OUR MARCH AGAINST POPE.
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Farther on, at Culpeper Court House, was the army of Pope , and farther stillwas the Rappahannock River. A little in advance of my position was Clark’sMountain, rising several hundred feet above the surrounding hills. WithGeneral Lee I proceeded to the mountain, and, climbing to its summit, weraised our glasses and turned them to the north. There, between the tworivers, clustering around Culpeper Court House, and perhaps fifteen milesaway, we saw the flags of Pope ’s army floating placidly above the tops of thetrees. From the summit of the mountain we beheld the enemy occupyingground so weak as to invite at-tack. Realizing the situation,
speedy work, and gave ordersthat his army should cross theRapidan on the 18th and makebattle. He was exceedingly anx-ious to move at once, before Pope could get reenforcements. Forsome reason not fully explained,our movements were delayed andwe did not cross the Rapidanuntil the 20tli. In the meantimea dispatch to General Stuart wascaptured by Pope , which gaveinformation of our presence andcontemplated advance. This,with information Pope alreadyhad, caused him to withdraw toa very strong position behind theRappahannock River, and there,instead of at Culpeper CourtHouse, where the attack was firstmeant to be made, General Lee found him. I approached the Rappahannockat Kelly’s Ford, and Jackson approached higher up at Beverly Ford, nearthe Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge.
We reached the river on the morning of the 21st, without serious opposition,and found Pope in an almost unassailable position, with heavy reenforcementssummoned to his aid. General Lee ’s intention was to force a passage andmake the attack before Pope could concentrate. We hoped to be able tointerpose, and to strike Pope before McClellan’s reenforcements could reachhim. We knew at that time that McClellan was withdrawing from Westover.I was preparing to force a passage at Kelly’s Ford, when I received an orderfrom General Lee to proceed to Beverly Ford and mask the movements ofJackson, who was to be sent up the river to cross by a left flank movement.On the 22d Jackson withdrew carefully and went on the proposed move.He sought an opportunity to cross farther up the stream-, aud succeededm putting part of his command across at Warrenton Springs Ford and in
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A STRAGGLER ON THE LINE OF MARCH.