The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-18

we most sincerely hope that Colonei Ha"-
lin will be able 10 demonstrate the fsct
and leave It TO carry no part OF the re-
sponsbility except that which fairy De-
longs to IT; and. however IL may turn
out, we are satisfied, from what we nave
heard OF his work, that Colonel Hanln
is going to give perfectly fair and acch-
rate account OF this great battle, when
Will show that what the Confederate
army did in II sounds more like some Oh
the eastern fairy tales than the real per-
formances OF men OF flesh and blood ~
was truly a most wonderful performa'o''
When a bare statement of the resPec'''e
forces Is made this sufficiently appea,9
General Lee had present for duty d, '"e
commencement of the operations o''Vo'
General Hooker had present for du'y 100
70s-a numerical superiority OF NIUE we
take these figures. and the Others we
shall use. from Gen. Fitz Lees NE VI
Cen r. +. Lee.
Hooker,s nlan was not badly conceived.
lie de,eru,ned 10 throw Sedgwick across
tha Rannahannock at Fredericksburg with
70 .nl as many soldiers as General Lee
had In all. while he crossed at the upper
ford Of the river with 1924 to fan upon
Cen. Lees left flank and rear. He pushed
a part OF one corps across the Rappahan-
mock al United States ford, some nine
miles above Fredericksburg, while he
marched with the Eleventh, Twelfth, and
Fifth corps up to Kelly's ford, twenty-six
miles above Fredericksburg, where ne
crossed the Rappahannock; PROCEEDING
thence TO the Rapidan, at Germania FORA
and Ely's ford. by which he marched TO
Charlottesville. Why Hooker made this
march of not less than nifty miles we
were never able to understand. He couid
have crossed his whole army at United
States ford and have reached Chancellors-
Vile by a march Of about thirteen miles
He could have crossed the Rappahannock
al Richards ford about a mile below the
junction Of the Rappahannock and the
Rapidan. and not more than five miles
from Charlottesville, OF he could nave
crossed at Ellis ford. a better ford win
better roads than Kelly's, six miles above
Richards and not over seven miles from
Cbancellorsvine But ne chose to make
the long march, and was four days, there
fore, In concentrating his army on Lees
left at Chancellorsvllle.
After getting there he drew from SedS-
wick 1900. leaving him 1900 for the at
tack by way Of Fredericksburg.
Lee meantime penetrated his designs.
and leaving Early 10 face Sedgwick with
not more than 1900 men. he boldly
marched up TO Charlottesville TO attack
Hooker before he could disentangle him
self from the impenetrable forest OF the
Wilderness. Retaining 1900 men In front
OF Rockers 70, 000 he sent Jackson early
IN the morning Of the % OF May. with
2s. 600 men, on that clrcuitous march OF
sixteen miles around 10 Rockers right
flank.
To any friend Of Lee who understood 1t
the situation of the case at this stage
would have been simply appalling. Sedg-
wick was ten miles In his rear with an
army nearly as large as Lees whole army
and with nothing but handful Of men
between them. Hooker was mile In
front of him with 1900 more. Neverthe-
less he deliberately sent Jackson off on
n long. cIrcuitous march Of sixteen niles
whilst he remained between Hooker and
Sedgwick with only 1900. Such audacity
is without parallel in the history of the
world.
jackson started on his march, and on
the way Sickle's corps observed the move
ment, and cut into the line Of IT, ola
Stonewall paid no further attention TO the
cut than to move the line of his march
further into the interior and go on with
H. This caused Hooker to send off dis
matches announcing that Lee vas In fun
retreat 10 Gordonsville and that Scles
was amongst his routed organizations af-
ter his artillery and baggage trains.
Meantime Stonewall pursued his march
and got completely around and behind
Hooker's left, the Eleventh corps, In
time TO attack ii that evening, rout and
destroy II. and send # Il disorganized mass
! into the rest Of HoOker's army. He was
| pressing down that night upon Hooker
rear, bent on getting between him and
| United States Ford. and MASKING his de-
| moraiized army next morning between
| Lees front and his rear attack, when the
| unhappy calamity occurred that laid him
| low and ended the prospects OF the Con-
| federacy. Stuart, being put into command
| of his corps. pressed the attack next
! morning, while Lee attacked also with
| his 1900 men. The two bodies effected a
| junction during the morning. and gave
| Hooker who had meantime drawn anoth-
| er corps from Sedgwick, and had, there
| fore. 92.71e men 10 resist with, the mem
| orable overthrow which he received on
| the 3D..
1t cannot be doubted that Hooker's
entire army would have been destroyed.
and would probably have surrendered as
a body had Lee not been interrupted at
the climax Of his victory by intelligence
| that Sedgwick. with 5000 men. had de-
feated Early and was marching up to at
| tack his right flank. He was forced 10
suspend his operations until he could
dispose OF Sedgwick. He concentrated on
him. drove him 10 the river. across which
| he escaped during the night and, before
| he could complete his preparations for re-
| newing his attack on Hooker, that COM
| mander had withdrawn every man he
| had across the river. and the campaign
| of Charlottesville was ended.
| View this battle as we may, il is as
great a triumph as any military COM
mander ever achieved. 1t seems almost
| Incredible that the handful Of men
which General Lee commanded could
| have so effectually defeated demoralized.
and. Ii is not too much to say. routed
| the immense host that Hooker command
ed. 1t was only accomplished by genius
| and daring. and il elevates Robert f.
Lee and Stonewall jackson To the very
| -. 81.