Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/268

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
234
DECISIVE BATTLES SINCE WATERLOO.

joined Longstreet at Culpepper. Pleasanton was still watching Stuart near Warrenton.

Ewell pushed his troopers as far forward as Williamsport on the Potomac. The population of the neighboring Maryland towns fled in terror, carrying off their valuables and driving their herds before them on their way to Harrisburg. The greatest excitement prevailed in that city.

On June 16th Jenkins' troopers entered Greencastle, the first Pennsylvania village and then marched forward to Chambersburg. The Northern farmers now had an experience with which their Southern countrymen were entirely familiar. Horses, cattle, fodder, and provisions were confiscated, or, what was as bad, paid for in Confederate money. Free negroes were seized and sent South to be sold as slaves. There was, however, no plundering or bad behavior on the part of the soldiers.

This was as far as Jenkins dared go, and he returned to Williamsport, where Ewell was awaiting the arrival of the two other corps.

In order to learn clearly what Lee intended to do Hooker sent Pleasanton to the foot of the Blue Ridge, with instructions that if he did not meet the enemy to push forward by way of Leesburg to Harper's Ferry.

This was on June 17th, and on the same day Stuart hastened to occupy the passes of the Bull Run Mountains. The two forces were therefore moving in the same direction, and they met near Aldie, where Kilpatrick, with the Second New York, at once charged Munford's brigade and drove it before him. Col. Duffie's division surprised Stuart at Middleburg, and gave him barely time to make his escape. Stuart returned with Robertson's brigade and forced Duffie to fall back.

These minor engagements showed the direction in which the greater portion of Lee's army was moving, and caused Hooker to move his army westward that he might be pre-