The old hall
was a sort of oasis in the desert of war only. We paused for an
instant; rested under the green trees; heard the murmur of the
waters--then the caravan moved, breasting the arid wastes once more,
and the coming simoom.
Stuart's head-quarters disappeared--we bade our kind friends
good-bye--and, mounting, set out for the Lowland, whither Lee's column
was then marching.
The short lull had been succeeded by new activity. Meade was advancing
along the east slope of the Blue Ridge to cut Lee off from Richmond.
But the adventure succeeded no better now than in 1862. Meade failed,
as McClellan had failed before him.
The army passed the Blue Ridge; drove back the force sent to assail
them in flank as they moved; and descended to Culpeper, from which they
withdrew behind the Rapidan. Here Lee took up his position, crowned the
south bank with his artillery, and, facing General Meade, occupying the
north bank, rested.
Such had been the result of the great campaign, in its merely military
aspect.
Lee had invaded the North, delivered battle on the territory of the
enemy, suffered a repulse, retired, and was again occupying nearly the
same ground which he had occupied before the advance. Moving backward
and forward on the great chessboard of war, the two adversaries seemed
to have gained or lost nothing.
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