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

As soon as Lee, who had remained at Culpeper, was apprised that Hill was on the way to join him, feeling thenceforth at ease on that point, he put all the troops about him in motion. To deceive the Federals and cover the march of Hill, who was to follow the route traced out by Ewell as far as Winchester, he ordered Longstreet to cross the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge as if he was marching upon Leesburg, and not to return west of this chain except through Ashby's Gap and Snicker's Gap. The First corps—whose effective force Pickett had raised to three divisions by his arrival from North Carolina with three brigades —took up the line of march on the 15th. Stuart was ordered to cover this movement by keeping on his right. The cavalry division, reduced to four brigades by the departure of Imboden and Jenkins, had been watching the Upper Rappahannock since the combat of Brandy Station, carefully noting all the movements of the Federals on this side. Stuart left Hampton's brigade along this river to continue watching it; one regiment of W. H. F. Lee's brigade remained a little lower down to accompany Hill; that of Fitzhugh Lee, commanded by Colonel Munford, clearing the route which Longstreet had to follow, proceeded toward Barbee's Cross-roads; while Stuart, bearing more to the right, crossed the Rappahannock at Hinson's Mills with Robertson and Colonel Chambliss, the latter of whom commanded W. H. F. Lee's brigade since the latter had been wounded at Brandy Station. Jones was directed to watch Aestham River, and to join the rest of the division after the whole army had crossed this water-course. The next day Stuart struck the railroad from Manassas to Salem and Piedmont without having met the enemy.

Pleasonton had followed the movement of the Federal infantry in the direction of Washington, while Longstreet quietly planted himself at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, without having succeeded, as he had hoped, in drawing the attention of the Federals, who did not even suspect his presence in that locality.

As we have stated, Milroy's defeat had alarmed General Halleck about the safety of Harper's Ferry. Believing every rumor that was set afloat among the frightened population along the left bank of the Potomac, he sent several despatches to Hooker,