The next day Averell kept on to Rapidan Station with 4,000 sabres, to engage W.H.F.Lee's rebel brigade, so that it could not interfere with the operations of the main body, which moved southeast across Morton's Ford and Raccoon Ford to Louisa Court House, where the work of destruction was to begin.

Stoneman's further movements will be related hereafter.

One small brigade of three regiments with two batteries was placed under the command of General Pleasonton and directed to report to General Slocum, to precede the infantry on the different roads.
Stuart, who commanded two brigades of rebel cavalry, under Fitz Hugh Lee and W.H.F.Lee, and whose duty it was to watch these upper fords, received news of the crossing at 9 P.M., on the 28th.
The turning column reached Chancellorsville with but little opposition, as both Lee and Stuart thought it was making for Gordonsville and the Virginia Central Railroad.

In consequence of this miscalculation, Stuart planted himself at Brandy Station.
When he found that he was out of position and that it was too late to prevent the crossing at Germania Ford, he made a circuit with Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade to get between Slocum and Lee, and sent W.
H.F.Lee's brigade to impede Stoneman's operations.

The passage of Germania Ford turned Elley's Ford and United States Ford, and Mahone's and Posey's brigades, who were on guard there, retreated on Chancellorsville, where Anderson had come up with Wright's brigade too late to prevent the crossing.
By 6 P.M.on the 30th, Hooker found himself in command of four corps at Chancellorsville, with another--that of Sickles--near at hand.