June 19, 1863, The New York Herald
Mr. T. M. Cook’s Letter.
ON THE MARCH, June 17, 1863.
SCOUTS.
Scouts from the mountain passes of the Blue Ridge bring in but little interesting news. In fact; you are probably better posted in regard to the rebel movements from the front than you can be from the rear, and the movements of our own army are necessarily not permitted to be published.
THE REBEL ADVANCE AND STRENGTH.
It seems to be satisfactorily determined that the rebel army that moved up the Shenandoah valley at first, and which is now despoiling Southern Pennsylvania, is but the advance of the great army of invasion the rebels have so quietly created. It consists of but two corps, those of Longstreet and Ewing, Lee accompanying it in person. These corps are estimated to number thirty thousand men each, making the total force now in the upper valley, in Maryland and in Southern Pennsylvania, sixty thousand men. D. H. Hill is now following, his corps having passed the vicinity of Thoroughfare Gap on Tuesday. He has thirty thousand more. These with Stuart’s cavalry, make a total effective force of one hundred thousand men now definitely known to be engaged in the invasion. Whether there are more to follow or not I cannot say.
MORE IN RESERVE.
They have more troops in reserve, as we have fully ascertained. Yesterday they appeared in force, with infantry, artillery and cavalry, at Beverly Ford, as if to assure us that they have not withdrawn all their forces from the south side of the Rappahannock. But they have not ventured to make any demonstration against the Army of the Potomac, the only enemies Hooker having found to battle with being heat, dust and the lack of water.
THE HORRORS OF THE MARCH.
But these enemies have been terribly severe in their assaults. This army, in the march of Monday, suffered untold miseries. The heat was oppressive in the extreme, with scarcely a breath of air stirring. The roads were ankle deep with dust; and to cap the climax the streams and springs along the way were all dry. The whole country was filled with stragglers. Men could not be kept in the ranks. Every piece of woods was filled with them, and no coaxing or threatening could prevail on them to move on. The ambulances were crowded with those who had completely given out. I presume there were as many as a thousand cases of coup de soliel of which at least a hundred were instantly fatal. The open country was crowded with these poor fellows, dropping down by the roadside in all direction.
PLENTY OF WATER NOW – ALL REFRESHED.
But we have reached the end of the hasty march at last and have had one day’s rest, with plenty of water, with which the whole army had quenched its thirst, and in which we have all had a good bathe. The result is apparent on all hands. Everybody is refreshed and in better spirits. A little moderation of the heat has also contributed to keep the army in better trim, and I think I may now say we are in condition to resume active operations.
ARRIVAL OF GEN. HOOKER – HIS ACTIVITY.
General Hooker arrived night before last, and established his headquarters. Yesterday was mainly occupied in preparing for another march, which it is expected will commence today. But it would be difficult for me, even were it policy, to say where we are going. The administration seem to have determined to continue General Hooker in the command and he seems determined to make a desperate effort to retrieve his reputation, which has unquestionably suffered from Lee success in passing his flank. From what I do know of Gen. Hooker’s plan, you may expect to hear of arduous campaigning and severe fighting very soon. This army will be a severe thorn to Lee yet, and perhaps he may have occasion to wish that he had made an effort to get rid of it before he advanced so far on his northward journey.
RAIN WANTED.
Could we have a good soaking rain – a storm of forty-eight hours duration – its benefits would be incalculable. Without it I fear for this army. The region of its operation has always been noted as the dryest part of the State. It is now unusually dry. Water, water, water, is the cry on every hand. With water we may have hope yet of making a glorious campaign.