CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
The Advance of the Sixth Corps.
The whole of the Sixth Corps, with the exception of Brooks’ Division, now over the river, were massed here, and the First Corps, with the exception of Wadsworth’s Division, near the two lower bridges, while the Third, Gen. Sickles, remained back on the hills and in the woods in the rear.
Can it be? was the question which trembled on every lip, that we are again to be recklessly hurled against that amphitheatre of hills, before which five thousand of our number fell last year? So it seemed. The three entire Corps could not be designed for a mere feint movement? But when no more troops were crossed over, and on the following day a series of marches and countermarches were ordered, all gloomy forebodings were dispelled, for we then knew that the appearance of the three Corps here was for a ruse, though on a large scale, to attract the attention of the enemy, while the force above moved to their rear. The appearance by noon of two heavy lines of the enemy on the old battle-field, now a beautiful carpet of green, proved that the strategy had been successful.
As fast as their numerous regiments arrived from above or below, they descended the hills and formed in line at the foot to receive us. There they remained in position for hours; but seeing no disposition to advance on our part, large numbers, dropping back in the woods, swarmed like bees in the tree-tops to scrutinize our movements, and ascertain, if possible, “what we were about that we did not come on.” Gen. Sedgwick, who had charge of this wing of the army, continued to march and counter-march the troops in view of the enemy. Forming on the crest of the hills, they would move down in solid columns to the bridges, as if to cross, but instead of crossing, quietly draw back through a gully, and in a half hour’s time be descending the hill again. This series of manœuvres led the enemy to suppose that our entire army was here. The disappearance, however, of most of the rebel infantry from our front, on Friday morning, indicated that they had divined our strategy—not, however, until it had accomplished the purpose intended, as the reading of the following order showed:
Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Near Falmouth, April 30, 1863.
It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the General Commanding announces to the army that the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must ingloriously fly, or come out from behind their defences and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits them. The operations of the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps have been a series of splendid successes.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER.