premature “congratulatory order”
From a Seneca County, New York in May 1863:
Another Fredericksburg Disaster.
The disastrous intelligence of the defeat of the Army of the Potomac under HOOKER, falls like a funeral pall upon the minds of the people. For six months past that brave army has been undergoing re-organization at the hands of “Fightong JOE HOOKER,” as his ardent admirers are pleased to call him, and the people led to believe that when he moved the rebel army would ingloriously retreat or suffer disaster and annihilation. The strength of his army was almost double that with which MCCLELLAN attempted the capture of Richmond, numbering according to the most authentic accounts, no less than 160,000 effective and well disciplined soldiers. With this immense army Gen. HOOKER crossed the Rappahannock on Monday and Tuesday of last week, without mush apparent resistence [sic] from the enemy. He immediately established his headquarters at Chancellorsville, partially in the rear of the Confederate forces, from which place a congratulatory order was issued, announcing in advance, like the braggart POPE, the defeat and destruction of the entire rebel army. the day after, the ball was opened, the Confederates under JACKSON commencing the attack, driving our forces, out of their entrenchments with great slaughter on both sides.
Driving General Hooker
The battle raged with great fury on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the enemy being largely reinforced and driving HOOKER before them at all points. Upon the temporary cessation of hostilities the commanding General seemed at a loss to know what to do, and being out-generaled and foiled at all points, ingloriously retreated, on Tuesday, across the Rappahannock. The loss is frightful on both sides, ours being estimated at fifteen to twenty thousand in killed and wounded.
We have no heart to comment upon this most appalling disaster. The slaughter was so horrible we shrink from even thinking of it. Upon the Administration at Washington must rest the awful responsibility of this most sweeping disaster. They are gambling with war, and unnecessarily sacrifising [sic] the lives of our countrymen, by placing incompetent and imbecile commanders at the head of our armies. Since the sacrifice and removal of MCCLELLAN, more than six months ago, we have not gained a single victory over the enemy, vide Pope, Burnside and “Fighting Joe Hooker.”
Here’s a couple more clippings in local papers about Chancellorsville from May 1863:
Capt. H.J. GIFFORD, of Co. D., 33d Regiment writes to the Rochester Union that the loss of the 33d in the recent battle is: 18 killed; 126 wounded, 67 missing. Also 6 officers wounded, and one missing.
I could not find a Rager in the 33d roster, but this is a sad story that would back up the pain in the editorial:
Among the killed in Capt. Cole’s company, 33d Regiment, at the late battle of Fredericksburg, was GEORGE RAGER, of Waterloo. The Observersays: One of the most painful scenes we have witnessed in a long time, was the grief displayed by Mrs. RAGER on learning the death of her son, who was a most excellent soldier, and only 17 years of age.
‘Removing wounded across Rappahannock River after battle of Chancellorsville – under flag of truce’
