Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-05-02

the hapidan.
The Federal design was now dcvcI
oped. They had abandoned all ful
ther efforts to take Richmond frou
below, and had concentrated north o
the Rappahannock. Gen. Lee accord
ingly put his main body in motion
advanced to the Rapidan, crossed tina
river, and streamcd forward to cut OF
his opponents from the Rappahannocl
"a movement which induced them L
fall back with rapidity, and take up
position on the northern margin O
the stream.
Such was the first illustration of u,
Federal Generals theory in referenc,
to lines Of retreat. That disaster lurk
ed IN The rear was now TO receive {
proof more emphatic
Before crossing the Rapidan, Gen
eral Stuart, commanding the cavalry
of the Longstreet army, had met with
vexatious mishap. He had ordered
one of his brigades to rendezvous at
the little village of Yerdiersville-had
gone thither with his staff, and omit
ting, as usual, every precaution look
ing to his personal safety, had lain
down on the porch of small house in
the village, where he slept unguarded
even by single vilette. The conse-
quence was that a Federal cavalry
regiment, proving around, surprised
him Just at dawn; he was forced TO
leap on horseback and jump the fence
TO escape-and so hasty was this
movement, the enemy being close up
on him, that he left behind him his
hat and cape, which they bore off in
triumph, to the great disgust of the
gay cavalier.
Nerdiersville was thus spot where
Stuart had registered laughing oath
of vengeance. He was now about to
fulfill il with "poetic justice" seldom
met with outside Of the covers Of a
romance.
General Pope had retreated beyond
the Rappahannock, where he thun-
dcred at every ford with his numer-
GUS artillery, and an attack in front
was evidently injudicious, il not i'm
practicable. To flank him was evil
IDENTIFY the most judicious course, and
to cut his communications would seri-
ously cripple him. Stuart set out
with his cavalry to cripple them.
In the midst Of night and storm, he
struck the Orange railroad at Cat
let's; charged pell-mell into the Fed
eral camps; threw everything into
enormous confusion, and ransacked
the whole place Catletts was Gen.
eral Pope's headquarters, but he was
either absent or managed to escape.
He, however, left behind him his most
private official papers, and his person
al effects, including his uniform coat.
These were borne off by Stuart, and
safely brought back
The papers contained the fullest
statement of General Pope's forces,
position, designs; his hopes, fears, all
that should be guarded, under triple
s.eel, from an adversary. If General
Lee had determined upon the great
flank movement which followed, these
papers confirmed his intention. Ifhe
had not, they decided him.
Stuart returned laughing TO his
quarters. On the way he met Gen.
Jackson.
"Here is Pope's coat, General" he
said, holding it up; "if be will send
me back my hat, ] will send him back
bis coat"
Jackson smiled, as he always did
when he heard the laughing accents
of that brave voice. Then he became
thoughtful again he was developing
in his profound intellect the details Of
the great blow which, in obedience to
the orders of Lee, he was about TO
deliver.
The design of Lee was more than
daring, it was correct. Absurdest of
the absurd is that philosophy Of var
which, ignorantly pointing to Cesar
and Napoleon as examples, erects au-
dacity above science, and decrics sound
principles in warfare. Examine the
of Lee, the greatest living
soldier, and his movements every
where will be found correct" Place
him where Gen. Pope then was-he
would never have been fanked and
cut off. General Pope's order desired
the men to "dismss from their minds
certain phrases-lines Of retreat, and
bases of supply" His destruction
followed.
Lees plan was simply TO send a
column of about 10000 men across
the upper Rappabannock; thence by
a rapid march TO Thoroughfare Gap
thence TO Manassas, where General
Pope had established his main depot
of supplies. If the column was push
ed rapidly, it might arrive before Gen.
Pope-Manassas would be destroyed
the Federal army starved-Dee
would follow, and thus the southern
army would be concentrated on the
enemy's line of notwithstanding,
faint, disheartened, they would find
in their path, strongly posted TO ro-
ceive them, the veteran bayonets Of
Jackson and Dongstreet, held in the
firm, inexorable grasp of Lee.
To command the advance corps, |
jackson was selected-that great
''right arm" whose loss Lee lamented
so bitterly after Charlottesville. The
peculiar trait of Jackson as a soldier
was that he always arrived in time.
Others failed ofien--he never did.
He moved with the mathematical ac-
curacy Of a machine. If he undertook
TO arrive, be arrived, If not with his
whole force, with part of it. Those
h-ol-or do.rn vvonld rrohablv catch |