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[62] it, has had time to make preparations. After having vainly attempted to check the flight of the fugitives, he has drawn up his soldiers along the edges of the wood, resting on each side of the road. Howard and Steinwehr, who had accompanied Barlow, have joined him at a gallop, for the purpose of making an effort to repair the disaster. These chiefs excel themselves and rival their adversaries in courage: some pieces of cannon are placed in position, a few groups of soldiers are formed again into line around Buschbeck's brigade, and for the first time the Confederate battalions are brought to a stand. Jackson at the present moment has only the four brigades of the centre with him, which, having alone participated in the fight until now, are beginning to weaken, but his example and intrepidity sustain the courage of the soldiers and revive their strength; to all those who ask him for instructions he simply replies, ‘Forward! forward!’ The Federals are driven back, while the Confederates, following in pursuit, penetrate into the wood with which the road is again bordered on both sides. Howard tries in vain to rally his soldiers; the artillerists, abandoned by the infantry, are killed or wounded by the side of their guns to no purpose; the crowd of fugitives is already ascending the heights of Fairview, passing between the broken or mud-imbedded wagons which encumber the road. In less than one hour Jackson has annihilated the Eleventh corps, captured positions which Hooker had deemed impregnable, and completely turned the right flank of the Federal army. Upon whom does the responsibility of the disaster to the Eleventh corps rest? It appears to us that it rests as much upon the general who failed to discover the flank movement of the enemy as upon the commanders of this corps, who have allowed themselves to be taken in the rear under the most unfavorable circumstances. In the mean time, the alarm has been sounded at Chancellorsville, and Howard, while looking out for Barlow, who, unfortunately, cannot arrive in time to aid him, has warned Sickles of the danger which threatens the whole army. The position of the Third corps is peculiarly a dangerous one, because, having advanced as far as the Furnace, it is now menaced with the prospect of seeing Jackson occupy in front of it the positions commanding Lewis'
Philadelphia, Jos. H. Coates and co., 1883.
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