The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17
INN Ij5rr,,y,Iss

JED HoTcHK1ss.
Late Captain and Typographical Engineer,
and WILLIAM .ALLEN.
Late Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Ordnance,
Second Corps, a. N. "
SATURDAY. MAY I'd.
Lee ana jackson passed the night under
some Pine trees on tho left OF the Plank
Road, just where the Confederate line
crossed it. The difficulty of attacking the
Federal position in front had induced Gen
eral Lee 10 order his cavalry rcconnoitre
the right flank of the Union Army. During
the night they. reported fayorably to an
attack In that direction. AT daybreak Gen.
eral Jackson dispatched two OF his star
TO ascertain If practicable route existed,
by which. with speed and secrecy ne mlgnt
move around the flank of the hostile army army
The needed information was soon obtained.
Seated upon two cracker boxes, the deprls
of an issue of Federal ratons the day be-
fore, the Confederate leaders held their
consultation. With map before him Gen.
erai jackson suggested an entire circuit OK
the attack should be made in it's rear. Lee
inquired with what force he could do this.
Jackson replied With my b whole Mou GSrf be-
left 10 him with which TO resist an advance
OF the enemy towards fredericksburg, "The
divisions of Anderson and McLaws, SAID
jackson. For a moment Lee reflected on
the audacity of this plan In the race OF
hoeksrs superior nqsls Mt mas less IN 'h ahe
presence of sixty-ihousand To divide his
| army into two parts and place the whoie
hazardous. But IT was impossible to at
tack the Federal position in front without
Terrible HISS The very boldness or the pro
posed movement, II executed with secrecy
and dispatch, was earnest of success.
Jackson was directed to carry out the plan.
THE orders for the march were immedi-
| ateiy given Redes In command of d. II.
| HITS diyisIon. was placed in advance a.
Z. Hill brought UP the rear
The foregoing was undoubtedly Writ
ten by Hotchkiss, for subsequently lie
gave similar account of what passed
| between Lee and Jackson. and claimed
! that he was present and heard what
4 was said, as viii be seen from the
following extract from Henderson's
'-stonewall jackson and the American
/ Civil War" published in 1897:
| About dayhreak on May I'd says Major
Hotehkiss, General jackson awakened me.
| and requested that l would at once go down
| TO Catherine Furnace, which is quite near,
ascertain If there Was any road by which
| he could secretly pass around Ghnncellors-
| Vile TO the vicinity of the old Wilderness
/ Tavern. had map, which our engineers
had prepared from actual surveys, OF the
surrounding country. showing all the public
roads but with few details OF the inter- ait,,
fords, aroused him from his bed and soon
learned thar he himself had recently opened
a road through the woods in that direction
for the purpose of hauling cord wood and
iron ore 10 the furnace This l located as
the map. and having asked MI. Wexford
necessary 10 march over that road, re-
turned Ia headquarters When l reached
there found Generals Lee and Jackson In
conference, each seated on cracker box
from pile which had been left there by
the Federais The day before. In response tc
General Jaekson's request for my report.
put another cracker box between the two
generals, on which spread thefmap, show,
Indicated, so far as l knew it. the position
. of the Federal Army. General Lee then
said; General jackson, what do YOU, pro
,lN 1tnl -. md Mann
moving his finger over the road which
had located upon the map. General Lee
said What do YOU J propose to make ETH tne
, was the answer. General Lee then asked
what viii you leave meG' The division:
of Anderson and McLaws.' said Jackson
> General Lee after moments reflection. re
\ marked. We'll, go on and then, pencil II
: hand gave his last instructions Jackson
with eager smile upon his face, from
time to time nodded assent, and when TIL
! commander chief ended with the words
his envnr % he arose arose. and santed say
II Ing, MY troops will move at once sir
d Summary Of Aliens and Hotch
!. kiss Views.
- Condensing the account of Allen an
- IIotchkiss, the principal facts state
are:
\ /. Lee and Jackson passed the nigf
" in close proximity to each othe
" whether with or without conference
:, is not stated. The difficulty of at
y, lacking the Federal position in fror
~, had induced General Lee to order h
W, cavalry to reconnoitre the right fan
=, Of the Union army, and during III
~ night they reported favorably to a
=, attack in that direction.
q, 9. At daybreak on May I'd Gener
49, Jackson dispatched two of his staff
-, ascertain whether there was n pract
-, cable route by which he might moN
~, with speed and secrecy around Il
~ flank of General Hooker's army. I'll
needed information was soon obtaine
~ and General Jackson. after his tv
T. stan officers had reported the result
. their reconnaissance, suggested to Ge
cral Lee an entire circuit of the rig
nd flank of the opposing army. and tn
the attack should be made In Its ret
That after some hesitation from Vie
w eral Lee, accepted General jackson
~ suggestions, and then but not un
n, then. orders for ,the march of aeco
nv Corps were given.
III, Or. Dabney's Accountable