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the very great advantage enjoyed by Rebel raiders in the readiness of the White inhabitants to give them information, and even to scout in quest of it, throughout that dreary Winter, that nothing that might be asserted of Rebel andacity or Federal imbety is absolutely incredible.

The somber clond is lighted by a Angle flash, na of victory, but of suinor. In a Teschreid far within our lines, Gen. Stoughton, a young Vermont Brigadier, was taken in his bed, near Fax Court House, and, with his guns and five horses, hurried off acro acros e Rappahannock. Some one spoke of the loss to Mr. Lincoln next anaing: "Yes," said the President; at of the horses is bad; but I can ake another General in 3 minutes."

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a very low ebb. Desertions were at the rate of 200 per day; soldiers clandestinely receiving citizens'clothing by express from relatives and others to. facilitate their efforts to escape from a service wherein they nd that Lt. had it all heart. The number w makes its shown by the rolls to be about from alletin) "has their regiments was no less than 2,920 the enemy; officers and 81,964 nou-commissiono several ed" officers and soldiers-many of any pris-them in hospitals, on leave, or detachor cavalry ed on duty; but a majority, probably, General had deserted. The frequency, audelike city, and success, of the Rebel cavalry his-raids that Winter forcibly indicate on the cation and confidence felt on one on side, the apathy, born of despondency, on the other. Superior as its enormous total probably includes all who had deserted from the regiments composing that army since they were severally organized as well as the sick and wounded in hospitals.

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HOOKER'S ADVANCE-STONEMAN'S ORDERS.

353

numbers still were, it is questionable now be retiring on Richmond. The that this army was a full match, on spirit of Hooker's instructions is emequal ground, for its more homoge-bodied in these sentences:

neous, better disciplined, more selfassured, more determined antagonist. Gen. Hooker very properly devoted the two ensuing months to improving the discipline, perfecting the organization, and exalting the spirit of his men; with such success that he had, before their close, an army equal in numbers and efficiency to any ever seen on this continent, except that which Gen. McClellan commanded during the first three months of 1861. Its infantry was nearly, if not quite, 100,000 strong; its artillery not less than 10,000, every way well appointed; while its cavalry, numbering 13,000, needed only a fair field and a leader to prove itself the most effective body of horsemen ever brigaded on American soil. Horses and forage having both become scarce in the South, there was not, and never had been, any cavalry force connected with any Rebel army that could stand against it.

Being at length ready, Hooker dispatched" Stoneman, with most of his cavalry," up the north side of the river, with instructions to cross, at discretion, above the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, strike Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry brigade (computed at 2,000) near Culpepper Court House, capture Gordonsville, and then pounce on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad near Saxton's Junction, cutting telegraphs, railroads, burning bridges, &c., thence toward Richmond, fighting at every opportunity, and harassing by every means the retreat of the Rebel army, which, it was calculated, would April 13.

30

"Let your watchword be fight, and let
all your orders be fight, fight, fight; bearing

in mind that time is as valuable to the Gen-
eral as the Rebel carcasses.

"It devolves upon you, General, to take
the initiative in the forward movement of
this grand army; and on you and your noble
command must depend, in a great measure,
the extent and brilliancy of our success.
Bear in mind that celerity, audacity, and re-
solution, are every thing in war; and espe-
cially is it the case with the command you
have, and the enterprise on which you are
about to embark."

These instructions seem to have been at once terse and perspicuous, plainly indicating what was expected, and why it was required; yet leaving ample discretion to him who was to give them effect. Yet it is hard to repress a suspicion that irony lurks in such language, when addressed to an officer like George D. Stoneman.

Our cavalry, carefully screening its movements from the enemy, marched two days westward, and had thrown across one division, when a rain raised the river so rapidly that this vanguard was recalled, swimming its horses; and a succession of April storms kept the streams so full and impetuous, while the roads were rendered so bad, that a fresh advance was postponed to the 27th; Gen. Hooker giving the order for the movement of his infantry and artillery next day.

The time was well chosen. Longstreet, with three divisions, had been detached from Lee's army, and was operating against Gen. Peck below the James; and it is not probable that Lee had much, if any, over 60,000 men on the Rappahannock. True, his position at Fredericksburg was

"He says 13,000, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War. VOL. II.-23

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