t.--Oh, that's what the
officers think, too! _Double quick_!"

The column crossed the tiny vale. Beyond it the narrow road of bends and
turns plunged due south. Now, General Birney, stationed on the high
level of Hazel Grove, observed, though somewhat faintly, that movement.
He sent a courier to Hooker at Chancellorsville. "Rebel column seen to
pass across my front. All arms and wagon train. It has turned to the
southward."

"To the south!" said Hooker. "Turned southward. Now what does that mean?
It might mean that Sedgwick at Fredericksburg has seized and is holding
the road to Richmond. It might mean that Lee contemplated an
unobstructed retreat through this Wilderness section southward to
Gordonsville, which is not far away. From Gordonsville, he would fall
back on Richmond. Say that is what he planned. Then, finding me in
strength across his path, he would naturally make some demonstration,
and behind it inaugurate a forced march, southward out of this wild
place. A retreat to Gordonsville. It's the most probable move. I will
send General Sickles toward Catherine Furnace to find out exactly."

Birney from Hazel Grove, Sickles from Chancellorsville, advanced. At
Catherine Furnace they found the 23d Georgia, and on both sides of the
Plank road discovered Anderson's division. Now began hot fighting in the
Wilderness. The brigades of Anderson did gloriously. The 23d Georgia,
surrounded at the Furnace, saw fall, in that square of the Wilderness,
three hundred officers and men; but those Georgians who yet stood did
well, did well! Full in the front of Chancellorsville, McLaws, with his
able, Roman air, his high colour, short black beard and crisp speech,
handled his troops like a rightly trusted captain of Caesar's. He kept
the enemy's attention strained in his direction. Standing yet upon the
little hillock, in the midst of the flowering dogwood, a greater than
McLaws overlooked and directed all the grey pieces upon the board before
Chancellorsville, played, all day, like a master, a skilfully
complicated game.

Far in the Wilderness, miles now to the westward, the rolling musketry
came to the ears of Stonewall Jackson. He was riding with Rodes at the
head of the column. "Good! good!" he said. "That musketry is at the
Furnace. General Hooker will attempt to drive between me and General
Lee."

An aide of A. P. Hill's approached at a gallop. He saluted, gained
breath and spoke. "They're cutting the 23d Georgia to pie