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 cooperating’with 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 hismany, on the night of June 13th, toward the line of the Orange and AlexandriaRailroad, 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 Sliepherdstown via ChesterHap on the 13d. Stuart’s cavalry had been thrown out on Longstreet’s right to°ecupy the passes of the Bull Run mountains and watch Hooker’s army. O 11the 17th he encountered,

Hear Aldie, a portion ofRleasonton’s command; atierce fight ensued, whichleft the Federals in pos-session of the field. Duringthe four following daysthere was a succession ofcavalry combats; those ofthe 19th near Middleburg,a nd of the 21 st near Up-Perville, were especially' v ’ell contested, and re-sulted in the retreat ofStuart through Ashby’sHap. Longstreet had al-ready withdrawn throughthe gaps and followed Hill to the Potomac. Imboden, his work of destruction completed, had taken postHt Hancock. Longstreet and Hill crossed the Potomac on the 24th and 25thmid directed their march on Chambersburg and Fayetteville, arriving 011 the27th. Stuart had been directed to guard the mountain passes until the Fed-eral army crossed the river, and, according to General Lee ’s report, “ to loseHo time in placing his command on the right of our [Confederate] column ass °on as he should perceive the enemy moving northward,” in order to watchmid report his movements. According to Stuart’s report, he was authorizedto cross between the Federal army and Washington, and directed after cross-*Hg to proceed Avith all dispatch to join Early in Pennsylvania .

Heneral Lee so far had been completely successful; his army was exultant,mid he lost no time in availing himself of his advantages. On the 21st he° r dered Ewell to take possession of Harrisburg ; and on the 22d Ewell’s whole

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, GETTYSBURG . FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

The cupola was first used by 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 fighting in the college grounds.— Editors.

Pennsylvania

COLLEGE BUILDING, WHICH SERVED AS

A HOSPITAL