by which we have agreed to liberate an excess of prisoners of war in our hands, a sacred regard for plighted faith, which shrinks from the semblance of breaking a promise, precludes a resort to such an extremity, nor is it his desire to extend to any other forces of the United States the punishment merited by General Pope and such commissioned officers as choose to participate in the execution of his infamous order.

    I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

    R.E.  LEE, General commanding.

This communication requires no comment.  It had the desired effect, although General Halleck returned it as couched in language too insulting to be received.  On the 15th of August, the United States War Department so far disapproved of General Pope’s orders as to direct that “no officer or soldier might, without proper authority, leave his colors or ranks to take private property, or to enter a private house for the purpose, under penalty of death.”

II.

LEE’S MANOEUVRES.

General Pope had promptly advanced, and his army lay in Culpepper, the right reaching toward the Blue Ridge, and the left extending nearly to the Rapidan.

The campaign now became a contest of brains between Lee and the Federal authorities.  Their obvious aim was to leave him in doubt whether a new advance was intended under McClellan from James River, or the real movement was to be against Richmond from the North.  Under these circumstances, General Lee remained with the bulk of his army in front of Richmond; but, on the 13th of July, sent Jackson with two divisions in the direction of Gordonsville.  The game of wits had thus begun, and General Lee moved cautiously, looking in both directions, toward James River and the Upper Rappahannock.  As yet the real design of the enemy was undeveloped.  The movement of General Pope might or might not be a real advance.  But General McClellan remained inactive, and, on the 27th of July, A.P.  Hill’s division was sent up to reenforce Jackson—­while, at the same time, General D.H.  Hill, commanding a force on the south bank of the James River, was directed to make demonstrations against McClellan’s communications by opening fire on his transports.

The moment approached now when the game between the two adversaries was to be decided.  On the 2d of August, Jackson assumed the offensive, by attacking the enemy at Orange Court-House; and, on the 5th, General McClellan made a prompt demonstration to prevent Lee from sending him further reinforcements.  A large Federal force advanced to Malvern Hill, and was drawn up there in line of battle, with every indication on the part of General McClellan of an intention to advance anew upon Richmond.  Lee promptly went to meet him, and a slight engagement ensued on Curl’s Neck.  But, on the next morning, the Federal army had disappeared, and the whole movement was seen to have been a feint.