The National tribune., 1884-05-22

without detour. He suddenly ran into Nc
Wears scouts. He sent back for Fitzhugh
Lees brigade. Fitzhugh sent up the I'd Vir-
GINA cavalry ahead The scouts called for Nc
Vicar and his regiment. Mcvicar, coming up,
was astonisbed to find his way shut up, but he
instantly drew up his men in the edge Of an
opening of the forest, and just as soon as the
ID Virginia men appeared in the opening, he,
with drawn sabers, charged them with fury
broke them up and drove them back-till Fitz-
hugh Lees other troops approached, when
shortly this combat ceased; Stuart taking from
Us few prisoners. McVicar had reopened his
way TO Charlottesville, over which his COM
mand made its return in safety; but the reso-
lutte McVicar himself received a mortal wound,
so that the escape Of his regiment cost him his
life.
A few Yankees, scattered IN the woods sub
sequently fired upon Fitzbugh Lees men as
they were quietly making Roadway toward
Spottsylvania. A terrific panic ensued among
them; organizations were broken up; friend
fired upon friend, and horsemen were dis
mounted and horses set to running wild AL
together it was a bloody night. In time, mat
tiers quieted down, and each party-safely in
camp with his Own-concluded that in the
darkness of the forest and the uncertain moon
light he had magnified his foes. No philoso-
ply or discipline are sufficient to prevent a
panic Surprises are very apt to cause them.
Friday morning at dawn Sickles completed
his march and Joined us on the front line. He
took post on my left. relieving some of Slo-
Gums thin line and some of Steinwehr's, near
Dowdall's Tavern. L thus obtained Barlow's
excellent brigade for my general corps reserve.
These, with a few reserve batteries, were held
in hand, in echelon, to cover my extreme right
flank In case Of such need.
FAVORABLE OUTLOOK.
Let as notice again, on that Thursday night,
how favorable matters looked. when General
Hooker was so jubilant and confident and full of
the purpose of pushing on to the heights near
Banks Ford. He had then $1,000 men well
concentrated at Charlottesville and more
within easy support. His left wing, under
Sedgwick, had thus far occupied enough the
attention of the Confederates TO keep them in
its front at Fredericksburg. 1t was not, then,
strange that the sanguine Hooker caused to be
issued and sent 10 Us that night, to be read at
oar camp-fires and 10 be published to our COM
mands as speedily as possible, the following
orders:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE PoToxAo
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA, April 80, 1863
General Orders, No A..
1t Is with heartfelt satisfaction that the COM
manding general announces To the army that the
operations of the last three days have determined
that our enemy must ingloriously fy out
from behind his defenees and give battle on our
own ground, where certain destruction awaits
him.
The operations of the 5th, nth and 18th corps
have been succession OF splendid achievements
BY command of Msj.-Gen. HOOKER.
s. WILLIAMS, A. A. q.
At the close Of this account of these prelimi-
nary operations viii add, for reference, for
nal table Of our army at the time (the 30th of
APRIL, as complied by Major Theo. A. Dodge,
of the army, naming only corps and division
commanders:
LIST corps General John r Reynolds Cwads-
z1rtn Rpl. md nouh lada x-A for
duty, equipped. ......... II, eos
ID corps, General Couch Hancock, Gibbon
and French1, for duty, equipped.......--. IL, S93
Sd corps, General Sickles (Birney, Berry
and Whippe, for duty, equipped............ 1921
5th corps. General Meade tGri1iR, Hum
phreys and Sykes, for duty. equipped. i5,724
Howe and Newton). for duty, equipped 2s,657
llth corps. General Howard (Devens,
S;einwehr and Sehurz), for duty, equip
pSd-----..- lZ,91S
18th corps, General Slocum Civilians and
Gearyj, for duty, equipped .............. L, i5o
Cavalry corps General Stonennan (Pleason-
ton, Gregg. Averell, and Buford's reserve
brigade), for duty. uipped............-... ISL
Artillery, General Hunt 100 guns, artillery
reservesl. for duty, equipped 16l0
1sl AL
TO be continued I