History of the campaign of the army of Virginia, under John Pope, ... from Cedar Mountain to Alexandria, 1862

Front matter

HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA, UNDER JOHN POPE, BRIGADIER-GENERAL U. S. A. ; LATE MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. VOLUNTEERS ; FROM CEDAR MOUNTAIN TO ALEXANDRIA, 1862 BY GEORGE H. GORDON, GRADUATE OF THE U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY; LATE FIRST LIEUTENANT OF MOUNTED RIFLES (AFTERWARDS THIRD CAVALRY) U. S. ARMY; FIRST COLONEL SECOND REGIMENT MASS- INFANTRY ; BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. VOLUNTEERS. BOSTON: HOUGHTON, OSGOOD AND COMPANY. dt&e EtoeratlJe Preee, Cambriujr. 1880. Copyright, 1879, By GEORGE H. GORDON All rights reserved. RIYERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE : STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. 0. HOUGBTON AND COMPANY.

Preface

. This volume contains the entire history of the cam paign of the " Army of Virginia," from the Rapidan to Alexandria, beginning with the close of the battle of Cedar Mountain. The work is complete in itself and follows the plan of the " History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment " and the campaigns in which it took part, previously published at different periods in three parts. It may not be out of place to explain that the present and previous histories were prepared by the author of the present volume at the request of the surviving officers of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of In fantry. It was intended to present and read, at the annual meeting of the officers, papers in which the more prominent events in their regimental history should be given. But after a first paper the subject overstepped all bounds and took the form of publica tions, in which have appeared, in Part I., the only au thentic history of the organization of the Second Mas sachusetts Regiment of Infantry, with its service in Patterson's campaign in 1861 ; in Part II., the occu pation of Harper's Ferry in Virginia, the left bank of the Potomac in Maryland, the battle of Ball's Bluff

PREFACE.

IV and winter quarters in Frederick City in Maryland, in the winter of 1861-62 ; in Part HI., a history of McClellan's reconnaissance and Banks's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, with his skirmishes and retreat ; the battle of Winchester ; the organization of the Army of Virginia ; and the battle of Cedar Mountain. In this history as in preceding ones I have endeav ored to get at the truth and to withhold opinions where there were no facts to support them. The -matter relating to General Fitz-John Porter's conduct in this campaign, and to his subsequent trial and conviction under charges growing out of that con duct, was prepared for publication before the appoint ment by the President of a Board of Army Officers to examine the evidence in his case and to report upon it. The conclusions of the Board have been referred to as confirming the opinions expressed in the text.

It is to be regretted that perfectly reliable state ments of the casualties in both armies cannot be ob tained. By correspondence with surviving officers, generals and subalterns, by examining reports and official documents, and by a reference to the mass of papers in Washington, now being collected, and that have been gathered, as the records of the Great Rebell ion, every effort has been made to procure them. In the search the surgeon-general's department has been appealed to ; but from all sources there comes the same reply of the meagreness of Federal or Confederate reports of the losses in the second Bull Run or Ma nassas campaign. And this is easily accounted for when we consider the haste with which the Maryland

PREFACE.

. V campaign followed. Neither time to report, nor oppor tunity to preserve notes from which accurate results might have been obtained, was afforded. In one di vision, whose losses are reported in the tables given in the Appendix, returns that would have enabled the as sistant adjutant-general to make exact lists of casualties in his division during a bloody engagement on the 29th of August, were on the 30th thrown out of the headquarter's wagon and destroyed. General Hooker saw the wagon, seized it, and sent it to the front loaded with ammunition, for which at that time the need was more urgent than for the preservation of reports. It was by counting the number of muskets in the divis ion after the fighting was over that an approximation to the losses was possible.1 The detailed list of casualties by regiments in the Confederate army I give from the official returns now on file among a mass of Confederate reports in the ar chives at Washington.

It will be seen that both in the body of this work and in the Appendix officers are named as commanding divisions who are not so designated in the detailed list. It is hardly necessary to explain that the actual commander of a brigade or division in the field is often not recognized, because not the assigned commander of that brigade or division. Hence the same command may be confused under dif ferent names. To avoid such disorder, numerals were adopted in the Federal service at an early period of the war. The lists of regiments and batteries of the Federal 1 General Stevens's division.

PREFACE.

. VI army in the Appendix is not perfectly accurate and complete, and I regret it. I must appeal, however, for my own justification in this, as in other matters, to the stereotyped reply of general officers and custodians of official papers, " I do not believe the information you desire can ever be obtained." At the hazard of being charged with repetition I have in some instances, in the tables in the Appendix, given figures which appear in the body of the work. It will be found that references from the aggregates give detailed losses that have before appeared, where the history of services rendered was related. I desire to express my thanks for the especial search made for me among the public papers in Washington, and for the valuable information thus derived. With such assistance I have closely approximated, though I have not realized in all cases perfect accuracy in the numbers engaged, and the losses suffered, by both armies in the campaign of the Army of Virginia.

The maps of the country, and of the battle-fields showing the location of the troops, I have constructed with great care and from the most authentic sources. G. H. G. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

The Federal army on the Rapidan 1 The Confederates under General Jackson preparing to turn Pope's flank 2 Arrival of General Lee with Longstreet's division from Richmond . 3 Lee's plans of attack on the 18th frustrated ..... 3 Confederates ordered to attack on the 20th ...... 4 Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, surprised ..... 5 Federals falling back to the Rappahannock 7 Federal position on the morning of the 20th of August ... 9 Confederate pursuit 10 Cavalry conflicts .......... 11 Pope's plans from the left bank of the Rappahannock . . .14 Halleck's treatment of McClellan and the Army of the Potomac . 18 Confederate bivouac on the Rappahannock 18

Chapter II

General Jackson makes a feint of crossing at Beverly Ford . . 21 Federal cavalry under Bayard attacks the Confederates on the right bank of the Rappahannock ........ 24 Pope incredulous of Lee's intentions to turn his right flank . . 27 Pope believes that Lee may possibly attempt bis rear . . . .28 Pope comtemplates a crossing to attack General Lee ... 28 General Milroy passes the river at Freeman's Ford . . . .29 Colonel Bohlen crosses the river between Beverly and Freeman's Fords and attacks the enemy ........ 30 Federals pass the river at Fant's Ford 32 General Jackson moves up the Rappahannock ..... 33 General Early seizes a position on the left bank of the river . . 34 Pope talks of crossing to attack the enemy ..... 35 Longstreet occupies the fords of the Rappahannock . . . .36 Continued artillery practice 37 Beverly Ford ........... 38 Gordon's report of battle of Cedar Mountain 38 Its publication defended 39 Gordon's brigade engaged at Beverly Ford CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter III

Position of hostile batteries at Beverly Ford 42 The Confederates open fire at daylight 44 Captain Cothran (Federal) disposes of a battery of the Washington Artillery (Confederate) 46 Getting breakfast under fire . . . . . . • .47 Stuart's raid on Catlett's Station ....... 49 General Hartsuff withdrawn from the right bank of the Rappahannock 52 Pope marches towards Sulphur Springs to attack Early on the left bank of the river .......... 54 Pope's plans for the future ......... 55 Federal advance under Sigel and Banks and Reno to demolish Early 56 Volley firing at night ......... 57 Sigel advises Pope that the enemy has turned his flank . . .58 Shelling the ambulances in Gordon's brigade ..... 59 General Tower burns the railroad bridge at Rappahannock Station . 60 General McDowell enters Warrenton ...... 60 Confederate General Early's position on the left bank of the Rappahannock . . . . . . . . . . .61 Capture of Federal soldiers 62 Early's position threatened by Sigel ....... 63 Early begs Jackson to recall him ....... 66 Pope reveals his plans to Halleck . . . . . . .67 Pope disturbed about his communications with Alexandria . . 68 McClellan sails for Acquia Creek 69

Chapter IV

Pope's official papers in hands of Lee ...... 70 Lee's plans for gaining Pope's rear ....... 71 Milroy attempts a crossing of the Rappahannock .... 73 Federal columns move towards Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge under heavy artillery fire ....... 75 Positions held by Federal troops ...... 76 General George C. Meade 77 McDowell's corps at Warrenton 78 Pope's order to lay waste the country .... 78 Ricketts's and King's divisions on the night of August 24th . . 80 Federal cavalry worn out .... 81 General Jackson withdraws from the river, and is replaced by Long- StrGCt ••.... on Pope's plans for the 25th of August ... 83 Pope deceived by the enemy .... 84 Pope's subsequent report of his operations contradicts his official dispatches to Halleck .... 84 General T. J. Jackson . Q„ . CONTENTS. IX General Porter's search for Pope ....... 89 General McClellan at Acquia Creek reports in writing to Halleck . 90

Chapter V

Pope's new defensive line from the Rappahannock to Warrenton . 93 Halleck declines to take the command of the Army of Virginia . 95 Sigel confounded by contradictory orders 98 Sigel alarmed by a visible movement of the Confederate armv around his flank 101 Views of different commanders of the significance of this march . 101 Sigel reports to Pope and is ordered to march to Warrenton . . 102 Colonel Beardsley attacks the enemy at Sulphur Springs . . . 103 McDowell disposes his troops on Pope's new line .... 105 Pope in suspense at Warrenton Junction 106 He concludes to force the passage of the river and find the enemy . 107 Sigel ordered to cross the river at daylight of the 26th . . . 108 McDowell accuses Sigel of moving to Warrenton without orders . 108 General Jackson's march to Pope's rear ...... 112 Pope believes the enemy has marched for the Shenandoah Valley . 11 C Pope takes up a new defensive line from Warrenton to Gainesville . 116

Chapter VI

Groping after the enemy . . . . . . . . .116 McDowell invested with the command of " everybody " at the front 119 McDowell determines to force the passage of the river, and moves accordingly . . . . . . . . . . .120 Still searching for Jackson . . . . . . . . .124 Alarming rumors and reports . . . . . . . .126 Pope prepares to meet the enemy at Warrenton . . . . .128 Reports of the enemy's appearance at Manassas Junction . . 129 McDowell convinced that Jackson's column is moving for Pope's rear 129 Pope still incredulous . . . . . . . . .130 Pope urges McDowell to make new efforts to find Jackson . . .132 General Jackson's march on the 26th of August . . . .133 His arrival at Bristoe Station at sunset of the 26th . . . .135 Capture at Bristoe Station of some and the escape of others of Pope's burden trains on the Orange and Alexandria Railway . . . 136 A Confederate brigade of infantry and Stuart's cavalry sent to Manassas Junction . . . . . . . . . . .137 Federal troops at Manassas Junction 137 General Trimble captures Manassas Junction . . . . .138 Controversy between Stuart and Trimble for the honor of the capture 142 General Longstreet on the 27th of August follows Jackson's route . 143

Chapter VII

Federal stores captured at Manassas ....... 145 Jackson marches on Manassas at daylight of the 27th of August . CONTENTS. X Confederate occupation of Manassas 147 Federal force from Washington under General Taylor attacks General Jackson u8 Sharing Federal supplies 150 Movements of Confederate cavalry ...■••• "2 Jackson marches towards the old battle-field of Bull Run or Manassas 152 Halleck impressed with a belief that the enemy is in motion towards the Shenandoah Valley 153 McClellan arrives at Alexandria 154 Halleck to McClellan 156 McClellan fears disaster to Pope and imparts his fears to Halleck . 157 McClellan's preparations to avert disaster 159 News of Colonel Taylor's defeat received at Alexandria . . .161 Further advices from McClellan ....... 162 McClellan traduced by journalists and grumblers 164 Pope confers with McDowell as to what course he should pursue . 166 The conference results in an order for the army to move on Gainesville 168 Orders to Banks's corps ......... 169 Orders to McDowell's command . . . . . . ■ .172

Chapter VIII

Ewell's divison at Bristoe Station 174 Hooker's division marches on Bristoe . . . . • .176 Federal forces attack the Confederates at Bristoe . . . .178 The Federals occupy the enemy's ground 180 Continued pursuit by the Federals 182 Confederate movements in falling back before the Federal advance . 183 General Buford's cavalry reconaissance 184 McDowell convinced that Lee's army is marching around Pope's right 186 McDowell congratulates himself that he has established Pope's army between the wings of Lee's . . . . . . .186 McDowell's instructions to Sigel ........ 186 Pope at nine o'clock at night of the 27th orders McDowell to abandon his position and his plans ........ 186 The causes that moved Pope to issue this order . . . .187 Pope's army ordered to march on Bristoe Station and Manassas . .188 Pope's order to General Porter and what grew out of it . . . 189 Pope buoyant.

He promises to " bag " Jackson . .... 191 March of Banks's corps 192 Pope's estimate of his strength . . . . . . . .193 General Jackson's new line of battle ...... 194 Why Porter did not leave Warrenton Junction at the hour ordered by Pope 196 Pope's denunciation of Porter ...'..... 197 Porter defended 198 Pope's Official Reports and his acts contrasted CONTENTS. XI

Chapter IX

McDowell's command marches on Manassas Junction .... 206 Sigel's slowness 207 He takes the wrong road ......... 209 Federals attacked . . . . . . . . . .210 By whom this attack was made and what came of it . . . .211 Pope's plans revealed to the commander of the Confederate brigade near Groveton . . . . . . . . . .212 General Jackson's command moving forward for a position between Sudley Ford and Groveton 213 Pope enters Manassas Junction . . . . . . .214 He orders McDowell to pursue Jackson towards Aldie, and he countermands this order ......... 214 Pope orders his army to march on Centreville 215 The march described 216 King's division marches from Gainesville on the Warrenton pike . 218 It is attacked by General Jackson 219 Confederate position near Groveton ....... 221 Federal position 222 The conflict 222 Pope's view of the effect of this conflict 226 His orders 226 McDowell sends Ricketts to oppose Longstreet in Thoroughfare Gap 229 Ricketts's conflict with Longstreet ....... 230 Ricketts withdraws to Gainesville ........ 232 King and Ricketts retire to Manassas Junction and Bristoe Station . 235 Movements of Generals Reynolds and Sigel ..... 235 Sigel's corps is attacked while moving on Centreville .... 236 Sigel ordered to attack the enemy at daylight of the 29th . . 237 General Porter at Bristoe Station 237 Pope complains of Porter ......... 238 Position of the Confederates at night of the 28th .... 239 Banks's corps, night of the 28th 239 McClellan confers with Halleck 240

Chapter X

Pope's fears that Jackson may escape ...... 242 Pope's illusion dispelled ........ 245 Porter's interview with King and Ricketts ...... 245 Porter at six o'clock A. M. of the 29th ordered to march to Centreville 245 Porter at nine o'clock A. M. ordered to retrace his steps and march towards Gainesville . . . . . . . . .247 King's division at Manassas Junction ...... 247 Porter and McDowell at noon of the 29th ..... 248 The joint order 249 Pope denounces McDowell CONTENTS.

Order to Sigel to attack the enemy vigorously at daylight renewed . 251 The Confederate battle line 252 Sigel's corps moves into action ........ 254 General Kearny's arrival on the field ...... 256 General Schurz's progress ......... 257 General Hooker relieves Schurz ....... 259 General Milroy 260 General Heintzelman's advance ....... 261 Aspect at two o'clock p. M. . . . . . . . . .262 Pope's arrival on the field ........ 263 The Federal troops try in vain to break through the Confederate front 264 Hooker determines to throw Grover's brigade against the Confederate centre ............ 264 General Grover's arrival on the field ...... 265 Grover's orders at three p. M. . '. . . . . . . 266 Grover's charge . . . . . . . . . .267 How Jackson met it 268 Federal attack on the Confederate centre . . . . .270 General Philip Kearny 270 Brevet Captain James Stuart ........ 272 Kearny's charge upon Jackson's left at five o'clock p. m. . . 2?4 How Jackson met it . . . . . . . . . .274 Confederate admissions of Federal valor . . . . . .275 Attack by Reynolds and Schenck . . . . . . .276 Arrival on the field of the right wing of Lee's army under Longstreet 279 Testimony of Confederate officers of the time of that arrival . .287 Formation of Longstreet's line of battle 291 Numbers of troops on each side ........ 293

Chapter XI

Position of McDowell and Porter at half past eleven A. M., on the 29th 294 Consultations ........... 295 Was McDowell in command of Porter's corps? . ■ . . . 298 Did McDowell give orders to Porter? ....... 300 When McDowell marched away with his corps, what should Porter have done? ......... 302 Pope's belief that at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th there was no considerable body of the enemy on Porter's front . . 303 Pope affirms that the presence of Longstreet is immaterial . . 304 That Porter was actuated by treasonable motives .... 306 Porter declares his intention of falling back to Manassas Junction . 309 He reconsiders and determines to feel tbe enemy .... 310 Morell remonstrates, and Porter acquiesces 31 1 Order from Pope to Porter at half past four p. M 312 The hour when Porter received this order .... 313 The purport of the order g,c Porter's efforts to obey it ...... 31 g CONTENTS.

XIII Pope's view of Porter's duty 319 The court-martial 321 General Porter's military history ....... 325 Porter's dispatches to General Burnside 327 They are shown to Pope ......... 328 Members of the court-martial and conduct of the government . . 330 Petitions for a rehearing in Porter's case ...... 331 McDowell moves towards the battle-field ...... 332 General Hatch ordered to pursue the enemy ..... 334 The combat 335 McClellan and Halleck anxious about Pope ..... 337 Disposition of troops at Alexandria to meet disaster in Pope's army 339 Halleck accuses McClellan of disobeying his orders .... 341 Pope's suspicions of General Franklin ...... 343 Banks and the baggage wagons . . . . . . . 344 Pope's order to Porter at 8.50 p. M. 345

Chapter XII

Pope prepares to fight a battle in which he has no hope of victory . 346 McDowell's reconnaissance ........ 347 Pope jubilant. He believes that the enemy are in flight . . . 348 The Confederate line of battle 350 Bradley T. Johnson 354 Skirmishing in the morning ........ 355 General Reynolds's attack on the Confederate right .... 358 McDowell impressed with a belief he may have been mistaken in the conclusions drawn from his reconnaissance ..... 359 General Porter and his advance ....... 361 McDowell orders Reynolds to move to Porter's rear .... 365 General Warren and his brigade ....... 366 General Sigel and his corps . . . . . . . . .367 General Tower 372 General Hatch and King's division . . . . . . .373 General Heintzelman . . . . . . . . .375 General Hooker's movements ........ 376 General Kearny's movements . . . . . . . .377 Porter's assault seen from the Confederate position . . . .377 Longstreet's assault 380 General Jackson throws the left wing forward ..... 381 Longstreet's advance with the right wing 385 Cavalry conflicts : . . . 391 Federal efforts on the Henry house hill to resist the Confederate advance . . . . . • 394 McDowell and Milroy 399 Federals retire to Centreville 404 Schurz's division on Henry house hill and on the retreat . . . 405 Pope's dispatch to Halleck . .

CONTENTS. XIV Pope's assault criticised .. . 410 Banks at Bristoe Station 414 McClellan defended 416 CHAPTER Xin. Confederates pursue the Federal army 421 Pope at Centreville 422 March of General Banks's corps 424 Pope's situation . . . . . . . . . . .426 McClellan, Halleck, and Pope again 428 Pope informs Halleck that his efforts have been frustrated by traitors from the Army of the Potomac ....... 432 Abraham Lincoln entreats McClellan to influence his friends . . 434 Battle of Chantilly 437 Death of Generals Kearny and Stevens ...... 443 Retreat to Alexandria .......... 450 Banks and Gordon's brigade ........ 453 Pope's campaign considered . 460 Invasion of Maryland 465 Appendix 469 Index 493 MAPS. Of the country from the Rapidau to Alexandria. (In cover pockets.') Of the conflict near Groveton To face pao-e 227 Of the battle of the 29th of August " " 280 Of the battle of the 30th of August . . . . y " 409 Of the battle of Chantilly « "449

Chapter I. Rapidan To The Rappahannock

In the night, on the 11th of August in the year 1862, General Jackson turned from his victorious battle-field of Cedar Mountain, and marched southward towards Gordonsville. The present volume takes up the narrative of Gen eral Pope's campaign in Virginia from this period, and enters upon the Federal pursuit to the Rapidan River, at which place General Pope, resting his right on Rob ertson's River, drew up Sigel's corps on a cross road that led from Cedar Mountain to Orange Court House. His centre, commanded by McDowell, occupied both flanks of Cedar Mountain, while his left, under General Reno, who had marched from Falmouth with eight thousand men, and joined him on the 14th of August, Pope stationed near Racoon Ford, to cover the road from there to Stevensburg and Culpepper. Though the front of the Federal army extended a distance of some seven miles, the line was a strong one, for the flanks rested on two rivers about one hundred yards in width, and the centre held a commanding posi tion which covered the plain.1 The disposition of Pope's army and the numbers of 1 Banks's corps at this time remained at Culpepper. his troops were accurately known to General Jackson, on the 13th of August, through his chief engineer, who had gained an unobstructed view of Pope's exact loca tion from the summit of Clark's Mountain, an elevated point three miles east of Rapidan Station.

This officer * reported that the main body of the Union army was encamped around the slopes of Gar nett's and Slaughter's mountains ; that one division 2 was one mile north of Culpepper Court House, on the Brandy Station road, and that a small force was lo cated between Mitchell's Station and Lime Church. When Captain Boswell made his report to General Jackson he was directed to examine on the following day the most desirable route for turning the enemy's flank and reaching Warrenton, in Fauquier County. On the 14th this officer recommended that Jackson should march from his encampment west of Toddsburg, through Orange Court House, thence down the Fred ericksburg plank-road to Dr. Terrell's, then to the left by Pisgah Church ; cross the Rapidan at Sommerville's Ford, and thence by Lime Church, Stevensburg, Brandy Station, and Beverly Ford, to Warrenton.

Jackson approved this plan. On the 15th of August he moved his command forward, passed Orange Court House, and encamped his three divisions, under Taliaferro, Ewell, and A. P. Hill, near 'Pisgah Church, where they awaited, until the 20th of August, the arrival of a portion of General Longstreet's command.3 While Jackson was thus making due preparation for his grand flank movement, the whole army of the Con federate General Lee was moving from Richmond to the Rapidan. 1 Captain J. K. Boswell, chief engineer, second Confederate army corps. 2 Banks's corps. 8 Jackson's Official Report. In a letter dated the 6th of August, General Hal leck had expressed to McClellan his great regret that he had been compelled to order, on the 3d of August, the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac to Acquia Creek for a new base on the Rappahannock.

Had Halleck delayed this letter until the 13th, he would have been spared the indulgence of grief, for on that date, as it appears from the history of the times, Lee became convinced that he could remove McClellan from the peninsula without Halleck's assistance, and that the best way to accomplish this result was to threaten Washington far more violently than McClellan had threatened Richmond. Longstreet's corps commenced its march upon the 13th of August for Gordonsville, and the remainder of the troops followed in the same direction. D. H. Hill brought up the rear on the last of the month. It was Lee's intention to cross the Rapidan and attack Pope at early dawn on the 18th, but delay on the part of some of his subordinates interfered with the com pletion of his plans, and he was obliged to postpone his movements until daylight of the 20th.

His order of the 19th directed General Longstreet, commanding the right wing, to cross the Rapidan at Racoon Ford and move in the direction of Culpepper Court House. Gen eral Jackson, commanding the left wing, was to cross at Sommerville's Ford and move in the same direction, keeping on the left of Longstreet, while General An derson, crossing at the same ford with Jackson, was to follow his route and act in reserve. The battalion of light artillery under Colonel S. D. Lee was ordered to take the same route, while the cavalry under Stuart was to pass at Morton's Ford, pursue the route by Ste vensburg to Rappahannock Station, destroy the railroad bridge, cut the enemies communications and telegraph line, and operating towards Culpepper Court House, take position on General Longstreet's right.

This movement for the destruction of the Federal army was intended to be speedy and to be sure. Only medical and ammunition wagons were to follow the Con federate army. Baggage and supply trains were to be parked on the south side of the Rapidan, in secure positions, so as not to embarrass the different roads. The troops were to carry three days' cooked rations in their haversacks. The movement was to be made at dawn. General Pope, fortunately for us all, was not ignorant of Lee's purposes. From the summit of Thor oughfare Mountain, from spies within Lee's army itself, and from bold movements of his cavalry far beyond his lines, Pope knew that Jackson had been reenforced by large numbers from Richmond, and he suspected on the morning of the 18th of August that nearly the whole of Lee's army was in his front.

He learned from a spy that the enemy had concentrated his forces be hind a ridge beyond the river, opposite his extreme left, that his artillery horses were harnessed, and that the troops were momentarily expecting orders to march down the river and cross at Racoon Ford to reach his rear.1 General Lee had communicated to his able and inde fatigable leader, General Stuart, his plans for this sur prise, and Stuart had made his preparations accordingly. To move Fitz-Hugh Lee's brigade of cavalry to the vicinity of Racoon Ford, and Hampton's brigade to the border of the space between the two armies, was but precautionary to the movement of Longstreet's infantry, then marching from Gordonsville. At Verdiers ville, about five miles south of the Rapidan, on the 1 This information was communicated to Pope on the morning of the 1 8th of August. evening of the 17 th of August, General Stuart awaited impatiently the concentration of his cavalry in the vicinity of Racoon Ford.

General Fitz-Hugh Lee was stationed on the extreme Confederate left. His march to join Stuart should have ended on the evening of the 17th ; but Stuart saw no signs of his coming. The few inhabitants who hailed the approach of Confederate soldiers with joy — for as yet they had hardly tasted of the horrors of war — had neither seen nor heard of the brigade. Night came and Stuart -was impatient. He dispatched his Adjutant- General, Major Fitz Hugh, up the expected road ; then wrapping himself in his cloak he slept under the porch of a house by the roadside. At early dawn a sudden clatter of horsemen and wagons was heard. Stuart was aroused, and walking out bareheaded to the fence near by, he saw a column of troops coming from the very direction indicated for General Lee. Was this the Con federate cavalry ?