Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/297

 The Battle of C hancellorsville. 291

tendering- it the congratulations of its chief on the achievements of the last seven days. Lee recommended the Southern troops to unite in ascribing to the Lord of Hosts the glory due His name.

Two years later Hooker, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, stated that, in his opinion, there was nothing to regret in regard to Chancellorsville, except that he did not accomplish all that he moved to accomplish, and that he did not con- sider the campaign a defeat.

Up to Thursday noon. Hooker's manoeuvre was a pronounced suc- cess. His subsequent defeat may be ascribed to the following tacti- cal and logistic errors :

First — Failure to move his cavalry effectively. This is probably more Stoneman's fault than Hooker's.

Seconds-Failure to move the entire army out into the open coun- try and to seize Banks's ford on Thursday afternoon.

Third — This having been neglected, failure to make a vigorous push toward the same objective point on Friday morning.

Fourth — Weakness in withdrawing into the Wilderness to fight a defensive battle after a successful offensive flank march.

Fifth — Failure to order (after 9:30 A. M.) on Saturday, and per- sonally to see, that suitable dispositions were made on the right flank to resist a threatened or possible attack at that point.

Sixth — Weakness, in allowing a partial, slow and ineffective move- ment against such a wily tactician as Jackson to produce a gap in his line, which robbed his right flank of all support.

Seventh — Failure to fall in force upon one or other of Lee's sepa- rated wings Saturday afternoon or early Sunday morning.

Eighth — Not having done so, failure to hold Hazel Grove as head of salient on Sunday morning.

Ninth — Failure to sustain the gallant struggle at Fairview with some of his unused divisions, which themselves outnumbered the enemy, or to attack the enemy's flank in its support.

Tenth — Failure to attack whatever was in his front in support of Sedgwick's advance and fight at Salem Church, and during Monday.

Eleventh — Failure to ration his army while his communications were open, so that he might have again advanced on Tuesday.

Twelfth — Failure to keep Sedgwick on the south side of the river, so as to aid in a new joint advance.

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