The National tribune., 1908-11-26

burg and New Market to rejoin Lee.
Gen. Freneh's Report.
Gen. French puts the best face on
the matter possible, and his report
says:
THE enemy was now reported as
forming his line of battle near the
Chester Gap road and to the left of the
Pass. Continuous columns of cavalry,
infantry, artillery and baggage wagons
were seen during the day moving from
the direction of Winchester toward
force in front of us being evidently a
large flank guard to delay our advance.
''The First Division was formed in
line of battle, supported by the Second
and the Third Division held in reserve.
The enemy had rallied his skirmishers
in his front and behind the slopes which
descend from Mapping flights, carried
by Wards Division. I sent an order to
Gen Prince by Lieut.-Col. Hayden,
Chief of staff, to send a brigade to
penetrate the ravine in front and cut
the enemy's line and to drive them
away.
THE Excelsior Brigade was selected
to carry out my orders, and moved rap
idly to execute them. Descending the
precipitous slopes of Mapping flights,
they Were directed upon the Valley
which separated the series of knobs in
our front, behind the principal of which
the enemy. perceiving the object of
the movement, concentrated The bri-
gade was at once deployed at the base
of the knoll. and advanced upon the
enemy. Hating for a moment upon the
crest of the hill, the line rushed upon
the enemy with the bayonet, giving
cheer after cheer, and driving them
back in confusion out of the Gap.
Nothing could be more brilliant
than the conduct of the officers and
men in this affair. evidencing fighting
qualities of the highest order
'Brig.-Gen. Spinola, who led and
commanded the brigade, was twice
wounded. After the front had been
entirely cleared, the other brigades of
the Second Division moved down in
rear of the Excelsior, which, being
taken for a threat upon the road to
Front Royal by the enemy, few ran
dom shots from two rified guns near
the road were sent into our lines at a
great range. It was now almost night
fall. and the men. exhausted by long
and arduous march and spirited attack,
were permitted to lie on their arms
The list of casualties in this affair is
attached to this report
"On the following morning, the Sec
ond Division pickets being pushed out.
1t was discovered that the enemy had
withdrawn in the night That division
was sent to Front Royal with a battery,
but finding no enemy in force, it was
directed to return, and the march to
Warrenton, near which town the corps
went into camp"
The Comte de Paris's Criticism.
The Comte de Paris, in his mastery
review, says of Meade:
ION the evening of the 23d he has
three corps in the defile and two others
within supporting distance. and he
trusts on the following day to attack
with these forces the enemy's army,
believing that it is still in large num-
bers on the north of Front Royal. He
fancies that single Confederate corps
has passed thru Chester Gap, and comes
to the conclusion that the two others
will not be able to escape him during
the night without leaving this one ex-
posed to the greatest dangers.
Our readers have foreseen the bit
ter deception which is in store for him.
On the morning of the oath Longstreet
and Hill are already on the southeast
ern slope of the Blue Ridge, and push
ing forward; they are to encamp, the
first at Culpeper Court House, the Sec
ond at Newby's Crossroads During the
Mapping flights combat Early has re-
ceived, at Cedarville, the orders of his
chief, and has marched toward Stras-
burg. Finally Ewell at the close of the
day has brought both RodeS's Division
and Walkers Brigade back to Front
Royal, where, he has reinforced john
son. After having allowed his troops
to rest near that town, on the oath, at
daybreak, he begins his march toward
Luray. When, at the same hour, Meade
marches toward Front Royal. looking
for the enemy, whom he believes en-
tirely in his power, he finds no one.
Lee has escaped him, and he can no
longer meet him in the Virginia Valley.
The brilliant operation, the idea of
which he has conceived from the plan
formed by Mcclellan the preceding
year. has utterly failed, not having been
executed at the right moment Moth
ing remains for him but to look for a
suitable position for new campaign. |
Warrenton Junction is the only point !
around which he can concentrate and |
supply his army. While turning his |
back to Lees army he marches the |
troops he has near him toward the |
southeast, between the Blue Ridge and |
Bull Run Mountain. After having sta
toned them on the Manassas Gap Rail-
road they reach Warrenton Junction on |
the 25th and 26th."