[175] forward his entire army to destroy Pope, and he instantly took measures accordingly.1 Thus it was that at the very moment McClellan was turning an unwilling back on Richmond and leaving the course open to his mighty rival, Lee was putting his columns in motion towards the Potomac. I shall accordingly leave for a while the army undergoing the laborious process of transfer by water, and trace that fierce outburst of battle that swept from the Blue Ridge to the foreground of Washington.
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[175] forward his entire army to destroy Pope, and he instantly took measures accordingly.1 Thus it was that at the very moment McClellan was turning an unwilling back on Richmond and leaving the course open to his mighty rival, Lee was putting his columns in motion towards the Potomac. I shall accordingly leave for a while the army undergoing the laborious process of transfer by water, and trace that fierce outburst of battle that swept from the Blue Ridge to the foreground of Washington.
1 Nothing could be clearer than the evidence of General Lee on this point ‘The corps of General Burnside,’ says he, ‘had reached Fredericksburg, and a part of General McClellan's army was believed to have left Westover [Harri. son's Landing] to unite with Pope. It therefore seemed that active operation on the James were no longer contemplated, and that the most effectual way to relieve Richmond from any danger of attack from that quarter would be to reenforce General Jackson, and advance upon General Pope.’—Lee: Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, vol. II., p. 18. Veracious prophecy, showing that insight which is one of the highest marks of generalship!
2 Jackson's Report: Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia vol. II., p 7.
1866.
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