[74] manoeuvre had been entirely successful, Hooker, taken between two fires and shut up within the clearings of Chancellorsville by an enemy posted in the woods all around him, might have seen his army paralyzed, and possibly thrown into disorder; but although forty thousand men may whip seventy thousand, they cannot surround them: it was not to be expected that all the corps assembled in the forest could be so easily conquered as the Eleventh had been. By dint of striking with the same instrument, it might finally have been worn out and broken to pieces; and Stuart was the less able to adopt so dangerous a plan, with troops already decimated, inasmuch as this plan was directly at variance with what had been agreed upon between Jackson and Lee.
The latter had, on his part, faithfully carried out that portion of the task which lie had reserved for himself. As soon as the distant echo of Jackson's cannon had announced to him the commencement of the attack against the right wing of Federals, he had made strenuous efforts to occupy their left. Anderson's division had been engaged since four o'clock with Sickles' troops near the Furnace in one direction, and with Williamson's brigade1 of Slocum's corps near the Plank Road in the other. He had therefore only McLaws' troops, which were posted to the right and left of the turnpike, at his disposal. By his orders the latter made vigorous demonstrations against the positions occupied by Slocum's and Couch's right until dark, at first with artillery, then by drawing sufficiently near so as to fire volleys of musketry, but without intending a serious attack. The sound of the battle which Jackson was delivering had, in drawing nearer, proved to Lee that the manoeuvre of his lieutenant had been crowned with success, but he had received no direct news from the Second corps. At last, shortly before daylight, Captain Wilbourne arrived near a cluster of pine trees at the foot of which Lee was sleeping. After listening to his recital with considerable emotion, Lee arose, saying, ‘The enemy shall be closely pressed this morning, as Jackson requests;’ and he immediately gave orders for a general attack. Stuart was confirmed in his command of the left wing, and the measures he had adopted were fully approved.
