umns-long black winding lines of men, their muskets gleaming in the sunshine like silver spears-are in sight, moving in the direction of Fredericksburg or down the opposite bank of the river. Those skirmishing in front. Good many stragglers by the wayside, but they are generally broken-down soldiers, and trudge slowly along in the tracks of their comrades. An attractive part of the procession is the baggage trains, wending their way in the rear of the army. Thousands of wagons are in sight, and between the stalling of trains, the shouting of drivers, and the chaotic confusion which emanates from the motley mass, no man can complain of the ennui of the march.

"Nothing can be more picturesquely beautiful than the bivouac at night. Thousands of troops line the woods on both sides of the road for miles. Camp-fires are glimmering in the trees, muskets are stacked along the edge of the forest, and the men are disposed in every conceivable manner. Some are rolled up in their blankets and already dreaming away the fatigues of the day; some are sitting around the camp-fires, watching the roasting ears, and discussing the coming events which cast their shadows before,' and some are among the trees, moving to and fro in the gray film of smoke that has arisen from the myriad fires and rests upon the earth. We live on what we can get-now and then an ear of corn, fried green apples, or a bit of ham broiled on a stick, but quite as frequently do without either from morning until night. We sleep on the ground without any other covering than a blanket, and consider ourselves fortunate if we are not frozen stiff before morning. The nights are both damp and cold."

A portion of this extract paints with great accuracy the commissariat of the Southern army. "A bit of ham broiled on a stick" was a luxury with the men, and the time was soon to come when it would be wholly unattainable; when the entire force would be called on to subsist upon green corn roasted on the embers-sole bill of fare of the tired and hungry soldier.

General Lee had thus massed his army between the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, directly on the enemy's flank; but in

his expectation of a decisive battle there, he soon found himself disappointed. General Pope had no intention of renewing a trial of strength with the Confederates after his experience at Cedar Run; and with a prudence which ill assorted with his publicly expressed determination to take no step toward that "rear" where "lurked disaster and shame," he no sooner suspected the intended attack than he fell back promptly to the north bank of the Rappahannock, and, crowning every hill with his batteries, prepared to dispute the passage of the river.

Jackson lost no time in following up this retreat of the enemy, and on the 21st moved with Taliaferro's brigade in front to Beverly's ford, the main crossing of the Rappahannock, just above the point where the railroad intersects it. The enemy were seen in force on the opposite bank, and Jackson promptly ordered forward the batteries of his division under Major Shumaker, which opened fire and succeeded in silencing the Federal artillery, and dispersing their infantry supports. This repulse, however, was only temporary. General Stuart, who had made a reconnoissance beyond the Rappahannock with his cavalry and horse artillery, reported an advance in force, and heavy columns soon appeared on the opposite bank. Their batteries were placed in position, and a rapid and determined artillery duel ensued between the Federal batteries and those of Taliaferro. This lasted all day, and when the shades of night descended the landscape was still lit up by bursting shell and the lurid glare of the cannon.

On the morning of the 22d Jackson withdrew from the enemy's front at Beverly's ford, and advancing up the bank of the river with Ewell in front, crossed Hazel River, a tributary of the Rappahannock, at Welford's ford. Here Trimble's brigade was left to protect the flank of the wagon train from attack, and the necessity of this precaution was soon rendered apparent. About noon a small party of the enemy made a dash at the train and captured a portion of it. They were attacked, however, in turn, the wagons recaptured, and the whole party made prisoners. About four o'clock a more determined effort was

made to delay Jackson's march, and cut off his trains. A considerable Federal force crossed the river below, and attacked the wagons, but this met with no better success. Trimble, supported by Hood (commanding General Longstreet's advance), met this party, and after a sharp engagement routed and drove them beyond the river again, a considerable portion of their force having been taken prisoners.

Jackson continued to advance, paying little attention to these assaults on his rear, and reached a point opposite Freeman's ford, the next ford above the mouth of Hazel River. This he found guarded by a strong force, and he marched on to Warrenton Springs, on the old stage road from Warrenton to Culpepper Court-House. Here he found the bridge over the river destroyed, but the point slightly guarded, and no time was lost in endeavoring to secure a position of so much importance. The 13th Georgia, Colonel Douglas, with the eight guns of Brown and Dement, and afterwards Early's brigade, were ordered to cross, and the Springs were soon in his possession, with a number of prisoners.

This movement had no sooner been effected than it commenced raining, and Early's position became one of very great peril. The Federal forces were rapidly approaching to attack him; the river began to rise, and he was completely cut off from the main body on the southern bank. Urgent messages were despatched by General Early describing his situation, and stating that a reconnoissance in person had discovered the enemy in his front and on both flanks. To this Jackson responded briefly :

"Tell General Early to hold his position."

The 23d passed, and the enemy were nearly in collision with Early. But Jackson had not been idle. Details of men had been constructing all day a temporary bridge over the swollen river, and by dawn on the 24th the infantry and artillery were all safely over on the southern bank again. Early had scarcely crossed when the enemy pressed forward, and a fierce cannonade commenced between their batteries and those of Hill.

At the very moment when Jackson was thus feeling the en

emy on the Rappahannock, General Stuart, at the head of his cavalry, had by one of those bold dashes which characterized him, penetrated to their rear, and, in the midst of night and storm, struck them at Catlet's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where General Pope then was in person. The men on this occasion behaved with much gallantry, charging at a gallop through the midnight darkness, deepened by a heavy thunder-storm, over rough and unknown ground, upon the camps of the enemy. The attack threw every thing into confusion, and the Federal officers fled from their tents into the darkness, almost without firing a shot; but a heavy volley from their men, behind the railroad, was poured into the faces of the southern horsemen. General Pope escaped, leaving his coat and hat behind, but several of his officers were captured. The most valuable part of the captured property was a box of official papers, which are said to have clearly exhibited the strength of his army; his anxious desire for reënforcements; his expectation that they would soon arrive; and the slender hopes which he indulged of holding his ground, if the Confederate commander attacked him in force. General Stuart hastened to lay these valuable documents before General Lee, and the revelations which they afforded of the enemy's numbers and designs, probably led to the decisive movement which speedily followed the raid.

General Lee determined to send a column against the enemy's rear, to get between him and Washington, cut his communications, and in conjunction with the rest of the army, which would follow, engage his whole force, and capture or destroy it before it could retreat to the Potomac. This movement would necessarily be attended with great peril, as the force thus detached would be entirely separated from the main body under Lee; would move straight to a position directly in the path of the retreating enemy, and might be called upon to sustain the assault of his entire column before succor could reach it. To effect the object of the commander-in-chief, the utmost energy, judgment, and decision were necessary in the officer who under

took the expedition, and a man must be selected who had capacity to operate alone, and whose movements would be rapid and decisive. The officer selected to conduct this flank movement was Jackson.

CHAPTER XII.

THE MARCH TO MANASSAS.

JACKSON lost no time. On Monday, the 25th of August, he retired from the position opposite Warrenton Springs, and ascending the banks of the Rappahannock, passed through the little village of Amissville, and crossed the river at Hinson's ford, dragging his artillery with difficulty up the narrow and rockribbed road beyond. From this moment rapidity of movement was essential to success. The presence of Jackson in that region could not long be concealed, and it was vitally important that the Confederate forces should push on and pass through Thoroughfare Gap-their proposed line of advance-before the enemy could occupy that strong fortress and bar their passage.

The famous "Foot Cavalry" were now called upon to put forth their utmost strength. A long and exhausting march was before them; every moment was precious; Thoroughfare Gap must be reached before the enemy arrived, and the ordinary rules of marching must be changed. As though recognizing the truth of the maxim that wherever two men can place their feet an army can move, Jackson pushed on beneath the shadow of the Blue Ridge, "across open fields," declares one of his men, "by strange country roads and comfortable homesteads, by a little town in Fauquier, called Orleans, on and on, as if he would never cease." When the Confederate forces advanced by the same route in June, 1863, a soldier asked an old negro whither the road which they were then travelling led.

"All right, master," replied the old man, with an astute