The National tribune., 1908-03-26

Eleventh. Tne 9th N. \. cav, under
Lieut.-Col. MeVicar, led the column, and
lskirmished during, the day with the cav
! airy of Fitzhugh Lee and w. II. +. Lee
This did not offer resistance enough to
| retard the march, and the enemy was
found unprepared to seriously resist the
crossing at Fermanna Ford. About 125
infantry posted in mill and behind
some bridge timber, opened fire upon
the head of the column. The I'd Mass
and Sd Wis came up to the river bank,
and opened a sharp fire upon the de-
tenders. causing them to surrender.
The cavalry dashed across the stream,
followed by Rodgers's and Jackson's
Brigades of Wii!iamss Division, and the
men plunged eagerly into the swift wa
ter, which in some instances came above
their waists. The enemy had collected
quantity of timber. there to build "a
bridge, which our pontoniers made good
use. of under the direction of Gems
Geary and Kane. Before night both
corps were across the Rapidan and in
strong position. ''''
Stuart, who was expected to ag guard
that crossing, had imagined that the
movement which he had seen start out
j was directed upon Gordonsville and the
Virginia Central Railroad. He had
therefore planted himself at Brandy
Station. and was out of the way of Of
fering any resistance at Germanna Ford.
When he found he was too late for this
he made a circuit with Fitzhugh Lees
Brigade to interpose between Slocum
and Lee, and sent w. II. f. Lees Bril-
syade off to meet Stoneman. The pas
sage of Germanna Ford turned Ely's
Ford ana United States Ford, so that
MahOne's and Posey's Brigades on guard
there retreated to Charlottesville,
where they were met by Wright's Bri-
gade, which Anderson had brought up
too late to effect anything. At daylight,
April 30, the march was resumed into
the Wilderness. with Geary's Division in
the lead. He encountered only slight
opposition, which two of his regiments
We're able to dispose of, and the two
corps arrived at Chancellorsyillei about
2 p. m. The Twelfth Corps went into
position nearly parallel to the Plank
road, with the left resting near Chan
cellorsville and the right near church
about one and one-half miles distant.
The Eleventh Corps Joined on the right
with the Twelfth, with its right resting
on Hunting Run.
Informed of this success Gen Hooker
set out for ChancellorsviIle, and arrived
there on the evening of April 30 MAX
ing his headquarters at the Chancellor
House, and relieved Gen. Siocum, who
then returned to the command of his
own corps.
Meade and the Fifth Corps.
Gen. Meade, with the Fifth Corps
had come up on the evening of April
| IS in the rear of the Twelfth Corps. and
the next day, April 20, had crossed the
bridge as. soon as the Twelfth Corps had
cleared it, and marched to Ely's Ford.
A detachment of cavalry under Col
Thomas Devin, 9Th N. Y. Cav, led the
| column, and, sent out detachments
which surprised and captured the pick
| cts guarding Ellis's and Richards's
Fords. on reaching the Rapidan about
| 5 p. m. the cavalry dashed across, and
drove away the few mounted pickets
found there, after which Griffin's and
Sykess Divisions rushed across the riy-
er, which was three feet deep. with
heavy curreptl The men found diff
Guilty in keepiHg their footing, but sue
ceeded in getting aEross with their am
munition drYo and biyouacked before
midnight on the right bank of the Rap
idan. On theimurning oG--April 80 two
squadrons ofgcava3IU were sent out one
to push on imdheAdrection of ghancel-
lorsyille and the other to take the road
to United Statas Forl 40 capture or drive
off any parties that might be found on
picket there. al 700
Griffin, with lis division, reached
Charlottesville about II a. m. and
Sykes, came up at / o'clock. Humphreys
with ms remaining division. had been
left at the Rappahannocl to cover the
passage of trains and assist in taking I'D
the bridges. The aight of April 80 Gen.
Meade bivouacked his men in line of
battle. with his right resting on Chan
eeElorsville and his left extending toward
the river. Humphreys bivouacked his
men at Hunting Creek, two miles in the
rear. - - =
Lee Sill Deceived. ,4s
Up until noon of Aplii 80. if not later,
Lee still deceived himself with the be-
lief that Hooker was to cross below the
city. When he was first informed OF the
passage of the tree5Si s,5cve the city. he