Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/55

Rh Orange Court House to Fredericksburg at the Wilderness Tavern, five miles west of Chancellorsville. After looking over all the ground, Warren, who was a most capable engineer, inclined to a move along the route just indicated, as least likely to attract attention. He thought, "that the passage of two streams, not fordable, and having a width of two to three hundred feet at such a long distance from our base by a flank movement with many pontoons and artillery trains, over roads almost impracticable, seemed so unlikely as to give the enemy no concern." Hooker took Warren's advice, and in a letter to Mr. Lincoln of April 11th, he communicated his purpose, adding "that he was apprehensive the enemy would retire the moment he should cross the river, and over the shortest line to Richmond, and thus escape being seriously crippled, etc."

Accordingly, he gave orders to Stoneman in command of the cavalry to begin the advance on the 13th of April, expecting to make feints of crossing the river at Fredericksburg and below, at the same time; and as soon as Stoneman had fallen upon Lee's communications, he would make his real move by the right. But the extraordinary rains and consequent floods which prevailed for ten days rendered the first attempt abortive. Stoneman was unable to move, to Hooker's great chagrin. On the 21st he wrote to Mr. Lincoln, "the weather appears to continue averse to the execution of my plans as first formed, but if these do not admit of speedy solution I feel that I must modify them to conform to the condition of things as they are. I was attached to the movement as first projected, as it promised unusual success, but if it fails I will project a movement which I trust will secure us success but not to so great an extent, and one, on the execution of which I shall be able to give personal supervision." What was meant by the latter expression has never been explained. In the movement which began a week later when the weather had cleared, the plan as originally designated was pursued, and it does not appear that so much of it as contemplated the interruption of General Lee's communications was departed from by him, or by his chief of cavalry. But before following the movement let us observe the situation on the other side.