The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-27
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
Ices Net Think Gen. Howard to Blame for the
Defeat.


To THE EDITOR: There have been of late in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE several cOntribu-
tions to the Charlottesville campagn,-nota-
bly, one by Private Kellogg, Of the 55th Obs,
and one by DR.. Coe: Of the 147th n. Y. Both
these comrades are disposed to lay all the blame
for the failure on Gen. Howard, who COM
manded the right wing of the army, and on
whose flank Jackson's terrible and unexpected
charge fell. Comrade Kellogg also produces a
copy of stationary order, issued by Gen.
Hooker on the Saturday morning before Jack
sons flank movement, directed to Gen. Howard,
which he says did not see the light until two
months after the battle, which fact he thinks
is very suspicious. We should think if How
ard designed to withhold this dispatch, as the
writer intimateS lie might have done, he
would never have had it placed on file at all.
We know that corps and army commanders
often receive spatches-sometimes of Il pri-
vate nature-whlch are their own property,
and they are not obliged to turn them into the
Adjutant- Generals Office. The fact about Gen.
Hooker is, that he was really defeated on
Thursday evening, when he Withdrew his lines
to Il perious defensive position about Chancel-
lorsville instead OF pushing out and assuming
the offensive and dividing Lees army before
the re-cnforcements arrivet-. The plan of this
movement across the RappahannOek was a
brilliant one on the part of Hooker; was most
admirably executed up to the above date, and
no doubt had he pushed forward as was sup
posed he intended, he could have whipped the
enemy in detail and accomplished one of the
most brilliant victories of the war, and Grant
in such q contingency, would not have been
called from the West to annihilate the Army of
Northern Virginia But at the critical point
at the time when success was not only possible,
but probable, Hooker seems to have become
paralyzed or. perhaps, overcome by his success
in crossing the Rappahannock so easily, and
his mind seer led incompetent 10 grasp the sit
uatOn. Therefore, he Immediately assumed
the defensive, and remained in that condition
until his ignOminious retreat five days after
wards If the crossing of the RappahannOck
meant anything, in accordance with the science
OF war 1T meant offensive campaign, and
Hooker had a fine army, we'll equipped for the
work in hand, while Lees army was small aud
had to wait for re-enfOrcements to meet this
unexpected movement. Hooker, with most
wonderful consideration to his enemy, waited
patiently in his little circle of intrenchments
in the bend of the river until Lee could receive
the expected re-enfOrcements and mobilize his
army, after which the Army of the Potomac
began and completed most mastery retreat
As to breaking of our right,-the panic of a
portion of Towards COrps,-it seems wrong to
blame the result of this movement to that
disaster, as without Towards Corps Hooker
had enough men to have whipped his antago-
mist. Towards Corps was new to the Army
of the Potomac, and no soldier in our army
considered the rout of portion of it as of any
great consequence, even though one of its
Dutchmen ran down to the ford of the river,
threw Oft his knapsack, his arms and accOuter-
ments and cried out in his agony, Mine GOtt,
what will become Of us?"
Reynolds Corps had also arrived on Satur-
day evening, and was fresh and ready for battle.
Half the troops were not engaged at all, and as
for Rockers complaint about Sedgwick not
joining him, he was certainly in the best posi-
tiOn to strike the enemy had Hooker only CO.
operated at Charlottesville Had Hooker
possessed the genius and push necessary for that
campaign, he might have occupied the place i'll
military history, and in the affections of the
people. which Gen. Grant now holds.-J. G.
HARRIS, H'd'qrs Fifth Corps, A. P.