across to the
road from Nashua to Murphy's Hill, following that until she came to our
pickets, and there asked to be shown to Army headquarters. She got in
very late, and the Sergeant made a mistake and took her to Gen. Papson.
He did not know her and was rather suspicious. She told him of the
movement of the enemy. He took her into his headquarters and sent out
to find Gen. Rosenfelt. But he could not be found. He was out somewhere
looking after his lines. This caused delay. He was not found until
morning, and then not until after the movement had commenced on his
left. Critsinger was crossing the run in front of Murphy's Hill. When
Gen. Rosenfelt was informed that Mrs. Houghton was in our lines, and of
her statement made about the enemy, he said:

"'It cannot be so. Biggs cannot suspect our movement. But even so, I
will crush his right, which he has left exposed, and carry out my plan
before he can do anything.' Gen. Rosenfelt superintended the crossing
of the run in person. He saw the moment approaching when he could throw
himself with a vastly superior force upon the isolated division that
Gen. Biggs had left at the hill--the rest of Biggs's command having
crossed the run to his left. At this juncture skirmish firing was heard,
and in a very short time sharp musketry burst forth on our extreme
right.

"At once Rosenfelt questioned in his mind, could Biggs have guessed the
movement by which he was menaced? Was he endeavoring to forestall it, or
was this one of those encounters between pickets? Or had Mrs. Houghton
brought to him the correct information? He at once sent to have her
brought to him. But she had left for Nashua on the turnpike road, so as
to be out of the way, as well as out of danger. Very soon the facts were
revealed to him, when too late, however, to retrace his steps. There
was nothing left but to attack the isolated force at once, as McCabe
had stated that he could hold his position against any force that might
attack him. The battle had commenced on his right, and the rebels were
pressing forward and gaining very great advantage. Our forces were taken
completely by surprise on our right--the soldiers were in their tents,
the officers scattered; the Chief of Artillery was at the headquarters
of Gen. McCabe; the artillery horses had been taken to water, and in
the great haste to get under arms each regiment formed in front of their
tents. On came the rebel division, pouring a terrific fire into our