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

| tics and his opinions. He put up the
plea of having been overwhelmed by
numbers, and like a school boy who
seeks an excuse for want of courage,
claimed that all the disadvantages
we're on his side. His enemy was too
strong for him. In this particular
Hooker was but following the example
of other generals who had been out
generated. Nc Dowell, Nc Clellan,
| Pope, Banks and others had offered
similar pleas for their defeats when
the truth of history shows that each
of them were driven from their fields
| with fewer men than they commanded.
"In three months after this -four
ishing proclamation Hooker put his
large army in motion. Pontoon bridges
were thrown across the Rappahannock
below Fredericksburg, and Sedgwick,
with the sixth corps of infantry and
part of the second corps, numbering
30, 1000 men, crossed over and occupied
the position held by Burnside's left
wing in the Fredericksburg battle of
December, 1862. Hooker passed above
the confluence of the Rapidan and
Rappahannock rivers and crossed to
the south side of the Rapidan by the
Germana mills and Ely's fords, with
four corps. Subsequently he was
Joined by Sickles and Reynolds with
the first and third corps, who crossed
at United States ford, nearer Freder-
icksburg. Seven corps were in this
manner crossed to the south side of
the river, which had marked the divid-
| ing line between the two armies, while
heavy reserves guarded all the fords.
Hooker's movement above turned the
| left of Lees defensive line and forced
him to move out to meet the enemy in
open ground.
CAT this important juncture Long
street, with two of the largest divis-
ions Of his corps (Hood's and Pickett's),
was down at Suffolk, below Richmond, !,
leaving Lee with only two divisions of
the first corps and Jackson's second
corps supported by part of Stuart's
cavalry, which numbered just about
half of that of the enemy. His total
command did not exceed 10000 men.
Hooker's forces are estimated to have
numbered from 100000 to 125, 1000
troops. His army had been strength
ened and recruited and he certainly
had one full corps more than Burn.
side commanded in the battle of
December 18th, at which time over
100000 men were present.
"Hooker advanced about eight miles
after crossing the river and halted at
| Charlottesville. Why he did so has
never been clearly explained. He not
only halted after turning Lees flank,
but Immediately constructed defensive
works and awaited to be attacked. If
his enemy were inferior in equipment,
intelligence and valor' it would seem
that the proper thing to have done
was to run right over Lee and destroy
him. His army had eight days rations
with ample supply trains near. Had
Hooker possessed the sort Of military
genius which characterized Stonewall
Jackson his army would not have stop
ped under such circumstances. But
he halted and threw up strong defen-
sive lines and settled down to wait for
Sedgwick, who had crossed below.
"He was not allowed to remain un-
molested, however. jackson, with
three divisions of his old second corps,
under General Rhodes, Colston and
A. P. Hill, passed around his right
flank on May End, and with little
warning assailed the eleventh corps of
federals in flank and rear and drove
them in rout back upon the center,
inhicting great Losses, capturing many
prisoners and thoroughly demoralizing
nearly one-third of Hooker's army.
The official records show that the
| panic stricken federals threw away
knap-sacks, overcoats, blankets, guns
and accoutrements by the thousands
until the roads and woods we're liter
ally covered with these things. The
federal brigade and division quarter
masters made acquisitions for new sup
plies shortly after the battle and their
reports fully confirm this statement.
One division quartermaster OF How
ard 8 corps stated in his report that
$500 knapsacks had been thrown away
by his men during the campaign.
Other things were lost in proportion
until it would appear chat the troops
| assailed by Rhodes, Colston and Hill
reached pleace of safety without o
vestige of the magnificent equipments
with which they started to Richmond
! on that occasion.
ga Dutch prisoner was asked by
DR.. R. B. Dostor, assistant surgeon OF
the Thirteenth Georgia, how he came
to be capturned on this occasion and
gave the following explanation: L
tole you how it vas. We vas on pecket
and the lutenand say der vas no rebels
enyvares. leen mine goon oop py de
tree and was cooking some coffee.
Boom! turn round and by jimmy
Stonewalls Shackson's man coomes
from dot way. Annudergun say boom!
Shackson's men come from round dis
way, too. Boom! Boom' Mine Gott,
man, Stonefence Shackson' 8 men duse
come from every way. I falls in de
ditch and de rebels dake me oudt.
Dots how I vas preesner. This ex-
planation was eminently satisfactory
and illustrated most clearly how COM
pletely surprised the federals were on
that occasion. This successful onset
of Jackson caused Hooker to abandon
all idea Of trying to advance his army
towards Richmond. He issued orders
in panicky sort Of fashion and sent
repeated messages to Sedgwick, urging
him to force his way from Fredericks-
burg and strike Lee in flank and rear.
He concentrated his lines, bent back
the wings of his army and Industrious
ly fortified his second position, making
United States Ford his base. The
flank movement of Jackson had de-
prived him of the use of the roads
leading to the upper fords, where he
had crossed the river. Most unfor-
tunately for the cause Of the south Tin
this engagement) General Thomas }.
jackson received two severe wounds
in the left arm, which rendered it
necessary to have the limb amputated.
The shock was very great and the ex-
posure following his injury brought on