560 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

position concealed as much as possible, and the infantry not
to be seen, if it be possible to avoid it.” Vol. 45, p. 876.

16 June General Lee wrote A. P. Hill directions for move-
ment “‘to deceive the enemy as to our ultimate destination, at
least for a time.” Vol. 45, p. 896.

22 June, after Middleburg and Upperville, General Lee
wrote Stuart: “I judge the efforts of the enemy yesterday
were to arrest our progress and ascertain our whereabouts.
I fear he will steal a march on us, and get across the Potomac
before we are aware.” Vol. 45, p. 918.

Same day, from Millwoood, Longstreet wrote Stuart sug-
gesting precautions not “‘to disclose our plans.” Vol. 45, p.
915.

10 June, Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, telegraphed:
“Pittsburg will certainly be the point aimed at by Stuart’s
raid, which may daily be expected.” Vol. 45, p. 54.

At General Hooker’s headquarters, 12 June, it was thought
that Lee only intended ‘to commence a raid with his cav-
alry.” Vol. 45, p. 73.

At Hooker’s headquarters, 13 June, they telegraphed Gen-
eral Reynolds that they had heard of a “probable movement
to turn our right or go into Maryland,” but ‘“‘we cannot, aban-
don this line on any uncertainty.” Vol. 45, p. 81.

17 June, General Pleasanton, commanding Federal cav-
alry, received from Hooker’s headquarters this: “The com-
manding general relies upon you with your cavalry force
to give him information of where the enemy is, his force, and
his movements. You have a sufficient cavalry force to do
this. Drive in’ the pickets, if necessary, and get us informa-
tion. It is better that we should lose men than to be without
knowledge of the enemy, as we now seem to be.” Vol. 45,
p. 172. June 17, General Meade telegraphed General But-
terfield, Hooker’s Chief of Staff, “I have informed Pleasan-
ton he can have any support from me to the extent of my
command,” and that “command” was the Fifth Army Corps.
17 June, 8:20 p. m., General Butterfield telegraphed General
Ingalls in Washington: “Try and hunt up somebody from
Pennsylvania who knows something, and has a cool enough
head to judge what is the actual state of affairs there with re-

Srxty-Tuirp REGIMENT. 561

gard to the enemy. Enemy reported to have appeared at
Poolesville, and everywhere else in Maryland, Pennsylvania
and Western Virginia. Cavalry enough is reported to have
appeared to fill up the whole of Pennsylvania and leave no
room for the inhabitants. My impression now is that Lee
is in as much uncertainty as to our whereabouts and what we
are doing as we are as to his; that his movement on the Upper
Potomac is a cover for a cavalry raid on the north side of the
river, and a movement of his troops farther west.” Vol. 45,
pp. 174-175.

Same day, at 10:30 p. m., General Butterfield, having
heard of the fight at Aldie, telegraphed General Pleasanton:
“Tf Lee’s army is in rear of his cavalry we shall move up by
forced marches. Give us any indications of it as soon as pos-
sible.” Vol. 45, p. 177.

17 June, General Hooker himself telegraphed General Ty-
ler, at Sandy Hook: “If Longstreet’s and Ewell’s Corps
have been at Winchester at all, they are now somewhere in
that vicinity. I hope you will keep out all of your cavalry
until we find out his whereabouts. I have directed mine to
feel up to him and they are now hard at work.” Vol. 45,
p- 180.

Again, in the apparent despair of ignorance, General
Hooker, himself, at 1:05 p. m. 17 June, telegraphed General
Tyler, at Sandy Hook: ‘Can you give me positive and cor-
rect information of any force of any kind and number of
the enemy at any particular spot? From all reports here, we
might conclude that he covered all western Pennsylvania and
Maryland, or that he was not there at all. Can you give me
anything correct?’ Vol. 45, p. 181.

Now we see what the opposing forces were fighting for at
Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville. Ashby’s Gap is at the
top of the Blue Ridge, northwestern corner of Fauquier
county, Va., a great crossing to the Valley ; just at the foot of
the mountain is Paris, four miles east of Paris is Upperville,
ten miles east of Upperville is Middleburg and five miles east

of Middleburg is Aldie.

Wednesday morning, 17 June, Fitz Lee’s Brigade was

36