THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.

267

He considered aggressive action indispensable, that “ all attendant risks andsacrifices must be incurred,” and adds, “ I have not hesitated, in cooperatingwith your plans, to leave this city almost defenseless.” General Lee nowhad full liberty of action, with the assured support of his Government,—animmense advantage over an opponent who had neither.

As soon as Hooker learned from Pleasonton that a large infantry force was atCulpeper, he extended his right up the Rappahannock, and when informed ofEwell’s move toward the valley, being forbidden to attack A. P. Hill at Fred-ericksburg or to spoil Lee’s plans by marching to Richmond , he moved hisarmy, on the night of June 13th, toward the line of the Orange and AlexandriaEailroad, and occupied Thoroughfare Gap in advance of it. On the 15th Long-street left Culpeper, keeping east of the Blue Ridge and so covering its gaps.Hill left Fredericksburg on the 14th, and reached Shepherdstown via ChesterHap on the 23d. Stuart’s cavalry had been thrown out on Longstreet’s right to°ccupy the passes of the Bull Run mountains and watch Hooker’s army. Onthe 17th he encountered,

near Aldie, a portion ofEleason ton’s command ; aherce fight ensued, whiclileft the Federals in pos-session of the field. Duringthe four following daysthere was a succession ofcavalry combats ; those ofthe 19th near Middleburg,nod of the 21 st near Up-Perville, were especially^ell contested, and re-cited in the retreat ofStuart through Ashby’sHap. Longstreet had al-ready withdrawn throughHm gaps and followed Hill

li, his work of destruction completed, had taken post| and Hill crossed the Potomac on the 24th and 25th|on Chambersburg and Fayetteville, arriving 011 theIrected to guard the mountain passes until the Fed-(er, and, according to General Lee ’s report, “ to loseinland on the right of our [Confederate] column asthe enemy moving northward,” in order to watch. According to Stuart’s report, he was authorizedIral army and Washington, and directed after cross--patch to join Early in Pennsylvania ,leen completely successful; his army was exultant,ailing himself of his advantages. On the 21st heession of Harrisburg ; and on the 22d Ewell’s whole

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, GETTYSBURG . PROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

The cupola was first used hy Union officers, and then by Confeder-ate, as a station for observation and signals. During the withdrawalof the First and Eleventh corps through the town to Cemetery Hill,there was hard fightiug in the college grounds —Editors.

Pe Nnsylvania COLLEGE

BUILDING, WHICH SERVED AS A HOSPITAL