procure the needed information, he was the man. He, accordingly,
ordered him to take 1,200 troopers and a few field guns and ride
straight at the right flank of the Union army until he got near
enough to learn how McClellan's forces were posted at that point.

This perilous errand was just the opportunity for which Stuart had
been waiting, and without the loss of a moment he set his horsemen
in motion. Directly in his path lay the Federal cavalry but within
twenty-four hours he had forced his way through them and carefully
noted the exact position of the Union troops. His mission was
then accomplished, but by this time the Federal camp was thoroughly
aroused and, knowing that if he attempted to retrace his steps his
capture was almost certain, he pushed rapidly forward and, passing
around the right wing, proceeded to circle the rear of McClellan's
entire army. So speedily did he move that the alarm of his approach
was no sooner given in one quarter than he appeared in another and
thus, like a boy disturbing a row of hornets' nests with a long
stick, he flashed by the whole line, reached the Union left, swung
around it and reported to Lee with his command practically intact.

That a few squadrons of cavalry should have been able to ride
around his army of 100,000 men and escape unscathed astonished and
annoyed McClellan but he utterly failed to grasp the true purpose
of this brilliant exploit, and Lee took the utmost care to see that
his suspicions were not aroused. Stuart's information had convinced
him that the right wing of the Union army was badly exposed and might
be attacked with every prospect of success, but to insure this it
was necessary that McClellan's attention should be distracted from
the real point of danger. The Confederate commander thoroughly
understood his opponent's character and failings, for he had taken