The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-26

ened our rear, General Lee turned once
again to Hooker. To avoid another
fight, Fighting Joe withdrew, under
cover of the night, to the north bank
of the Rappahannock by way Of United
States ford. Just one week before
this, this valiant chieftain crossed to
the south of that river, gaining posi-
tion which he boastfully announced,
and doubtless believed, would force
Lee to retreat toward Richmond.
ALAS alas! how very uncertain doubt
full things sometimes seem to be-.
1T was cruel in Lee, Jackson and
Jeb Stuart to administer such crush
ing defeat to the general who had so
shortly before boasted of the superior
ity of his army over that Of the Con-
federates. Lee should have summon
ed Longstreet, Hood and Pickett, with
their veteran troops from Suffolk until
he could muster at least one man to
Hooker's two before he gave Fighting
Joe such drubbing.
I'm this campaign the federal army
lost nearly $4,000, including 1855
prisoners, also thirteen pieces of artil-
lery, seventeen flags and 10 800 stands
of arms. The Confederates' losses
were 1O,281 killed, wounded and cap
tured, seven pieces of artillery Chose
captured by Sedgwick at Fredericks.
burg, for Hooker captured none), and
fifteen flags.
notwithstanding this dismal fail
ure, General Hooker in his general
orders No. 49, issued May 9Th, after
he had escaped, used this language:
The events Of the last week may swell
with pride the heart of every officer and
soldier of this army
''It would take profound philoso-
pher with a very large magnifying
glass to find just wherein any cause
for pride existed. There was nothing
to be proud of in the record he had
made with his 100000 well equipped,
intelligent, valorous PATRIOTS, who
had been defeated by $4,000 poorly
equipped, less intelligent, less valor-
GUS rebels fighting in open ground,
while he fought, when he fought at all,
behind strong entrenchments.
1T is amusing to read the dispatch
es which passed between the federal
commanders during the campaign.
Under date of May Sd, Hooker dis
patched to Sedgwick:
You will hurry up your column.
The enemy's right flank now rests
near the plank road at Chancellors-
vile, all exposed. You will attack at
once
"Hooker to Butterworth, same date:
Where is Sedgwick?'
"Sedgwick to Hooker, May 4th:
The enemy are pressing me. | am
taking position to cross the river.
"Rooker to Sedgwick, May 4th, 1.2O
p. M: I expect to advance tomorrow
morning, which will be likely to re
lieve you. You must not count on
much assistance without [ hear heavy
firing.
"Sedgwick to Hooker, Els p. NJ,
May 4th: Il shall do my utmost to
hold my position until tomorrow.
"SedgWick to Hooker, 11.5O clock
p. M, May 9TH: MY army is hemmed
in upon the slope covered by the guns
on the north side Of Banks ford. If
I had only this army to care for |
would withdraw it to-nig ght. Do your
operations require that I should jeop-
ardize it by retaining it here?
"Hooker to Sedgwick, l o'clock a.
m., May 9th: Withdraw. Cover
the river and prevent any force cross
ing.
"At 1.2O o'clock the same night
Hooker sent another order counter
manding this dispatch, but Sedgwick
had hurried across and was safe when
the countermanding order reached him.
cit is also amusing, in the light Of
truth, that General Thomas 81. Neill,
commanding one of the brigades Of
Howe's division, Sedgwick's corps,
should have asserted in his official
report that his command Lad been as
sailed on the afternoon of the 4th Of
May, above Fredericksburg, by Long
streets entire corps, freshly arrived
, with large number of fresh troops,
estimated at Is, 1000. He said:
"'About 5 o'clock p. M, the whole
Of Longatreet's corps came up the
Richmond road as reinforcements, at
tackled nv right and front, massing
large numbers of his infantry in the
ravines, which were held by their
troops. After losing about 1000 men
1 was obliged to retire.
''Longstreet would have been after
him had he been near, but he and the
largest part Of his corps were over 100
miles off, and it was only part of
Early's division which confronted
General Neill and his associates Of
the Sixth corps on that occasion.
"Well, it is over now-the South
was subdued and all of the sacrifices
made by her sons were of no avail,
but the memories Of those days stir
the blood in our veins and fill US with
love and admiration for those We fol-
lowed and those who followed the stars
and bars.
"We did not know it then, but it
now seems clear we were only demon
strating, in way never to be forgot
ten, what Americans could do. We
we're but welding golden chain which
for ages will bind us together for our
country's good, for our country 8 glory.
"Chancellorsville will go down to
history as one of the most wonderful
victories Of the war; as one of the
most wonderful achievements Of one
of the greatest men known to modern
times"
Tomatoes From Cuttings.