William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac

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[415] encampment near Stevensburg, and advanced to Ely's Ford,¹ preceded by Gregg's division of cavalry. When tile corps reached the Rapidan the cavalry was well across, and had the canvas ponton-bridge nearly laid. This work being soon completed, the infantry made the passage and pushed forward to Chancellorsville, which place it reached at nine in the morning of the 4th, the cavalry being thrown out towards Fredericksburg and Todd's Tavern. At Chancellorsville, Hancock's troops rested for the remainder of the day, awaiting the passage of the heavier column on the right. The troops bivouacked for the night on Hooker's old battleground.

Thus the morning of Thursday, the 5th of May, found a hundred thousand men across the Rapidan. The barrier that had so long divided the opposing armies was passed, and with the mingled emotions which grand and novel enterprises stir in men's breasts, the troops looked out, hopefully, yet conscious that a terrible struggle was before them, into a region yet untrodden by the hostile armies, but soon to become historic by a fierce grapple of armed hosts and bloody battles in many tangled woods.

Lee had offered no opposition to the passage of the Rapidan. His right was turned. Was this to be considered a great success? The answer will depend on the line of action marked out for himself by General Lee.

In the defence of rivers, military art presents several distinct lines of conduct. 1. The general on the defensive may permit the crossing of a part of the assailing force, and then, by destroying the means of passage, seek to overwhelm the isolated fraction.² 2. He may oppose directly the passage of the hostile army, or, by occupying advantageous positions,