2

The News.

It is difficult to extract any intelligible conclusion from the chaotic mass of dispatches relative to the movements of Hooker's army. One correspondent announces, with great parade, that our troops have "occupied Chancellorville;" another informs us that Chancellorville consists of "one red brick house, owned by a widow lady." We have a vast amount of conjectures and dogmatic assurances of what is going to happen from different correspondents, but the public has long since learned what value to place on such statements. This much seems to be certain; that the bulk of the army has crossed the Rappahannock without encountering much opposition; and that in the skirmishing which has ensued, our troops generally held the advantage.

It is by no means certain that Hooker will be able to realize his promise to the men, that the rebel generals should give him battle on ground of his own choosing. Burnside crossed the Rappahannock, and was glad to cross back again, "between two days," as they say down east. And although Hooker's advance is evidently conducted with much more precaution and military judgment than was Burnside's, we must wait for positive in formation before we assume that all is well. He has not yet captured the batteries which hurled back Burnside's troops, shattered and broken, like waves from a rock.