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[514] his march in two columns, in the direction of Rockville. He had, in fact, been informed of the movement of the Army of the Potomac, the whole of which lay between himself and that of Lee, and was marching northward, being greatly in advance of his own troops. It will thus be seen that Lee, Hooker, and Stuart were all three pursuing a parallel course, the second being between the two bodies of the enemy and separated from each of them by ranges of hills. There was no means of conveying any intelligence to Lee: the passes by which Stuart had calculated to join him were blocked; there was nothing else to be done but to beat the Federals in speed in order to find Early along the Susquehanna. The Southern troopers were undoubtedly able to throw the rear of the enemy's army into some confusion, but these ephemeral and barren successes could not compensate for the injury which their absence from the flank of the Confederate army caused the latter at such a critical moment.

From their first entrance into Maryland, Stuart's men had picked up isolated soldiers and wagons belonging to the administrative departments of the enemy, putting some small detachments to flight, and, after trifling a while with one of them, entered the town of Rockville, situated on the direct road connecting the Federal capital with Hooker's Headquarters at Poolesville,1 without striking a blow. They had scarcely dismounted when they were informed of the approach of a supply-train loaded with forage, coming from Washington. Chambliss, with his brigade, in order to capture this rich prey, immediately gets back into the saddle; Stuart, who would not have missed such a feast for anything in the world, leads the chase at a gallop. The supply-train, composed of one hundred and fifty wagons, extends a distance of nearly two miles, and is within only one mile of Rockville when the troopers who are clearing its march, rushing suddenly to the rear with the cry, ‘The enemy is upon us!’ scatter alarm and confusion through the long line of wagons. Each driver is endeavoring to turn his team around: some get entangled, others are upset across the road; those who have been able to recover the track leading straight to Washington dash

1 At this time Meade was in command, with Headquarters at Frederick. Rockville is on the main road from Washington to Frederick.—Ed.

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