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

---

[47] they were being brought back into the dismal forest from which they had believed themselves so happily rid, and the confidence which had animated them since the passage of the Rappahannock was considerably shaken.

The retreat of the Federals, however, was not seriously disturbed. Sykes alone had some trouble in getting away from the enemy, who, believing it a flight instead of a deliberate movement, was pressing him very closely. Everywhere else the Confederates contented themselves with following their adversaries step by step. The right, with the exception of Wilcox's brigade, which remained stationary at Duerson's Mill, crossed Mott's Run and occupied the Chancellorsville Road at Banks' Ford; the centre, after having reached the position abandoned by Slocum, and planted its batteries there, marched down as far as Big-Meadow Swamp; finally, three brigades of Hill's division, having crossed over to the first line, pushed their skirmishers within sight of Chancellorsville, and before night they were able to distinguish the front lines of Hancock's division. The left easily took possession of the Furnace Road, while Ramseur and Posey followed Slocum as far as the forest. Doles arrived at Todd's Tavern, which French had not been able to approach, while Wright, skirting Lewis' Creek, reached Catharine Furnace, where he found Stuart and his mounted men, who had never ceased to watch the Federals on that side. Lewis' Creek is a stream which flows southward toward the river Ny through a large portion of the forest, at the bottom of a ravine bordering the extremities of the hills of Dowdall's Tavern and Fairview: this ravine, less wooded than the neighboring localities, opens a kind of passage leading into the Wilderness. Stuart and Wright determined to follow it in order to ascertain the positions of the Federals on these hills, and to support the infantry which was climbing up their sides through the woods. They endeavored to plant some pieces of cannon upon a height fronting that occupied by the enemy, but the Federal artillery received them at once with such a vigorous fire that they were obliged to fall back in great haste, after having sustained very serious losses. During this time two of Stuart's regiments, at the extreme right of the Confederates, completed the investment of the Federals by posting themselves on the River Road, so as to intercept their communications