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Chapter 37: pursuit of Hunter.
On the 12th of June, while the 2nd corps (
Ewell's) of the Army of Northern Virginia was lying near
Gaines' Mill, in rear of
Hill's line at Cold Harbor, I received verbal orders from
General Lee to hold the corps, with two of the battalions of artillery attached to it, in readiness to move to the Shenandoah Valley.
Nelson's and
Braxton's battalions were selected, and
Brigadier General Long was ordered to accompany me as
Chief of Artillery.
After dark, on the same day, written instructions were given me by
General Lee, by which I was directed to move, with the force designated, at 3 o'clock next morning, for the
Valley, by the way of Louisa CourtHouse and
Charlottesville, and through
Brown's or Swift Run Gap in the
Blue Ridge, as I might find most advisable; to strike
Hunter's force in the rear, and, if possible, destroy it; then to move down the
Valley, cross the
Potomac near
Leesburg in
Loudoun County, or at or above
Harper's Ferry, as I might find most practicable, and threaten
Washington City.
I was further directed to communicate with
General Breckenridge, who would co-operate with me in the attack on
Hunter and the expedition into
Maryland.
At this time the railroad and telegraph lines between
Charlottesville and
Lynchburg had been cut by a cavalry force from
Hunter's army; and those between
Richmond and
Charlottesville had been cut by
Sheridan's cavalry, from
Grant's army; so that there was no communication with
Breckenridge.
Hunter was supposed to be at
Staunton with his whole force, and
Breckenridge was supposed to be at
Waynesboro or Rock-fish Gap. If such had been the case, the route designated by
General Lee would have carried me into the
Valley in
Hunter's rear.
The 2nd corps now numbered a little over 8,000
