Stoneman's expedition may therefore be dismissed with brevity.

The expedition, as we have seen, had set out on April 13, but had been forced to return chiefly on account of the tempestuous weather. On the 27th Stoneman advanced again, and moved southward within 30 miles of Richmond. He divided his force into six bodies, with orders to destroy the railroads, bridges, telegraphs, etc. Some of his regiments made their way within the works of Richmond, but nothing effective was accomplished. These separate forces were so small that, instead of destroying the Confederate cavalry, they had to flee before it. Some returned with difficulty across the Rappahannock to the national lines, and some escaped eastward down to Gloucester.

Military critics will always read with a sentiment of wonder the story of the Chancellorsville campaign, but they will hardly think it worth while to apply their cus tomary rules of examination to operations which, though they may offer instances of fighting, are certainly not an example of war.

One general fell back from a successful advance, and then became passive; his antagonist audaciously violated the first principles of the military art.

To the mind of an unprofessional observer it may, however, occur, that traces of influences which have hitherto escaped being brought plainly into view are here and there to be detected. The campaign of Chancellorsville will, for many years—perhaps forever-remain one of the mysteries of the American Civil War.

CHAPTER LXX.

THE CONFEDERATE SORTIE TO THE SUSQUEHANNA. THE

ADVANCE. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

The Confederate government determined to make another sortie.

The Army of Northern Virginia, under Lee, left the Rappahannock, and crossed the Potomac, intending to advance to Philadelphia, and there exact peace.

It was followed by the Army of the Potomac, under Hooker, who, however, resigning his command, was succeeded by Meade.

Lee, finding his communications threatened by Meade, ordered his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg.

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. The Confederate army was defeated, and compelled

to retreat.

Misfortunes had be

cause in the spring

of 1863.

THE battle of Chancellorsville was the culmination of a series of national disasters which had occurred fallen the national since the beginning of the year (1863): Galveston had been retaken by the Confederates; Burnside's march upon Lee had been stopped by storms. and mud; Dupont's naval attack on Charleston had failed; the Confederate cruisers were destroying Northern. commerce at sea; the reduction of Fort McAllister had been vainly attempted; Bragg was holding Rosecrans in check; Banks had not been able to take Port Hudson; Grant had not accomplished the capture of Vicksburg; the Army of the Potomac, beaten in two great battles, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, had become demoralized-desertions from it to an unexampled extent were occurring; the polit ical allies of the Confederates in the Northern States had taken advantage of the draft to produce a dangerous public excitement, and to clamor for peace.

It was not surprising, then, that, under such circumstanThe Confederates ces, a demand should arise in the Confederacy resolve on a sortie. for a renewed attempt to break through the line of investment, to carry the war into the Free States, and to exact separation and peace in Philadelphia or New York.

two armies.

Since the battle of Chancellorsville Hooker's army lay Condition of the on the north side of the Rappahannock, its strength reduced to about 80,000 by the discharge of 20,000 men whose term had expired. On the contrary, Lee's army, which still confronted Hooker, had become 105,000 strong. It was in three corps: (1), Longstreet's, consisting of the divisions of Pickett, McLaws, Hood; (2), A. P. Hill's, consisting of Anderson, Heth, Pender; (3), Ewell's, consisting of Rodes, Early, Johnson. The cavalry was under Stuart; the artillery, 280 guns, under Pendleton.

To insure the success of this sortie, and secure the grand advantages expected from it, the Confederate government made the utmost exertions. Longstreet's corps had been brought up from beyond the James, and Lee set out on his expedition with an army which, though it had lost much of its best material at Chancellorsville, still contained the flower of the South. The resources of arbitrary power were exhausted for its equipment and organization. Even Richmond was stripped of every thing but an insignificant force. A conscription the most relentless filled its ranks; seizures the most grinding gave it supplies. Hitherto no Confederate army had been so well clothed, so well provided, so confident of success-a very different state of af fairs from the sortie of the preceding year.

sortie.

On the 3d of June Lee set out on his ill-judged and ill-fated Lee begins the expedition. He put his troops in motion towards Culpepper Court-house, leaving Hill's corps at Fredericksburg as a screen; but Hooker, suspecting the movement, caused a cavalry reconnoissance to be made. It was ascertained that the enemy was moving northward, toward the Shenandoah Valley. There had been a review at Culpepper, and Hooker's spies reported that it had taken one column 3 hours to pass through Sperryville.

It is ill judged and

It was not possible that this northward movement could be undertaken without many misgivings. A ill conducted. concession of politicians to a popular clamor, it was entered on in the expectation of aid from riots in Philadelphia and New York, and was intended to be completed by a solemn embassy to Washington. Experienced military men knew well the folly of such schemes; they understood the peril of a march along such an extended and exposed line, with an opposing army of a hundred thousand men ready to touch the communications. In fact, as the event proved, it did not require so much as a touch: a rumor was enough to stop the whole proceeding, and bring the sortie to its inevitable issue—a pitched battle. Nor were those misgivings diminished when it was found that Lee, almost at the outset of the campaign, had detached his cavalry, and thereby deprived himself of his military eyes.

Hooker correspond

Hooker lingered a short time upon the Rappahannock, in doubt whether this was another sortie into ingly moves. the Free States, or a movement on Washing. ton. Making suitable preparations for either event, he sent to that city his sick and wounded. On the 13th of June he left the front of Fredericksburg, moving northward so as to cover the capital. Hereupon Hill's corps left Fredericksburg, and marched swiftly to join Lee, the Confederate army now directing its course upon Winchester.

At Winchester there lay a national force, about 7000 strong, under Milroy. That officer, unaware of the impending danger, or misinformed as to the strength of the enemy moving upon him, held his post until it was nearly too late; then, finding that the whole corps of Ewell and Longstreet were at hand, he attempted to retreat on the 15th. He was almost enveloped. His entire losses were nearly 4000 men taken prisoners, 29 guns, 277 wagons, and 400 horses. Of the fugitives, a part escaped to Harper's Ferry, a part into Pennsylvania.