flank movement, thrust himself in between the two bodies of the enemy.  Hooker accorded this request; and Birney was advanced a mile and a half through the woods, bridging two or three arms of Scott’s Run, and some marshy ground, and making his way with great difficulty.  Two regiments of Berdan’s sharpshooters were thrown out in front, and the Twentieth Indiana Infantry led Birney’s division.  Considerable opposition was encountered, say the reports of these regiments; but after some skirmishing, Berdan managed to surround Best’s command, and captured nearly the entire force.

Why Birney advanced through the woods is not readily understood; for there was a good road close by his position, leading to the Furnace, by using which many hours could have been saved.

From the prisoners of the Twenty-third Georgia, and some others intercepted, it was clearly ascertained, by two P.M., that Jackson was moving towards our right flank, with, as the prisoners stated, some forty thousand men.

These facts Sickles also reported to Hooker, requesting Pleasonton’s cavalry, and his own third division, to cooperate in a flank attack, which he seems to have assumed he could make on Jackson.  Hooker ordered Whipple up into supporting distance to Birney, with instructions to connect the latter with Slocum; and directed Williams (Slocum’s right division) to cover the left of the advancing column, and if necessary attack the enemy there.  Howard received instructions from Capt.  Moore, who had been announced in general orders as on Hooker’s staff, to cover Birney’s right; and he detached his reserve brigade, the best and largest in the Eleventh Corps, commanded by Barlow, and led it out in person to its position.

Hooker subsequently denied having sent Capt.  Moore to Howard, alleging the order to have emanated from Sickles; but, as Capt.  Moore was on Hooker’s staff, Howard certainly could do no less than he did, supposing the order to be by authority from headquarters.

Sickles now imagined that every thing promised the most brilliant success.  He was preparing to make his attack, as he supposed,—­to judge, at least, from what he says,—­on Jackson’s flank.  “McLaws’s opposition had all but ceased,” says he; “and it was evident that in a few moments five or six regiments would be cut off, and fall into our hands.”

But Sickles had been deceived by a simple rear-guard of the enemy; while Jackson, by a long circuit, was not only far beyond his reach, but in position to crush Howard, and cut off Sickles from communication with the rest of the army.

Pleasonton, whom Hooker had sent out to Sickles’s aid, held his three regiments and Martin’s horse-battery, in the clearing at Scott’s Run, being unable to operate to any advantage on the ground occupied by Birney.  Three or four other Third-Corps batteries were also here for a similar reason.