Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
BATTLES and EADERS @ the MIl
81 1861 LEES CAMPAIGN AGAINST POPE.
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from an advance by McClellan's forces
He therefore began at once preparations
for vigorous campaign against Pope d.
visions under Gems. r. II. Anderson, La
fayette McLaws, j. G. Walker and D. II.
Hill were left to watch Mcclellan. Win
Instructions to follow the main body OF
the army as soon as the Federals were
drawn away from Westover.
On the 18th of August my command
was ordered to Gordonsville, and Gen.
Lee accompanied me there. Jackson
troops We're stationed on the left of the
Orange and Alexandria railroad, and
went into camp on the right of Gordons-
vile. Northward was the Rapldan
river, several miles distant. Farther on.
at Culpeper Court House. was the army
Of Pope, and farther still was the Kappa
hammock river.
A little in advance of my position was
Clark's mountain. rising several hundred
feet above the surrounding hills. With
Gen. Lee / proceeded to the mountain
and climbing to its summit, We raised
our glasses and turned them to the north
There. between the two rivers. clustering
around Culpeper Court House. and per-
haps fifteen miles away. we saw the flags
of Pope's army floating placidly above
the tops of the trees From the summit
of the mountain We beheld the enemy oc-
cupying ground so weak as to invite at
tack.
termined on speedy work, and gave orders
that his army should cross the Rapidan
on the 18th and make battle. He was ex-
ceedingly anxious to move at once, be-
pry,4 Il info
some reason not fully explained, our
movements were delayed and We did not
cross the Rapidan until the 10Th. In the
meantime dispatch to Gen. j. f. E.
gave information of our presence and
contemplated advance. This, with in
formation Pope already had. caused him
to withdraw to very strong position
behind the Rappahannock river, and
there, instead of at Culpeper Court House,
where the attack was first meant to be
made. Gen. Lee found him. I approach
ed the Rappahannock at kellys Ford,
and Jackson approached higher up at
Beverly Ford, near the Orange and Alex
andria railroad bridge
We reached the river on the morning
of August q, without serious opposition,
and found Pope in an almost unassail-
able position with heavy reinforcements
summoned to his aid. Gen. Lees inten-
ton was to force a passage and make the
attack before Pope could concentrate. We
hoped to be able to interpose, and to
strike Pope before McClellan's reinforce
ments could reach him. We knew at
that time that Mcclellan was withdraw
ing from Westover. ] was preparing
to force passage at Kellys Ford, when
i received order from Gen. Lee to
proceed to Beverly Ford and mask the
movements of Jackson. vino was to be
sent up the river to cross by a left flank
On the I'D Jackson withdrew carefully
and went on the proposed move. He
sought an opportunity to cross farther
up the stream. and succeeded in putting
part or his command across at Warren
ton Springs ford and in occupying a po-
sition there. The flooding rains inter-
rupted his operations. making the river
past fording and crippling all attempts
at forcing passage. Jackson therefore
withdrew his forces at night by tens
come impossible by reason of the floods.
the Federals seemed to concentrate
against Jacksons efforts.
On the I'D | had quite a spirited artil-
lery combat at Beverly ford with a force
of the enemy that had crossed at the
railroad bridge near where l was sta
toned The superior position and metal
or the Federals gave them an advantage,
which they improved by skillful practice.
We had more guns. however. and by
practice equally clever at length gained
the advantage. A little before night the
Federals withdrew from the combat.
Pending our movements southwest of
the Rappahannock Gen. Stuart, with his
cavalry, had been making an effort to go
around Pope's army. but. fearing to re-
main on the Washington side of the river
in the face of such floods as had come,
.recrossed with some important dispatches
he had captured by charge upon Pope's
headquarters train. This correspondence
confirmed the information we already
had that the Federal army on the James
under Mcclellan and the Federal troops
in the kanawha valley under Gen. Jacob
ID. Cox had been ordered to reinforce
Pope.
Upon receipt of that information Gen.
Lee was more anxious than ever to
cross at once. Pope. however was on
the alert. and Lee found he could not
attack him to advantage in his strong
hold behind the Rappahannock. Lee
therefore decided to change his whole
plan, and was gratified, on looking at
the map. to find a very comfortable way
of turning Pope out Of his position 1t
was by moving Jackson off to our left
and far to the rear of the Federal army
Wille remained In front with D,OOO
men to engage him in case he should
offer to fight.
On the 18th Jackson crossed the Rap
pahannock four miles above Waterloo
bridge and fourteen miles west Of the
railroad. The next day he passed through
Thoroughfare gap in the Bull Run
mountains and moved on by Gaines
vile. and when sunset came he was
many miles in the rear of Popes army,
and between 1t and Washington. This
daring move must have staggered the
Federal commander. From the Kappa
hammock Jackson had gone without Sc
rious opposition to within a stones
throw of the field where the first battle
of Manassas was fought When ne ar
rived at Bristoe station, on the Alexan-
dria and Orange railroad, about twenty