At length the necessity of caution had disappeared.  General Burnside had gone to reenforce General Pope, and a portion of McClellan’s army was believed to have followed.  “It therefore seemed,” says General Lee, “that active operations on the James were no longer contemplated,” and he wisely concluded that “the most effectual way to relieve Richmond from any danger of attack from that quarter would be to reenforce General Jackson, and advance upon General Pope.”  In commenting upon these words, an able writer of the North exclaims:  “Veracious prophecy, showing that insight which is one of the highest marks of generalship!” The movement, indeed, was the right proceeding, as the event showed; and good generalship may be defined to be the power of seeing what is the proper course, and the decision of character which leads to its adoption.

General Lee exhibited throughout his career this mingled good judgment and daring, and his cautious inactivity was now succeeded by one of those offensive movements which, if we may judge him, by his subsequent career, seemed to be the natural bent of his character.  With the bulk of his army, he marched in the direction of General Pope; the rest were speedily ordered to follow, and active operations began for driving the newly-formed Federal “Army of Virginia” back toward Washington.

We have presented Lee’s order for the attack on General McClellan, and here quote his order of march for the advance against General Pope, together with a note addressed to Stuart, commanding his cavalry, for that officer’s guidance.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

August 19, 1862.

SPECIAL ORDER No. 185.

I. General Longstreet’s command, constituting the right wing of the army, will cross the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford, and move in the direction of Culpepper Court-House.  General Jackson’s command, constituting the left wing, will cross at Summerville Ford, and move in the same direction, keeping on the left of General Longstreet.  General Anderson’s division will cross at Summerville Ford, follow the route of General Jackson, and act in reserve.  The battalion of light artillery, under Colonel S.D.  Lee, will take the same route.  The cavalry, under General Stuart, will cross at Morton’s Ford, pursue the route by Stevensburg to Rappahannock Station, destroy the railroad bridge, cut the enemy’s communications, telegraph line, and, operating toward Culpepper Court-House, will take position on General Longstreet’s right.

II.  The commanders of each wing will designate the reserve for their commands.  Medical and ammunition wagons will alone follow the troops across the Rapidan.  The baggage and supply trains will be parked under their respective officers, in secure positions on the south side, so as not to embarrass the different roads.

III.  Cooked rations for three days will be carried in the haversacks of the men, and provision must be made for foraging the animals.  Straggling from the ranks is strictly prohibited, and commanders will make arrangements to secure and punish the offenders.