The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28

leries. The feature OF the day. which was
harrs of M shs nas a, Grdr r the
ran that he had worked for hire for the
election of Mr.. Mckinley Mr.. Cockran's
announcement of this charge and of the
gentleman who made it, Mr.. Dalzell. was
| in language bitter with resentment and
| scorn.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
| Continued from first pars.)
therefore, free scope for an extensive com.
mece IN horses and cattle, vast herds of
which he sent southwark, while for the
subsistence of his troops he levied sub
sides from the population of the country.
| Thousands of Pennsylvania farmers.
panic-stricken. FASTENED with their cattle
| and household goods to the north of the
Susqnehanna. From Chambersburg, Ewell
moved northward, sending Rodes's Divi-
sion to Carlisle, while Early's Division,
moving to the east side of tho South
Mountain ridge, passed by way of Gettys-
burg to York, thence to Wrightsville on
the SusGuehanna-th militia retiring and
destroying the splendid bridge over the
river at Columbia.
| ACROSS THE BORDER.
! However CALLING the Intelligence of the
ravaslng OF Pennsylvania may have been,
Gen. Hooker at least felt himself power
less to help, for it was impossible for him
| to pass to the north side of the Potomac
until his opponents purpose should be
more fully disclosed. 1t was not, there
fore. until he learned that the remaining
corps OF Lee were passing into Maryland
that he also crossed the river The corps
OF Longstreet and Hill made the passage
OF the Potomac at Williamsport and Shep-
herdstown on the 9th and 25th, and fol-
lowed the path Of Ewell into Pennsylvan
/ The entire army of the Potomac then
crossed on the 25th and Goth at Edwards
Ferry, and made a movement of concen-
tration on Frederick-a position from
which Hooker might either debouch
plant himself upon Lees line of retreat,
or moving northward on the eastern side
OF the mountains, follow Lees movement
in the direction of the Susquehanna.
u HALLECK HAMPERED HOOKER
The former course is of the two tho
holder and more decisive move, and
though there is no proof that is conclusive
respecting which of these courses Gen.
Hooker designed to adopt, there is vet evil
dence that he purposed making, at least,
strong demonstration on Lees line Of
communications With this view ne threw
out his left well westward to Middletown,
and ordered the Twelfth Corps, under
Gen. Slocum, to march to Harper's Ferry.
Here Slocum was to be joined by the gar
rison of that post, 1000 strong, under
Gen. French, and the united force was to
menace the Confederate rear by move
ment towards Chambersburg. Unhappily.
this project traversed the pet crotchet Of
Gen. Halleck respecting Harper's Ferry,
and thence began griefs for Hooker, and
an imbroglio more and more involved till
it resulted in his supersedure from COM
mand at the critical moment when the two
armies were manuvering towards a COL
lision the weightiest Of the war. The cir
bon I1y> 4tx
are as follows:
At the time Lees advance was set on
foot, the distribution of the Union forces
showed that same vicious amorcellement
| under Independent commanders that had
marked the worst period of 1862. Gen.
| HeintZelman commanded the Department
Of Washington. with a force Of about
36, 900 men;(2O) Gen. Schenck controlled
| the Middle Department, east OF Cumber-
land. including the garrisons at Harper's
Ferry, Winchester. etc; while Gen. Dix,
with considerable force, lay for some
purpose inconceivabIe on the Peninsula
Now, about the time Hooker crossed the
| Potomac, the General in Chief awakening
at length to the fatal folly of this untimely
waste of valuable force, placed the troops
of Gems. Heintzelman and Schenck under
| his control. But it was soon proved that
| this control was rather in name than in
reality: for when he attempted to fit out
| from these departments column Of To-
| 600 men to move on Frederick. he found
himself estopped by Gen. Halleck's fears
cumstance for which Gen. Hooker con-
eeived he provided sufficiently by the
| presence Of the Army of the Potomac
covering the Capital: and when. after adj
vancing on Frederick. he had planned the
movement on the rear of Lee. and for that
purpose had directed the temporary aban-
| Comment of Harper's Ferry. with the view
of uniting it's garrison Of 1000 men under
Gen. French with the column of Gen.
Slocum destined to make the proposed
movement he asked Gen. Halleck. on the
why Maryland flights should not be abnn-
doned after the removal Of the public
stores and property he was met by the
following reply from the Gencral-in- Chief:
maryland flights have always been re-
by us. and much expense and labor in
Cured in terrifying them. l cannot ap-
| prove their abandonment except in case
of absolute necessity."(2D It was in vain
that Gen. Hooker urged in rejoinder of
this fatuous objection that Harper's
Ferry was, under the circumstances. a
point of no Importance; that it defended
no ford Of the Potomac: that its fortifica-
tons would remain after the troops were
withdrawing: nor was there the slightest
probability that the enemy would take
possession of them. and that. therefore.
the 10000 men that remained there use
less, should be marched to a point where
they could be of service. 900
Against stupidity sings Schiller, gods
and men fight in vain.
i MEADE SUPERSEDED HOOKER.
Finding himself deprived of that free
dom of action on which, in so large de-
gree. the success of military operations de-
ponds. Gen. Hooker requested, on the
9th of June, to be relieved from the com
mand of the Army of the Potomac; and
early the following morning. messenger
rea ched Frederick from Washington with
ments, these officers did not find it prac-
tea BILE to carry their views of defense be-
yond the line of the Susquehanna.
20. Gen. Heinzelman's tri-monthly re-
port for June 10, showed 36,640 men.
q. Telegram from Gen. Halleck to Gen.
i Hooker June q: Report on the Conduct