The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-04

crate cavalry. therefore ne felt much
elated. that SO far his plans had eventu-
ated IN success.
lie had dispatched Sedgwick TO cross
the river at and below Fredericksburg
to demonstrate III fun agains, the right
and front or General Lees fortified
position Al fredericksburg. SedSwick
took the tfth. Third and sixth Corps.
numbering 52i0l troops. to make the
demonstration appear as the main at
tack OF Hooker. After Sedgwick had
shown his force. Hooker recalled
sickles with the Third Corps. leaving
Sedgwick still with S7,s73 men for the
right flank attack.
Ills plan Of campaign was above
| criticism. with his immense army he
| proposed 10 attack General Lee on
either flank. working around 10 his
rear, and either envelop the Army OF
| Northern Virginia. crush it by force
OF numbers or force it 20 retreat 10 a
line nearer Richmond
| General Lee readily took in Hookers
| plan. AS soon he discovered ac-
| tvity in 1le Federal camps across tho
! river. he recalled Longstreet 10 Fred
/ ericksburg. but before "Oid Pete"
| could gather up his command Hooker
/ developed his plan OF battle.
| Then General Lee had the alterna-
I tives OF awaiting attack behind hi.
defenses or assuming the Initiative.
! With rare and masterful audac!ty. he
| adopted the latter plan. Leaving Cen
eral Early with mis- own division and
! Barksdale's Brigade Of McLaw's Di-
! vision. in the works at Fredericksb urg.
/ General Lee first dispatched Dick An
! derson's Division westward to check
! iiooker's movement upon mis- left flank
Mci.aws soon followed. Anderson
| found Hooker IN force at Chanccllors-
/ VILE, 50 began to entrench. Jackson
| moved up from the extreme Confeder-
! ate right on the night OF April 31th.
| McI.aws reached Andersons position
! before sunrise OF May lst. and jackson
following. arrived as early as A. NJ,
! jackson AT once ordered the entrench-
! inS by Anderson TO cease, and direct
! ed Mcl-aws and Anderson TO advance in
| the direction OF Chanceilorsvnle
/ When General Hooker surveyed the
! splendid army he commanded. he fel,
! he Was we'll within limits when he dis
| patched General Hallick that he COM
! manded the finest army on the planet
/ Jubilant that his plans had worked
| out so successfully and satisfied the
| hckle goddess Fortune had pitched her
! tent in the encampment OF the Poto-
|. mac Army, he accentuated his assur-
| ancc OF complete success by announc-
| ing TO mis- officer gathered AT the Chan
| cellorsville House: The rebel army is
| now the legitimate property OF the
| Army Of the Potomac"
I With this satisfaction centred in his
| mind the same morning Jackson be-
gan his march. Hooker put his army in
! motion in three columns toward Fred
| ercksburg. with orders for his own
! headquarters TO be established at 2
p. Nj at Tabernacle Church, midway
between Charlottesville and Fredcr-
icksburg. But Tabernacle Church WAS
for as the Federal army dcbouched
from the dense woods into the more
open country. il encountered the Army
! OF Northern Virginia advancing in bat
tic line
The Federal general had not dream
ed General Lee would dare assume
the offensive, and became so dscon :
ccrted, fearing he could not throw his
troops into battle formation quick
enough. he ordered his troops to fall
back to the lines he had occupied tho
night before al and around Chancel-
louisville. He had gained in his for
/ ward movement a fine position on "A
ridge. which could have been easily
defended. But somehow he lost his
sclf-coniidcnce and ordered the retreat
Able officers protested this retrogradc
Sovcment. but they had no alternative
but to obey.
When on the 30.h General Hooker
discovered that 50 far no resistance
had been offered him, lie became much
clated, and felcitated his army with
proclamation: our enemy must CON
tinuously ny or come from behind his
defenses and give us battle on our
own ground. where certain destruc-
ton awaits him"
Bobby Burns admonishes "thc best
laid schemes OF mice and men aft
gang agile" Enthusia SIN is sometimes
Dig factor in determining the game
OF battles; but ii is not the whole
thing. When Hooker retired before
jackson to Charlottesville he mad
1900 muskets with him. Here -
wrote General Lee, 1.-The enemy had as
suined position of great natural
strength, surrounded on all sides by
underground, in the midst of which
breastworks OF logs had been con.
structcd with trees fclled in front so
as 10 form an almost impenetrable
abatis. His artillery swept the few
narrow roads by which his position
could be approached from the front
and commanded the adjacent works
Rockers line extended from the Rap
pahannock. covering United States
Ford to charlottesville. thence west
as far as Wilderness Church
FeeiinS for some opening. General
Lee discovered Rockers left too strong
to assall, while his front was almos,
smpregnable. Demonstrating MOSTLY
along tlis line. General Lee imposed
upon Hooker his intention to assault
his strong position.
The night OF the 1st of May. Stuart
brought Rev Dr. T. B. Lacey to Gen
cral Lee, who told him circuit could
be made around by Wilderness Tavern
ana Hooker's right rear reached. CEN
efai Lee directed Jackson TO move
early the next morning (.d) with his
:. corps.
The Lire of march took tho Stone
wall Corps diagonally across Hooker.
front. Fitz Lee plotted the nankina
column, covering it's movement with
three regiments OF his cavalry. AS
early as a. NJ. Birney. OF sickles's
corps reported the movement or Jack
! son. Sickles dispatched a battery Ia
spill the marching column, and at noon
moved with two of his divisions and
Barlows Brigade. OF Howards Corps
land gained the road upon which Jack.