Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/230

 2-24 Southern Historical Society Papers.

main war artery) that night. I found myself now encumbered by about 400 prisoners, many of whom were officers."

He then proceeds to state how he marched northward, cutting the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at several points, and remained in pos- session of that road nearly all that day, the 28th. Finding that the enemy was moving north through Frederick City, and it being im- portant for him to reach General Lee's army with as little delay as possible ' ' to acquaint the commanding general with the nature of the enemy's movement, as well as to place with his column my cavalry force," he proceeded, following a ridge road to Westminster, which he reached at 5 P. M.

At this place he had a skirmish with a detachment of Federal cavalry, which he pursued a long distance on the Baltimore road, a pursuit that took him further away from the army of General Lee.

The line of march taken by General Stuart on the right of the enemy brought on several skirmishes, which consumed much more time, the consequences of the loss of which will be presently de- scribed.

Considerable delay was also caused in an effort to save the captured wagon train. Not being able to learn exactly where the Confederate army was, General Stuart proceeded as far north as Carlisle. It was not until the night of the ist of July that he was informed that Gen- eral Lee's army was at Gettysburg, and had been engaged that day with the enemy's advance. He reached Gettysburg on the 2d of July.

The movement of General Stuart, as will be perceived, left the army which had passed into Maryland with no cavalry, except the brigade of Jenkins's and White's battalion, which accompanied General Ewell. It could not look for supplies in a hostile country, except by the use of artillery and wagon-horses, of which, of course, but a small number could be spared for that purpose, and it was, as we shall see, entirely without knowledge of the enemy's movements.

Let us now return to the movements of the main body of the army.

On the 22d of June General Ewell marched into Pennsylvania with Rodes' and Johnson's Divisions, preceded by Jenkins's Cavalry, taking the road from Hagerstown through Chambersburg to Carlisle, where he arrived on the 2yth. Early 's Division moved by a parallel road to Greenwood, and, in pursuance of instructions previously given to General Ewell, marched towards York. On the 24th Long- street and Hill were put in motion to follow Ewell, and on the 27th