Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/38

 The other divisions of Hill's corps were advancing to the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Longstreet had been withdrawn from the Ashby's and Snicker's Gap Roads, west of the Shenandoah, aud was to follow the next day. The first and third corps were moving to follow Swell's advance when General Lee wrote to General Stuart on the 22nd, and asked: "Do you know where he (Hooker) is and what he is doing? I fear he will steal a, march on us and get across the Potomac before we are aware." Col. Mosby says (page 91), that General Stuart received another letter from General Lee, which differed from the first (of June 22), "in suggesting to Stuart to cross the Potomac in Hooker's rear." He quotes from this letter of June 23rd, but does not give it in full. According to the official records, it was as follows:

"Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, June 23, 1863, 3:30 P. M.,

General,—Your notes of 9 and 10:30 A. M. today have just been received. As regards the purchase of tobacco for your men, supposing that Confederate money will be taken, I am willing for your commissaries or quartermasters to purchase this tobacco and let the men get it from them.

If General Hooker's army remains inactive, you can leave two brigades to watch him, and withdraw with the three others, but should he not appear to be moving northward, I think you had better withdraw this side of the mountain tomorrow night, cross at Shepherdstown next day, and move over to Fredericktown.

You will, however, be able to judge whether you can pass around their army without hindrance, doing them all the damage you can, and cross the river east of the mountains. In either cae, after crossing the river, you must move on and feel the right of Ewell's troops, collecting information, provisions, etc.

Give instructions to the commander of the brigades left behind, to watch the flank and rear of the army, and (in the event of the enemy leaving their front), retire from the mountains west of the Shenandoah, leaving sufficient pickets to guard the