 |
| Snicker's Gap (Near Bluemont) Google Earth |
NOVEMBER 2, 1862-12.45 p.m.
GENERAL: If Snicker's Gap is lost, which I infer from General Stuart's dispatch, the enemy can some up the Shenandoah and cut off my line of retreat. A battery placed at Berry's Ferry would be of immense service. The Yankees are now in 3 miles of me, advancing in heavy force, with infantry. Please forward this to General Jackson.
Yours, &c.,
D. H. HILL.
[Indorsement.]
Respectfully forwarded.
A. P. HILL.
NOVEMBER 2, 1862-6.15 p.m.
General D. H. HILL:
Snicker's Gap is in possession of the enemy. I do not suppose that the enemy has yet moved from Snicker's Gap, so as to reach the road between you and Berry's Ford; but if he has done so, and you cannot safely move off to-night in the direction of Front Royal or cross the Shenandoah, please let me know at once, in order that I may move up more troops to-night, with a view to giving battle in the morning. The other three divisions have been directed to cook a day's rations at once, and Ewell moves toward [Millwood] at dawn, unless he receives further instructions. I send a battery at once to Berry's Ferry, with a cavalry escort.
T. J. JACKSON,
Major-General.
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 19, Part 2, Page 692.
McClellan's forces are now almost entirely across the Potomac and slowly pressing foward. Jackson's troops are spread out between Berryville and Winchester. Although Jackson is separated from Longstreet to the west of Culpepper, the problem for McClellan was how to concentrate force rapidly and move to overpower one or the other. He could not remove the forces needed to cover Washington, so his best play was to move a heavy force toward Jackson in the direction of Winchester. But in doing so he risked becoming the hunted instead of the hunter if he was unable to find a suitable place to bring his forces together. On the march, separated from each other, they remained vulnerable to attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment