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■Potomac — adding that we might have an opportunity to cross the Rappa-hannock near Culpeper Court House and make a battle there. I made thiss Hggestion in order to bring about a discussion which I thought would giveEwell a better idea of the plan of operations. My remark had the desirede ®ect and we talked over the possibilities of a battle south of the Potomac .r Phe enemy would be on our right flank while we were moving north. Ewell’se °i“ps was to move in advance to Culpeper Court House, mine to follow, andthe cavalry was to move along on our right flank to the east of us. Thus,threatening his rear we could draw Hooker from his position on Stafford‘eights opposite Fredericksburg . Our movements at the beginning of theCa Oxpaign were necessarily slow in order that we might be sure of having^'e proper effect on Hooker.
Ewell was started off to the valley of Virginia to cross the mountains andpiove in the direction of Winchester, which was occupied by considerable0l ’ees under Milroy. I was moving at the same time east of the Blue RidgeStuart’s cavalry on my right so as to occupy the gaps from Ashby on toSuper’s Ferry. Ewell, moving on through the valley, captured troops andapplies at Winchester, and passed through Martinsburg and Williamsportpito Maryland . As I moved along the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge wee ard from day to day of the movements of Hooker’s army, and that he hadHally abandoned his position on Stafford Heights, and was moving up the°tomac in the direction of Washington. Upon receipt of that information,• ?• Hill was ordered to draw off from Fredericksburg and follow' the move-Pjpnts of General Ewell, but to cross the Potomac at Shepherdstown. When
with his troops and well-supplied trains had passed my rear, I was
01 dered to withdraw from the Blue Ridge, pass over to the west of the Shen-andoah and follow the movements of the other troops, only to cross the°tomac at Williamsport. I ordered General Stuart, whom I consideredlender my command, to occupy the gaps with a part of his cavalry and to,° °w with his main force on my right, to cross the Potomac at Sliepherds-and move on my right flank. Upon giving him this order, he informed^. e that he had authority from General Lee to occupy the gaps with a part ofls cavalry, and to follow the Federal army with the remainder. At the•j^He time he expressed his purpose of crossing the river east of the Blue*dge and trying to make way around the right of the Federal army; so I° v ed my troops independent of the cavalry, and, following my orders,° s sed at Williamsport, came up with A. P. Hill in Maryland , and movedthence to Cliambersburg.
Before we left Fredericksburg for the campaign into Maryland and Penu-lt v ania, I called up my scout, Harrison, and, giving him all the gold he°Hght he would need, told him to go to Washington City and remain therehe was in possession of information which he knew would be of value^ and directed that he should then make his way back to me and report.1 -|. e Was leaving, he asked where he would find me. That was informationtal n °^ Care hnpart to a man who was going directly to the Federal capi-I answered that my command was large enough to be found without
V °V III. 17