Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/356

 350 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the same relative position. General Lee knew that it was physically impossible for Stuart to pass the enemy's rear and keep up com- munication with him; he knew that it would be equally impossible if he crossed the river west of the Blue Ridge at Shepherdstown, and then (in accordance with his orders) moved on over the South Mountain and joined the right of Ewell's column. How could Stuart be on the Susquehanna and at the same time watch and re- port Hooker's movements on the Potomac?

MARCHED DAY AND NIGHT.

On June 22d General Lee had written Stuart, "One column of Ewell's army (under Early) will probably move toward the Susque- hanna by the Emmittsburg route another by Chambersburg. " So it was immaterial so far as giving information of Hooker's move- ments was concerned whether Stuart crossed the Potomac east or west of the Ridge. In either event after crossing he was required to go out of sight of Hooker, and to sever communication with Gen- eral Lee. Stuart took the most direct route to join the right of Ewell's column, marching continuously day and night to do so. When he reached York he found that Early had been ordered back to Cashtown, the appointed rendezvous of the army. About all this Colonel Marshall says nothing.

3. Colonel Marshall leaves the impression on the reader that Stuart took the whole cavalry corps with him. He knew that Stuart left two brigades of cavalry with Longstreet.

4. Colonel Marshall says that General Lee, at Chambersburg, not having heard from Stuart since he left Virginia, thought that Hooker was still south of the Potomac, until on the night of the 28th he learned through a spy that Hooker was moving northward. This is equivalent to saying that General Lee had lost his head, for no rational being could have supposed that Hooker would remain on the south bank of the Potomac while the Confederates were foraging in Pennsylvania. He might as well have disbanded his army. When General Lee passed Hagerstown on the 26th he knew that the bulk of Hooker's army was north of the river and holding the South Mountain passes. If Hooker had still been in Virginia there would have been nothing to prevent General Lee from marching direct to Baltimore and Washington. If General Lee had supposed (as Col- onel Marshall says he did) that the way was open to capture those cities, he would have marched east, and not north to Chambersburg.