THE CORPS MOVE. At midnight, on the 3d, General Wilson, with the Third Cavalry Division, moved to Germanna Ford, with an engineer party and ponton-train, to prepare for the crossing of the infantry at that point. Gregg's division of cavalry proceeded at the same hour to make similar preparations for the crossing at Ely's Ford. After laying the pontons, Wilson's division marched forward to the old Wilderness tavern and Chancellorsville, without meeting any opposition. Up to this time it was evident that Lee expected Grant to move in the direction of Orange Courthouse and Gordonsville, and was not prepared to contest our crossing. At an early hour on the morning of the 4th, Warren, with the Fifth Corps, followed the cavalry to Germanna Ford, and crossed. Sedgwick's (Sixth) corps came immediately after, and both marched down from the ford towards the junction of the plankroads, which we have designated as an important strategic point. Hancock, with the Second Corps, followed Gregg's cavalry, and crossed at Ely's Ford just after daylight. Thence he marched, according to directions, to Chancellorsville. The supply-trains had been assembled at Richardsville, guarded by one division of cavalry. From that point they followed the Second Corps, crossed at Ely's, and also marched towards Chancellorsville. mind that the sooner your enemies are overcome, the sooner you will be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with patience the hardships and sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. Have confidence in your officers, and in each other. Keep your ranks on the march and on the battle-field; and let each man earnestly implore God's blessing, and endeavor, by his thoughts and actions, to render himself worthy of the favor he seeks. With clear conscience and strong arms, actuated by a high sense of duty, fighting to preserve the Government and the institutions handed down to us by our forefathers, if true to ourselves, victory, under God's blessing, must and will attend our efforts. GEORGE G. MEADE, Major-General commanding. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. ས་ A detachment of Sheridan's cavalry, after crossing, encountered and drove back Stuart, in the direction of Orange Courthouse. Lee, who was keenly on the alert, if in doubt for a moment, was soon aware of our purpose; and, with a vigor which must extort our admiration, moved up at once in two columns, to offer desperate battle on the morrow, and, if possible, to break our line of battle, hastily formed to meet his attack. It was now manifest that, although Grant had crossed the river by a surprise, he would not reach the point of destination, and leave the ugly Wilderness behind him, without a fierce struggle. PLANS AND COUNTERPLANS. Lee's effort was to strike him in his flank movement, by two columns, against his line, and, if possible, rout him in the Wilderness, after piercing his line, as Nelson and Collingwood did that of the French and Spaniards at Trafalgar. Grant had not intended to fight in the Wilderness, if he could help it; but he was compelled to do this. When he found Lee approaching in force, he at once proposed to himself three alternatives: first, to beat Lee and rout him, wherever he chose to accept or to give battle; second, to cut him off from the railroad and Richmond, and then to follow him up and beat him; and third, failing of these, to compel him to move southward towards Richmond, striking him a side-blow at every step by flanking him on the left, and thus constantly threatening his right flank and communications. We can only undertake to present the grand features of the campaign. Indeed, its myriad details are so confused that it is impossible to describe them. They can never be fully known. After crossing, Warren's (Fifth) corps was placed in position, on Thursday at noon, west of the old Wilderness tavern, across the turnpike, on the Germania and Chancellorsville plankroad, towards Parker's store, and five miles south of the ford. The line of battle was formed nearly north and south. Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps, was expected to come into line on Warren's right, and extend to the river, covering all approaches to the ford, but was long delayed in doing so. Hancock, who had been directed upon Chancellorville, was deflected, and hurried forward by the Brock road, to take post on the left, across the plankroad from Orange Courthouse, and thus to complete the line. There was a frequent shifting of divisions, but the general positions of the corps remained nearly the same. Burnside, who had just reached Culpepper before the movement, had been directed to remain twenty-four hours there, and then to move forward and join the main body. The Ninth Corps was designed to form the reserves. It was now plain that the enemy was moving by the turnpike and plankroad from Orange Courthouse, to cut us off from the intersection, and that the battle must be fought in the Wilderness. Lee was playing an offensive-defensive in a country with which he was well acquainted, and where a small force could forbid the advance of a very large army. He was moving, as we have seen, in two parallel columns upon the flank of our line. Grant was entirely on the offensive, and had a far more difficult task. His artillery was paralyzed; and it may be stated as a curious fact, that although there were nearly three hundred guns on the field, only about twenty were used. Much of the cavalry also fought dismounted. THE REBELS COME UP IN COLUMN. Let us now turn to the Confederate army. It consisted of three corps: the first, commanded by A. P. Hill, formerly an officer of artillery in our army, a brave and determined general; the second, by R. S. Ewell, an equally good officer, who was a captain of cavalry before the war; the third, by Longstreet, whom we have already mentioned as a determined and rapid fighter. General Lee, the commander-in-chief, was on the field himself. No sooner had he an intimation of our crossing, than he moved Ewell up by the turnpike, and on the night of the 4th his advance division, under Johnson, encamped in front of Warren's left, at Parker's store, on the plankroad, three miles from Wilderness Run. Rhodes' division followed by the same route, and Early's took post within supporting distance, near Locust Grove,―all in readiness for the battle which it was evident to every commander, in both armies, must be fought on Friday. Before day of the 5th, Johnson's division gained a hill in their front, forming in line of battle, with John M. Jones' brigade on the right, Stafford in the centre, and Stuart on the left. Walker was en potence on the extreme left. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. ORDERS TO WARREN AND SEDGWICK.-THE BATTLE-FIELD.-HANCOCK TO THE RESCUE. ORDERS TO WARREN AND SEDGWICK. EARLY on the morning of the 5th, the head of Warren's (Fifth) corps being near Parker's store, on the Orange and Fredericksburg plankroad, information was received that the enemy was coming up in force on the Orange turnpike. Orders were immediately sent to. Warren to halt, concentrate his corps on the pike, and attack furiously whatever he should find in his front. The orders were explicit, and the manœuvres rapid. The Sixth Corps was directed to move at once by any wood-roads they might find, and support Warren, by taking position on his right, and joining in the attack: but Getty's division, of the Sixth, was detached, and hurried to the intersection of the Orange plankroad and the Brock road, with orders to hold it to the last, until Hancock, who had now been deflected from the march to Chancellorsville, should come up into line on the left. THE BATTLE-FIELD. The battle-field in front of Warren, seen from the old tavern, may be thus described: In front is a brook, flowing |