Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/217

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and finding that no advance was made, and that the force displayed on the Stafford side of the river was not larger than could he de-alt with in case it should cross by the corps of A. I*. Hill. General Kuril was directed to resume his march, and he and Longstreet on the Jth encamped around Culpeper Courthouse.

ORDERS TO KWKI.I..

Knowing by past experience the sensitiveness of the Government of the United States to any demonstration in the direction of Wash- ington by way of the Valley, he then ordered General Ewell to move from Culpeper Courthouse to Winchester, to attack the enemy in the Valley, and drive him across the Potomac. The appearance of Kwell in the Valley and his attack on the enemy at Winchester and Berryville resulted, as General Lee had expected, in the disappear- ance of the Federal army from the Rappahannock, opposite Frede- ricksburg, and A. P. Hill, in accordance with his instructions, imme- diately took up his march to join General Lee.

In order to cover Hill's movement, Longstreet, with his corps, was directed to advance along the east side of the Blue Ridge, threatening Washington, with a view to induce the enemy to place his army in a position to cover that city, and to divert him from A. P. Hill.

Longstreet left Culpeper Courthouse on the 15th of June, and oc- cupied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, in the Blue Ridge. General Stuart, with three brigades of cavalry, moved on Longstreet's right, and took possession in front of the two gaps. The cavalry brigades of Hampton and W. E. Jones remained along the Rappahannock and Hazel rivers, in front of Culpeper Courthouse, with instructions to follow the main body of the army as soon as Hill's Corps had passed that point.

There was much skirmishing between the cavalry of the two armies during the next three days, General Stuart taking a position west of Middleburg, where he awaited the rest of his command. General Jones arrived on the iQth, and General Hampton on the afternoon of the following day.

On the 2ist Stuart was attacked by infantry and cavalry, and forced to fall back to the gaps of the mountains. The enemy retired the next day, having advanced only a short distance beyond Upper- ville. The Federal army was apparently guarding the approaches