Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-05-27
THE RAPPAHANNOCK CAMPAIGN
AND THE BATTLE OF GROVE
TON.
TIE ENEMY IN THE rear.

The task allotted to the Army of Vir-
ginia was to embarrass and delay the
enemy's advance until the Army of the
Potomac could be brought up from the
Peninsula. This was at best but an un-
grateful mission. 1t imposed the most
arduous and perilous duties, yet
gave but little opportunity for those ex-
plots which elicit popular applause
From their very nature the operations of
such a campaign were liable to be IN
appreciated and misunderstood. The ex-
tent of its. success or failure must there
fore be measured by that of the fulfil
ment of its design.
Judged by this criterion the Army Of
Virginia rendered a service in this cam
lspaign for which the country cannot be-
/ stow too much praise or be too grateful.
Confronted by the whole army Of Lee
/ let loose from Richmond the wonder is
that it was not .enveloped anddestroyed.
But by incessant vigilance and a series
of swift movements and hazardous Skin
mishes If interru pied and detained the
ehernyis advance and finally compelled
him to try on favorable terms the arbi-
trament of battle. It drove back the
first sortie from Richmond behind the
line of the Rapidan and from the 9th TO
the I8th Of August held the Army of
General Lee south of that river. No
longer able to maintain his position on
the Rapidan. General Pope, on the. 18th,
withdrew his army behind the Rap
pahannock where he was assured he
would certainly be REINFORCED BY Nc
Clellan's s army from the Peninsula, Our
/ forces held the line ofthe Rappahannock
/ until the 27th when. the enemy having
/ gained their rear, they Withdrew and
! joined him. IN a pitched battle. Had the
bulk of Mcclellan forces arrived IN time
or those which had arrived been willing tC
| Join II, this action Ii. could not have re
/ suited otherwise than in a decisive vic.
tory. Stonewal Jackson would have
been crushed and Lees invasion o
Maryland rendered impossible.
It was General Mcclellan S duty to dC
4 all in his power to secure that result anC
nothing less could satisfy the just expec
-tations- of his country. have tbs
following testimony from General Pope
in his report, as to what amount Of hell
he actually rendered:
REYNOLDS d vision of PENNSYLVANIA Re.
serves. about 2 500, Joined me on the 23d o
August at RappanannOck Station. Th
4 corps of Helut tzeiI man and Porter, about ls,
4 O01 strong, Joined me on the tn and 27th o
4 LAugusr, az 'Warienton- Junction The Penn
+
EIeia5tzs Imam is rps, consisting of the di
visions OF HOOker and Kearney, renders
/ IaUSt gallant and efficient > eIVIce IN all tn
operations which occurred after they has
reporte d to me. Porter's corps, frtiIn u1i
! necessary and unusual delays, and frequen
and fragrant disregard Of my Orders tooi
no part whatever except IN the action o
5n S3 I 5.iS 9 55a Sn95l Il G tF9Ss9e 2pra,
( trOups from HarFison's Landing which eve
| drew trigger under NV command, or in an,
way took part in that campaign BY tn
| time the cOrps of Franklin ana Sumner
1900 strong, Joined me at CentreviIle. tn
original Army Of Virginia, as well as tn
corps Of Heintzeiman and the division q
Reynolds had been so much cut up in tn
severe actions in which they had been en-
gagged, and We're SO much broken down an
diminishe d in numbers by the constant an,
excessiN duties they had performed, Iha
they were in little condition for any effec
, tive SCI yice whatever, and required, an
Z them into anything like condition TO pei
form their duties iP the field. I'd s. ..
Nevertheless General Mcclellan say
in his official report that he "left nothin
in his power undOne to. forward supple
and reenforcements to General Pope.
Let us see how his conduct sustaine
: this assumption. 5i.a
. On the sd of August Mcclellan wa
ordered to move to. .Acquia Creek Lane
! ing on the Potomac, r. miles from FREQ
: eriolzslbllrg. ~ ta d aer q.la
August 4t.-This order, was repeated
August o.-BattleiO of Cedar Mountain
/! FIalleck telegraphs Mcclellan 'I al
ofthe, opinion that the enemy is Inassin
Il his forces in front Of General Pope an
e Burnside, and that he expects to crus
. them and move towards the Potoma
You must send reenforcements instant
to Aequia Creek. Considering Il
amount of transportation at your disp
sail your delay is not satisfactory, Yc
must move with all possible dispatch. .
; August Io.ZGeneral Halleck aga
81 teiegraphs The enemy is crossing Il
rs Rapidan in large force. They are igh
ing General Pope to-day. There iau
Y tibe no further delay in yourmoVen1ents
,rr Mcclellan had been ordered, as ear
y as July go, to send away his sick
II speedily as possible yet as late as the 2
a of August, eight days afterward, he I
n ports only 3,O74 sick. moved "f17c2Hdi,
AZ some that are embarked tonight. al
In irvSill leave tomorrow morning VI leavil
about $500 still on, hand.
lH,August Five batteries OF artille