The National tribune., 1904-05-26

met on the morning of the 11th by Fitz
| Hugh Lees horsemen; whereupon Buford,
| falling back over the Rapidan, united at
| Brandy Station with pleasontons main
| body of cavalry, and then followed the
| army across the Rappahannock.
On the following morning, Monday, Oct.
| II. Gen. Lee advanced his columns; but
! finding that Meade had been too quick for
lhHl. and that his first turning movement
had failed. owing to the rapid retreat of
his opponent, he determined instead of fol-
lowing up Meade by the direct line of his
retreat, to make q new flank movement
| by routes to the west, with the design,
as he says in his report. ''of reaching the
Orange L. Alexandria Railroad north of the
itappahanEock, and interrupting the re-
| treat of the enemy" This operation had
| uncertainty of Gen. Meade as to his an
tagonists real purpose, and the false
movements resulting therefrOm.
Having put the Rappahannock between
himself and Lee, Meade conceived that
his retreat might have been premature, es-
pecially as he was Informed on the morn
ing of the 10Th that Lee was near Cul-
peper Court House, and it was uncertain
| whether he intended to do more. Accord
ingiy, that afternoon the main body Of the
army, consisting of the Second, Fifth, and
Sixth Corps, with Buford's Cavalry Divi-
sion, was countermarched to the south
bank of the Rappahannock to proceed
back towards Culpeper. Gen. Meade de-
signed to give battle if Lee was really
there. But, as has been seen, the latter
had that morning again advanced to plant
himself by circuitous turning movement
| on Meade's line Of retreat towards Wash
ington. Thus was presented the curious
contretemps that while on the 18th the
main body of the army was marching
southward to meet Lee at Culpeper, Lee
was moving rapidly northward on parallel
roads to lay hold of Meade's communica
tons! But of this mistake, which if pro-
Ionged much longer might have proved fa-
tai to Meade, he had that afternoon con-
vincing proof in an event which fell out in
this wise.
MEADE LEARNED THE FACTS.
While the three corps named had been
sent on the cOuntermarch towards Cul-
peper the Third Corps, under Gen.
French had been left to guard the line of
the Rappahannock. and took position at
Freeman's Ford, while the cavalry divi-
Of the Upper Rappahannock at Sulphur
or Warrenton Springs. Now Lee, contin-
uing his northward march. on the after
noon of the 18th struck Sulphur Springs
and there crossed his columns TO the north
bank of the Rappahannock; SO that Gregg
found himself assailed by the van of the
enemy advancing towards Warrenton, and
was driven off after having been somewhat
severely handled. Of course, on receiving
this intelligence from Gregg, the real ma
ture of Lees movement was instantly dis
closed to Meade, who sent an immediate
order recalling the three corps from their
untimely move on Culpeper. This order
found these corps in bivouac on the road
to Culpeper, and reached them towards
midnight Of Monday, when they at once
began rapid retrograde movement to the
north of the Rappahannock.
FEDERAL FORCES REAssEMBLED.
1t is easy to see that from this misun-
derstanding not only was the general ret
rbgrade movement to meet the Confeder-
ate advance seriously compromised, but
the Third Corps, remaining alone on the
north bank of the Rappahannock, was
thrown quite out of position and exposed
to destruction by an overwhelming force.
But Lee. unaware of the true state of af-
fairs, did not turn aside to molest that iso-
lated force, but continued his northward
movement. and by night march of the
three corps, the different corps of the
Army of the Potomac were on the morn
ing of Tuesday the 18th, again concen-
trated on the north bank of the Kappa
hammock.
LEE AT WARRENTON.
As on the morning of the 18th the op-
posing forces were both on the north side of
the Rappahannock, there ensued between
the two armies close race-Lee aiming,
by flank march, to STRIFE in on Meade's
line of retreat by the Orange & Alexan-
dria Railroad, and Meade determined to
checkrcate him by a rapid retrograde
movement. The latter. during that day,
fell back alcns the line o. lie rs::,.-"ad.
and Lee, continuing his advance from Sui