The National tribune., 1908-04-02

Ne: WASHINGTON, D. c.. TIL
line. Thisrwas then impossible, since
the enemy had taken prompt advantage
of the ground. Sykes had some trouble
in getting Away from the Confederates.
The retreat was of the utmost impor-
tance in h;artenfng up the enemy, who
thought they had.beaten the Yankees In IN
a fair fight, and had driven them from
m 81
Gen. Couch's Story. --->---
Gen. D. n. codch. commanding the
Second Corps. Mas next In rank to
Hooker in the army. In Battles and
Leaders" he givrs this account of the
fatal orderto withdraw:
No OPPOSITION was met. excepting
turnpike came upon the enemy two or
three milesoSout, when the sound of their
guns was heard at Charlottesville, and
Gen. Hooker ordered me to take Han
cocks Division and proceed to the sup
port of those engaged. After marching
a mile and one-half or so l came upon
Sykes, who commanded, engaged at the
time in drawing back his advance to the
position he then occupied. Shortly after
front an order was received from the
commanding General to withdraw both
divisions to Charlottesville Turning
to the officers around me, Hancock
Sykes, Warren and others. / told them
what the order was, upon which they all
agreed with me that the ground should
not be abandoned. because of the open
country in front and the commanding
position. An Aid, Mai. J. b. Burt, dis
no 70 fa ntfa
came back in half an hour with positive
orders to return. Nothing was to be
done but carry out the command, tho
Warren suggested that / should dSobey,
and then he rode back to see the Cen
eral. In the meantime Slocum, on the
Plank road to my right, had been or
fdered in, and the enemy's advance was
between that road and my right flank.
Sykes was first to move back, then fol-
lowed by Hancock's regiments over the
same road. When all but two of the
latter had withdrawn third order came
to me, brought by one of the Generals
staff, Hold on until O'clock. 1t was
then perhaps 2 p. m: Disgusted at the
Generals vacillation and vexed at re-
ceiving an order of such tenor, replied
with warmth unbecoming in subordi-
nate, Tell Gen. Hooker he is too late;
the enemy are already on my right and
rear. l am in full retreat
THE position thus abandoned was
high ground, more or less open in front
over which an army might move and
artillery be used advantageously; more
over, were it left in the hands of an
enemy his batteries, established on its
crest and slopes, would command the
position at Charlottesville. Everything
on the whole front was ordered in. Gen
Hooker knew that Lee was apprised OF
hi tLa ct Il ~
river, and must have expected that his
enemy would be at least on the lookout
for an advance upon Fredericksburg
But it was of the utmost importance
that Banks's Ford should fall into oul
hands, therefore the enemy ought to
have been pressed until their strength
or weakness developed. 1t would then
have been time enough to run away.
Motifs Run, with a considerable
brushy ravine, cuts the turnpike three
fourths of a mile east of Chance,lors-
vile. Two of Hancock's regiments, un-
der Col. Nelson A. Miles. subsequently
the Indian fighter, were directed to oc-
cupy the rayine. Continuing my way
thru the woods toward charlottesville
I came upon some of the Fifth Corps
under arms. 1nquiring for their COM
manding officer, | told him that in 5
minutes he would be attacked. Before
d
kerry was fired into us from the direc-
tion of the Plank road. This was the
beginning Of the battle of Chancellors-
vile. Troops were hurried into posi-
ton, but the. observer required no wiz
ard to tell him, as they marched past
that the high expectations which had
animated them only a few hours ago
had given place to disappointment. Pro-
ceeding to the Chancellor House, mar
4f.1 nv IT,
which were seemingly satisfactory, as
he said, 1T is all right. Couch; 1 have
got Lee just where L want him; he must
fight me on my own ground The retro
grade movement had prepared me for
something OF this kind. bat to hear from
his own lips that the advantages gained
by the successful marches of his lieuten-
ants were to eliminate in fighting a de-
fensive battle in that rest of thickets
was too much. and / retired from his
presence with the belief that my com
manding General was a whipped man.
The army was directed to. intrench it.
self. AT q a. m. the corps commanders
reported to Gen. Hooker that their po-
sitions could be held; at least so said
Couch, Slocum and Howard"
Hooker md Meade.
In the Life of Gen. Geo c. Meade
1t is said:
Lee was between the upper and the
neither milestone. What was needed
now was but Blucher to say, For
warts But Hooker did not say it. The
paresiS which was to assail him in
deadlier and deadlier form made him
hesitate. From having been so highly
elated at the success of the first steps
of his plan as to be able to write in a
preliminary order. The enemy mus,
either ignominiously fly or come ou,
from his defenses and give us battle on
our own ground, where certain destruc-
parted. and he awaited instead of seek
ing the arbitrament of battle. What a
fall was that in spirit represented by
his declaration that Lees army was
now the legitimate possession of the
Army of the Potomac contrasted with
the reluctance with which within a few
hours ne marched towards Fredericks-
burg. His temporary and immoderatt
eXaltatiOn of spirits is to be noted in
connection with their sudden collapse
in the light of the theory which has
been presented as to the liability to re-
vulsion of feeling, in feeble natures OIL
in strong ones in abnormal conditions
under such circumstances. Evenly poiS-
ed character Is not susceptible to such
influence; it is incapable of the most
transient megalomania: but from ma
ture or temporary disease or both, the
character may not be, or may cease tC
be, well poised, and so conditioned il is
liable to opposite states of extreme ex-
altation and depression. In the funda
mental characteristic of HOoker's mind
vaingloriousness. stimulated by nervous