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OUR MARCH AGAINST POPE.

a commander inex-perienced in warfare.For centuries therehas been amongsoldiers a maxim:“ Don’t despise yourenemy.” GeneralPope’s words wouldseem to indicategreat contempt forhis enemy. Unfor-tunately for him ourtroops, at that time,were not so well cladthat they cared toshow their hacks."With the double purpose of drawing McClellan away from Westover, and ofchecking the advance of the new enemy then approaching from Washingtonby the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, General Lee sent Stonewall Jackson to Gordonsville, while I remained near Richmond to engage McClellan in casehe should attempt an advance upon the Confederate capital. Jackson had hisown division and that of General R. S. Ewell, and later A. P. Hill was sent toreenforce him. McDowell was already in cooperation with Pope , part of hiscommand, however, being still at Fredericksburg . On the 9th of August Jack-son encountered the enemy near Slaughter or Cedar Mountain. [See page459.] There the battle of Cedar Run was fought and the Federals wererepulsed. In this tight, about 5 o’clock hi the afternoon, the Federals, by awell-executed move, were pressing the Confederates back, when the opportuneapproach of two brigades changed the scene, and a counter-attack from ourside drove them back in disorder and left us masters of the field. We followedthem some distance, but Jackson thought them too strongly reenforced forus to continue the pursuit and risk severe battle in a disjointed way; so,after caring for our wounded and dead, we retired to a position behind theRapidan to await the arri val of General Lee with other forces. Thus on hisfirst meeting with the Confederates in Virginia the new Federal commanderwent to the rear—a direction he was wholly unused to. At that time Gen-eral Lee was feeling very certain that Richmond was in no immediate dangerfrom an advance by McClellan’s forces. He therefore began at once prepara-tions for a vigorous campaign against Pope. Divisions under Generals R. II.Anderson, Lafayette McLaws, J. G. Walker, and D. II. Hill were left to watchMcClellan, with instructions to follow the main body of the army as soonas the Federals were drawn away from Westover.

On the 13th of August my command was ordered to Gordonsville, andGeneral Lee accompanied me there. Jackson ’s troops were stationed on theleft of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and I went into camp on the rightof Gordonsville. Northward was the Rapidan River, several miles distant.

LONGSTREET’S MARCH THROUGH THOROUGHFARE GAIL