Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[121] to adequately destroy the usefulness of the two lines of railway it would have been necessary to have burned the two bridges of the South Anna, which, as the reader will remember, had played so important a part in McClellan's campaign during the month of May, 1862. To effect this would have involved the loss of a few hours: Davis did not consider himself sufficiently strong to risk this delay, and, like Gregg a little more to the northward, he allowed the opportunity of inflicting serious damage upon the enemy to slip from him. After having passed through Hanover Court-house, and given his soldiers a short rest, he struck the White House line of railway at Tunstall's Station on the morning of the 4th, just as Kilpatrick was making his appearance at Hungary. Less fortunate than the latter, he encountered a detachment of infantry, which blocked the way to Williamsburg after having caused him some losses; but he turned northward, crossed the Pamunkey at Plunkett's Ferry and the Mattapony at Walkertown on the following day, almost at the same time that Kilpatrick was effecting a passage a little higher up, and finally reached Gloucester Point.

To close the recital of the cavalry operations coincident with the battle of Chancellorsville, it will be sufficient for us to mention another bold stroke attempted by Mosby upon the rear of the Federal army. Wishing to take advantage of Stoneman's absence and to harass the communications of that army while it was engaged with Lee's troops, he flung himself on the 3d of May, with three hundred mounted men, upon the railroad running from Alexandria to Warrenton Junction. But General Stahel, who had charge of guarding this line, was, as usual, upon his guard, and sent a squadron after him which put him to flight.

On the 7th of May, whilst Hooker was returning to Falmouth, the whole of Stoneman's cavalry was regaining the Federal lines along the borders either of the Upper Rappahannock or of York River. The railroads it had intercepted were already repaired, and the interruption of the railway service was so short that Lee's army was not inconvenienced by it. This fact affords the best proof that the real object of the expedition had not been accomplished. But it was not altogether fruitless to the Federals: it