Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-08

The following is an autfentlc copy OF zen fSonert
T. Lees official report OF the " Penrsylvan Cam
pagn - -.
July 3lst 1868.
Gen. s. Cooper, 4 ! / Gen. Richmond, IA:
GENERAL-rI have the honor to.submlt the foliowl
utIina of the recent operations of his amy fer he in
lorna ton OF the Dep ri ment :.
TIE position occupied by the enemy opposite req.
e,icksburg be in which he could DOT be ttacked
10 advantage it. was determined to drew him from It,
The execution Of this purpose embraced the relief OF the
Shenandoah Valley from the troops that had occupied
the lower part OF it during the winter and spring. end
if practicable, the TRAINER Of the scene OF hosties
North of the Potomac.
It VAS thought that the corresponding nts on
tie part of the enemy to which those contemplated by
would probably give rise, might otter falr opp7r
tunty to strike blow at the army therein, command
ed bv Gen. Eooker, aud that 10 any event, that army
would be compelled to leave Virginia, ard possibly TO
draw to it's support troops designed to perate against
oher parts of The country Ia this way it wes sup
posed tba TIE enemys plan OF campaign tor tie sum-
er would be broken up. and part OF the of &C.
tive operations be consumed in the formations OF
combinations and the preparations that they would re-
! qare. D..
In addition TO these advantages, it was hoped that
other valuable results might be attained by military
! SUCCESS.
! Actua>cd by these and other important consdera-
! tioDs that may hereaer be presented, the movement
| began OF the Sd June. McLaws' division ot Long
streets corps left Fredericksburg for Culpcper g. Ii
and Hoods division, which encamped on the Rap
/ idan marched to the same place
They were followed on the 4th and 5th by Ewes
corps leaving that of A P. Hill to cccupyour lines at
I Fredericksburg. -
The march Of these troops having been discovered by
The entmY Oh tie afternoon Of the 5th and the follow
ing day he crossed force, mounting to about one
army corps, TO tie south side CT Rappahanncck on
po1tOon bridge laid down the mouth Of Deep Run.
Gen Hill disposed cf his command 10 resist their ad
vance but IS theJ seemed intended for the purpose Of
observation rather than attack th movements in pro-
: gres5 not arrested.
The forces OF Longstreet and Ewel reached Culpep-
Court House by the 6th at whirh point the cavalry
under Gen Stuart, was also Concentrated.
On the 9Th la &c force of Federal cavalry, strong
Y supported by infantry, ssed the Rappabanncck at
Beverlys and Kelley Fords and attacked Gen Stuart
severe ment ued, continuing from early in
the morning until late i'll the afternoon, when the enemy
was olcd to tae river with heavy loss leaving
eral cOloTs in cur EaLd5
Gen. Jenkins with his cavalry brigade had been Or
dered to advance towards Winchester to cooperate
with the infantry in the proposed expedition into the
lower valley, and at the time Gen. lmboden was
Greeted with his command to make demonstration
in the direction OF Rouney, in order to cover the move
agaisst Winchester, and prevent the enery at
that place from beg reinforced by the troops on the
line OF the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad 30 Of these
officers il position when Gen Ewe left Cuipeper
Court House on the 10Th Crossing the Shenandoah
near Front Royal be detached Rodes' division to Ber
ryve with list uctons after dislogng the force sta
G
Winchester Gid the Potomac. With the divisions of
Early ard Johuson Gen Esell advanced directly upon
Winchester, driving the enemy i2to his works around
the town On the 18th. On the same day, the troops at
Berryve fell hack before Gen. Rodes retreating to
Winchester. On TIE l4th, Gen Early stormed the
works at the Latter lace and the whole army of Gen
Mlroy was captured or dispersed. Most of those who
attempted ape Intercepted and made prison
ers by Gen Johnson. Their leader fad to HarperS
y Ferry with small PARTY of fugitivts.
q General R0des nalche d from BerryFie 10 Gertins
burg, entering the latter place the l4h, where be
took seven hundred prso:ers FIVE pisces of artillery
and coz darable quantity of stores These operations
cleared the valley the enemy, thoae at Harpers Fer
~ Withdrawing to aryland Heights. More than III
thousand prisoners twentynn pieces OF artillery two
hundred and seventy wagons ard ambulances, with fou
n hundred horses were captured besd large amour
4 of military stores; Oar lss small On the nigh
that Ewell appeared at Winchester, the Federal troops
e in front Of A P Hi at Fredericksburg, recro6sed TIT
u RappahannOck. and the next day disappeared oeh.C
al the hills Of Stafford.
1t The whole army Of General Hooker wi'h@rew ron
y the line of The RAppahannock pursuing the roads nea
the Potomac, and favorable opportunity eft eC
for attack. l. seemed to be the purpose of Genera
= Hooker to take position which would enable him K
e c3ver the approaches to Washington City-with
: viea to draw him further from his BASE ard at tht
time to cover The march of A T. Hill, who IL
N accordance with Instructions left Fredericksburg FOL
e the Valley soon as the enemy withdrew from biz
"a front. L0ngstr5et move from CuIpepr Court House
D. the 5ih and Advancing along the East side of The
. Blue Ridge occupied Ashby's and Smokers Gaps
n His force had been augmented Willie at CuIpeper b.
20 General Pickett with tsree brigadts of his division
b. Tie cavalry, under Genera! Stuart, was thrown
If ia trent OF Longsrset to watch the enemy repo
IT ed to be moving into Ioudon. Ga the 18th Ibis caval
~ encountered TWO brgades of under Gen. Stuart
y near Aide, ard wasdrven back with loss The mex
day the engagement renewed, the Federal cavalr
being strongly supported ~ Infantry, and Gen Stuar
ie was ia turn compelled 30 retire.
The enemy advanced as far as Uppervile and thel
:, fell back. In these engagements General Stuart tool
about four hundred prisoners and considerable nurl
u Der Of horses AID arms
g In the meantime part Of General Ewels corp. hat
entered Maryland, ard the rest about to follow
e General jenkins with bis cavalry who accompanied
. General Ewell, penetrated Pennsylvania tar a
l. Chambersburg AS these demonstrations did not haI
the effect OF causing the Federal army to leave Vir
Ie the position held by Longstrset, the latter with
N drawn the West side of the Shenandoah General Hill
4 having already reached the Valley.
General Stuart left to guard the passes of tn
mountains, ard observe the movements of the enemy
whom he Instructed to harrass and impede muc
possible should be attempt to the Potomac
= In that event General Stuart directed to NOV
" into Marylaud crossing the Potomac East or West O
= the Blue Ridge, as in his judgement should be best
and teke position the right of column it ad
vanced.
By the 24th the psogress OF Ewel rendered it ncces
sary that the rest OF the army should be 10 supporting
distance, ard LQngstreet and Hill marched to the Poto
mac. The former crossed at Wiamsport, and the lat
ter al ShepherdstoWn. The columns reunited at Ha
gerstowD and advanced thence into Pennsylvania en-
E camping near Chambefsburg on the 9th
No report had been received that the Federal army
L hoS tho kxl.