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

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[674] create a panic in the rear of the Union army, the effect of which will be decisive on the battlefield. Stuart puts Chambliss' and Jenkins' brigades, which are with him, on the march along the western slopes of Cress' Ridge. Fitzhugh Lee and Hampton have remained behind, near the York road. He sends them an order to join him by following closely in his tracks, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy.

The troops which Stuart has seen near the Reever house belong to Kilpatrick's division. After sunset of the previous day, Gregg, being summoned back by Pleasonton, has left this position in order to take another in the rear of the army. He has bivouacked near the bridge over White Run on the Baltimore road; but in the mean time, Kilpatrick, returning from Hunterstown and finding the important highway from Bonaughtown unoccupied, has left Custer's brigade there. On the morning of the 3d, Gregg, having been ordered to advance again, so as to cover the right flank of the army, has proceeded along Cress' Run, south of the Hanover road. He thus keeps in view the eastern slopes of Wolf's Hill, on which Stuart must debouch if he passes beyond Brinkerhoff's Ridge. On learning of Custer's presence near the Bonaughtown road he sends him word to go into position on his right, which seems to him to be much exposed, and to extend his line in front of the Reever house. Although he has been ordered by Kilpatrick to repair to Two Taverns, Custer complies with Gregg's request. Stuart thus has three brigades in front of him, numbering about five thousand troopers'. He has himself no less than six thousand sabres in the four brigades placed under his command. He knows nothing of the position of Gregg, who will doubtless soon discover the march of Chambliss and Jenkins. But this march is interrupted from the beginning by an unforeseen incident: Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee, imprudently showing to the enemy a portion of their forces, have unmasked it.

The Dutch road north of the highway follows a ridge but slightly elevated and running parallel with Cress' Run. The plain which stretches out, a little more than half a mile in width, between these elevations, cultivated and intersected by some fences, is watered by a small stream, Little's Run, the source of