
"We, the retreat is beauu and certainly complaint
can be made of delay id ing in this partof the march
Then furthermore look ut the dsgracefu loss Of ar,il
ey to psry pack OF guerras not quite two hundred in
all what MORE rather less could be than that
such loss would Of necessity follow the disposition
made If the batteries in what seemed be ssveci
ally Hunters command of the first dIvsoni They were
made separate tran just rs our wagons Attempts had
been made TO induce Gen Crook the ri,k with
his batteries but 10 the absence of any positive orders he
managed to avoid it.
such then, to be the cause of our failure 20
take Lyuchburg Gen Hunter although good officer of
high education, is not the man to go on raid n
ANOTHER CRITIoUE ON THE CAMPAIGN.
The ST Louis Union also Republican print, in r.
viewing the campaign of Gen Hunter holds him respon-
able for the late oray in Maryland because when falling
back from his unsuccessful movement upon Lynchburg
be reteatrd through the into Western Virginia
instead of retiring down the Sheusndoah valley. We quote
the following
Gen Hunters movements up to the time he defeated
the rebels under Sam jones' at Staunton admirable
His movements subsequent to that event uuresyed
blunders He might and ought to, have captured Lynch
burg This the chief object Of bis expedition aud he
had ample force TO accomplish it But The unnecessary
delay be made at Lexington and his sluggish M veme MT
from that place toward Lyncbburg gave the rebel Gov
erDmen at Richmond time to send Eweps corps against
him Ewell arrived barely in time 10 Lynchburg.
Had Hunter done his duty, Ewe would have arrived
days too late As it Huuter after reaching the gates
Lynchburg and spending two days in skrmishing was
forced to retreat with tee rebels at his heels.
"He committed his second and worst blunder
After getting into Eockbridge county bis plain line
treat lay down the Shenandoah valley through Stanton
Harrisburg and Winchester, to the Potomac. This line
toe shortest and easiest in fact it the oniy line
that should have occurred to him Had he follow it he
could have arrested the pur,ung rebel forcs Wnches
ter driven back and saved the shame and os OF the
present invasion Of Maryland. Instead of this however
he led his army into Western Virginia where il lay use
less and helpless at the time its services we're most
needed
When Hunter turned off into Western Virginia the
rebels ceased following bin, turned down the valley,
crossed the Potomac, spread themselves Marysnd
and advanced upol Baltimore and Washington They
met with feeble opposition because the Government
had sent a the troops could possibly spare from Bsli
and Washington to Grant aud the veteran army that
ought to have been upon the ground prevent the rebel
passage OF the Potomac through the inerpicabs IA