The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-05
GETTYSBURG NOT THE
WARS DECISIVE BATTLE
Continued from Page Nine.)

though the dense shrub, known as the
Wilderness in which he here found him
self involved, gave great opportunities
to an able and alert commander like Lee
Leaving Early with 10000 to hold Sedge-
wick in check at Fredericksburg, Lee,
with the rest of his force. moved sc
promptly against Hooker that the Fed
cral commander was forced to halt in
the very heart of the Wilderness and
fortifv.
This was so effectually done that Lee
found both Hooker's front and left flank
the flank nearest the Confederates, too
strong to invite attack with any hope
Of success. But Stuart leaving SLOVENIAN
largely for the moment to work his will,
had with a true view Of his duties as
commander of the cavalry devoted his
attention to Hooker. Fitzhugh Lee act
ing under him. discovered that the Fed
eral army so unassailable in front and
on the left had it's right wing, in military
parlance, in the air, all of it's entrench-
ments fronting south with none looking
westward.
This all-important information Stuart
brought to Lee and Jackson on the night
of May 1st, while they sat in the woods
comforting as to where to assail their
powerful opponent 1t at once decided
where the blow must fall. Lee left it
10 Jackson to say how and when he would
move, what force he would take with
him and what commands he would leave
with the commander in chief, then to the
left of Hooker's front.
Jackson decided upon the route, which
was to be by unfrequented roads through
the Wilderness, under several guides and
at sunrise of Saturday, May End, led his
corps of $4,000 men, accompanied by four
regiments Of cavalry. rapidly westward.
At the first view this movement seems
fecklessly hazardous. For a commander
to divide his force in the front of a
superior enemy is counter to the prime
axiom of war. To traverse in column
an enemys immediate front is consid-
cred the most hazardous move on the
chess board of war. AT Austerlitz it
gave Bonaparte the opportunity for one
of the most complete and brilliant vic
tories of his marvellous career. Never
theless the greatest victories in history
have been won by. when occasioned de-
manded, disregarding the most evident
rules of war. The chief advantage in
disregarding them is that you are pretty
sure to be doing just what your enemy
least expects you to do.
The conditions at Charlottesville were
peculiar. Lee and Jackson weighed all
of them we'll. Hooker in the depths OF
three hundred square miles of dense wood
and, as he believed in the face of a SUI
perior force, was naturally cautious. For
deserterS from Lees army had told of the
coming of heavy mythical achievements
under Hood and Pickett. Then Hooker
had that day met with several minor
reverses which would tend to increase
his caution. The obscure road traversng
the federal front was so hidden by the
dense thickets that a column passing
along 1t was completely concealed ex-
Acept at one or two points. This road ran
towards Richmond and a column described
on it would be considered in retreat, es-
pecially at the point of chief exposure
did it trend sharply to the south. Stuart's
cavalry screen was so perfect that the
Federals could not feel their front ex-
cept in strong force. Above all the Con-
feerate commanders knew that while they
had bold and active officer to contend
with they were not pitted against Bona
parte.
beyond expectation. Scarcely in history
is there an instance of as delicate a
movement as successfully accomplished
BY five on Saturday afternoon Jacksons
force had covered the fifteen miles and
encircling the front, flank and in part the
rear of Hooker's right wing in the
woods. lay Catching breath" before the
charge was sprung.
The notes of bugle at Sis sent
them headlong against the unsuspecting
Germans of the Federal nth corps. AS
torrent sweeps before it barrier of sand
WITH only here and there momentary
check. so the impetuous tide of gray
crumbled and scattered the barrier of
blue.
Before seven nearly the whole 18th
corps had been broken and routed and
were pouring in headlong flight towards
lockers headquarters at the Chancellor
House, two miles distant from where the
attack began.
Jackson, with the prescience of genius,
had foreseen and proceeded to avail him
self to the utmost of this very contin-
sency. He had so disposed his forces that
his right wing consisting of Colquitts,
kdluStuI . anu dAlUH DTISdObS, III all
thirteen regiments, and most important
If all, four regiments of Stuart's cavalry
should strike the 10000 routed Federals
n flank as they swept by, cut them off,
md being more near at hand than the
Confederate brigades that opened the
,attle further to the west, to rush upon
md smash the then unprepared Federal
enter at the Chancellor House, seize the
Dads leading thence to the river fords
md work Hooker's swift and complete
destruction
To appreciate the situation it must be
remembered that Hooker, while in the
aggregate more than twice as strong as
lee, had at that time brought across
he river only $4,000 men, and that the
morale of the Federal army, owing to the
crushing repulse at Fredericksburg and
oss of confidence in it's commanders, was
over than at any other period of its
existence. while the morale of the
Southern troops, of whom Lee by supe-
-ior strategy had $1,000 at hand, was at
is zenith.
But the panic-stricken Federals rushed
oy unmolested except from the hot pur-
suit in their rear. The trap that jack
son had set to cut them off remained un-
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