For the second time Stuart had charged infantry and broken them.
Pushing on now through the great deserted camps of Stonehouse Mountain,
he descended upon Culpeper.
The enemy's cavalry retreated, made a stand on the hills beyond, with
their artillery; and seemed to have resolved to retreat no farther.
Suddenly the thunder of artillery came up from the Rapidan. I was
sitting my horse near Stuart and Gordon. They were both
laughing--indeed, Stuart seemed laughing throughout the campaign.
"That is Fitz Lee!" he said; "he has crossed and driven them."
And turning round,--
"I wish you would go to General Lee, Surry--you will find him toward
Griffinsburg--and tell him we are driving the enemy, and Fitz Lee seems
to be coming up."
I saluted, and left the two generals laughing as before.
In half an hour I had found General Lee. He was in camp on the
Sperryville road, and was talking to Ewell.
It was a singular contrast. Lee, robust, ruddy, erect, with his large
frank eye--Ewell, slight, emaciated, pale, with small piercing eyes,
and limping on his crutch.
"Thank you, colonel," General Lee said, with his grave but charming
courtesy; "tell General Stuart to continue to press them back toward
the river."
And turning to Ewell:--
"You had better move on with your command, general," he said, in his
measured voice.
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