174

THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

The next day, the 30th of April, I moved on toward Chaucellorsville, an<lat 1 o’clock in the day I captured a courier or orderly from General Lee , whohad a dispatch from Lee, dated at Fredericksburg , noon of that day, andaddressed to Major-General McLaws , stating that he had just been informedthat the enemy had concentrated in force near Chancellorsville, inquiringwhy he had not been kept advised, and saying that he wished to see McLaWS as soon as possible at headquarters. At 2 o’clock i\ m., one hour later, Ireported to General Hooker at Chancellorsville, and submitted to him thediary and General Lee ’s dispatch, both of which lie retained, and I suggestedthat we had evidently surprised General Leo by our rapid movements acrossthe river, and, as Lee had prepared for a battle at Chancellorsville, we hadbetter anticipate him by moving on toward Fredericksburg . A march 01three or four miles would take us out of the woods into a more open country;where we could form our line of battle, and where our artillery could be usedto advantage ; we would then be prepared to move on Fredericksburg in themorning. Besides, such a movement would enable us to uncover Banks ’ 8Ford, which would shorten our communication with General Sedgwick ovei5 miles, and bring us within 3J miles of Falmouth by that Ford.

I was much surprised to find that General Hooker, who up to that tim ehad been all vigor, energy, and activity, received the suggestion as a matte 1of secondary importance, and that he considered the next morning sufficientlyearly to move on Fredericksburg . Up to that time General Hooker’s strategyhad been all that could have been desired. Ho had outflanked the enenAand had surprised him by the rapidity of his movements. At 2 o’clock r. Jl ' !on the 30th of April, General Hooker had ninety chances in his favor to te 11

UNION TROOPS CROSSING TIIH ltAl'IDAN AT ELY’S EOUI). FROM A WAR TIME SKETCH.