June 3

June 5

June 7

June 8

June 9

Battle of Brandy Station (see more)

Hooker believed that the concentration of Stuart’s cavalry was in preparation for a large cavalry raid. He ordered his cavalry commander, Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton, to cross the river and “disperse and destroy” Stuart’s men. The result was the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War. The one day battle was a draw and Pleasonton withdrew back across the river, but Stuart was surprised and embarrassed, which affected his performance in the upcoming campaign. It also confirmed to Hooker that something was up.

June 10

June 12

Ewell’s lead troops moved through Chester Gap and into Front Royal. They were joined there by Jenkins’ Cavalry Brigade.

Knowing that Lee was moving away from his front, Hooker proposed to Washington that he march on Richmond. But Lincoln rejected the idea of trading capitals and refused, telling Hooker, “Lee’s army, not Richmond, is your true objective.” Hooker was to pursue and defeat Lee but also keep between the Army of Northern Virginia and Washington.

June 13

Second Battle of Winchester (see more)

Ewell suddenly appeared near Winchester with 23,000 men of Early’s and Johnson’s Divisions while sending Rodes’ Division ahead to Martinsburg. He surrounded Brigadier General Robert Milroy’s Union garrison of 8,700 men, which were in three forts just north of town. Milroy had been receiving warnings of a Confederate advance but was expecting a small raid that he thought he could counter and was not prepared for a third of the Army of the Northern Virginia. 

June 14

Ewell attacked and captured one of the three forts at Winchester. Finally convinced that he would not be able to hold off Ewell, Milroy decided to attempt an escape after dark. Ewell anticipated the move and sent one of his divisions to block the retreat route, while Rodes overran the Martinsburg garrison.

Hooker began to withdraw the Army of the Potomac north from Fredericksburg. His Infantry made for Manassas while he sent Pleasonton’s cavalry to the Loudoun Valley east of the Blue Ridge to break through Lee’s cavalry screen and find out what Lee was up to.

June 15

Battle of Stephenson’s Depot (see more)

Milroy’s men escaping from Winchester ran into the Confederate blocking force at 3:30 a.m. and began a confusing night battle. By dawn the trapped Union troops began to surrender while Milroy and part of his command escaped in the confusion. Milroy lost about 4,450 men to less than 300 for Ewell. Ewell also captured 20 pieces of Union artillery. Although they had been spiked, they were quickly returned to service and assigned to Confederate batteries.

Ewell’s Corps then continued north. Jenkins’ Cavalry Brigade and Rodes’ Division dropped off a pontoon bridge at Falling Waters and continued north to ford the Potomac River at Williamsport. 

June 16

June 17

Battle of Aldie

Three brigades of David McM. Gregg’s Union Cavalry Division met Munford’s Brigade of Confederate cavalry at Aldie and forced it to fall back. Duffie’s Union Cavalry arrived at Middleburg at the same time.

Most of Lee’s infantry was concentrated in the Shenandoah Valley. Hampton’s and Jones’ Cavalry Brigades screened the south side of the Rappahannock

Hooker’s infantry had completely withdrawn from the Rappahannock and was strung out along the line of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.

June 18

Early’s Division crossed the Potomac at Boteler’s Ford outside Shepherdstown.

Battle of Middleburg

Munford and Robinson’s Confederate Cavalry Brigades routed Duffie’s 1st Rhode Island Cavaly. It lost 240 out of 280 men engaged, most of them captured.

June 19

J. Irvin Gregg’s Union Cavalry Brigade pushed west from Aldie and attacked Stuart on the ridge west of Middleburg. Gregg was repulsed, Stuart counterattacked, then fell back to the west, continuing to cover the gap in the Blue Ridge.

June 20

June 21

Battle of Upperville

J. Irvin Gregg’s and Kilpatrick’s Union Cavalry Brigades reinforced by Infantry under Colonel Strong Vincent attacked west along the Ashby’s Gap Turnpike while Buford’s Union Cavalry Division attacked Stuart’s left flank. Stuart made a fighting withdrawal and took up a firm position in Ashby’s Gap, fulfilling his mission of screening the Confederate infantry. But the fact that the screen was maintained so aggressively showed that Lee was probably advancing north behind the Blue Ridge.

June 22

Johnson’s Division of the Confederate Second Corps crossed the Potomac at Boteler’s Ford.

Lee ordered Stuart to guard the mountain passes with part of his cavalry while the Army of Northern Virginia was still south of the Potomac, then cross the river with the remainder of the army and screen the right flank of Ewell’s Corps, which was moving into Pennsylvania. This was the order that Stuart loosely interpreted to allow him his ride around the Union army.

June 25

Stuarts Ride: At 1 a.m. Stuart left Salem Depot with his three best brigades, those of Hampton, Fitz Lee, and John Chambliss (taking the place of the wounded Rooney Lee). Stuart interpreted Lee’s instructions to screen the right flank of Ewell’s Second Corps as rather than heading straight north paralleling the rest of Lee’s army while catching up with Ewell, instead making a wide swing east toward Washington before turning north. This would allow him to create confusion and gather supplies in The Army of the Potomac’s rear area.

Stuart quickly ran into difficulties. His intended route was blocked by the Union Second Corps, which with the rest of Hooker’s army was marching north from Fredericksburg much quicker than anticipated. After a skirmish Stuart was forced to move further east, delay his advace just as Lee was moving blind deep into unknown Union territory.

Hooker’s Pursuit: Hooker ordered the Army of the Potomac to cross into Maryland and concentrate around Frederick. The army crossed at Edwards Ferry on two 1,400-foot-long pontoon bridges built by the army’s engineers. It was led by Reynold’s advanced wing, consisting of the First, Third and Eleventh Corps. The Second, Fifth and Twelth Corps would follow. Sedgwick’s Sixth Corps was to move to Middletown.

June 26

Skirmish at Gettysburg

Ewell’s Second Corps continued its rapid advance after crossing into Pennsylvania. The divisions of Johnson and Rodes continued north from Chambersburg along the Cumberland Valley, making for Harrisburg, while Early’s Division headed east from Chambersburg over South Mountain.

As the head of Early’s Division advanced down the Chambersburg Pike toward Gettysburg they ran into the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Infantry (see monument) at Marsh Creek. The 26th was an untrained militia unit primarily made up of farm boys, college students, and middle aged shopkeepers, accompanied by independent companies of militia cavalry. The militia were forced to withdraw with some casualties, and as they moved up the Hunterstown Road had a “severe engagement” with Jenkins Confederate cavalry.

Private George W. Sandoe of Bell’s Independent Company of Volunteer Cavalry, which would become part of the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment (see monument), was killed along the Baltimore Pike east of Gettysburg. He is considered to be the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg. Ewell’s men occupied the town overnight before moving on towards York.

June 27

Early reached York, the largest northern city to be occupied by the Confederates during the war. They levied tribute on the town of supplies as well as $28,000 cash from the merchants. (a relative of the author of this site, Major Wells Hawks, had the responsibility of bringing that cash back to Virginia.) Gordon’s Brigade was ordered ahead to Wrightsville, to seize the mile long covered bridge across the Susquehanna River.

Jenkins’ Cavalry Brigade raided Mechanicsburg.

Rodes’ and Johnson’s Divisions reached Carlisle.

Battle of Fairfax Court House

Eighty-two men of Companies B and C of the 11th New York Cavalry Regiment under the command of Major S. Pierre Remington from the Washington Defences encountered and attacked Stuart’s column of about 2,000 men, who they at first thought were a band of Mosby’s partisan rangers. About half the New Yorkers were killed or captured, but they delayed Stuart’s men at least half a day.

June 28

Gordon’s Brigade of Early’s Division arrived at Wrightsville (see markers) on June 28 but were prevented from crossing by Union militia, which retreated across the bridge and set it on fire. Gordon’s men were able to keep the flames from spreading to the town, but were unable to save the bridge. Along with the fighting at Carlisle on July 2, Wrightsville was the deepest penetration of the North by a large force of Confederate troops in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War.

Stuart’s Ride: Stuart crossed the Potomac at Rowser’s Ford, near Lock 23 on the C&O Canal. They captured a number of canal boats and their cargos, then moved on to Rockville. Here Stuart captured a train of 140 new wagons and mule teams after a chase almost to Washington. As both wagons and draft animals were in critically short supply in Lee’s army, Stuart determined to bring them along to help in the gathering of supplies.

Lee Calls In His Forces

In the evening Lee met with a spy, Henry Harrison, who had been hired by Longstreet. Lee’s army was stretched out over 50 miles, from Longstreet’s First Corps and Hill’s Third Corps in Chambersburg in the west to Ewell’s Second Corps in Carlisle and Wrightsville on the Susquehanna River in the east. With Stuart and the better part of his cavalry having disappeared off the map, Harrison’s news was the best information Lee would get on the activities and positions of his opponent.  

He found out that Hooker’s army had already crossed the Potomac and was much closer to his badly scattered army than he had thought. Lee immediately ordered his forces to concentrate at Cashtown, about 8 miles northwest of Gettysburg. He also ordered his commanders to avoid a general engagement until his entire army was concentrated.

Meade Takes Command of the Army of the Potomac (see more)

Hooker had been fighting with Washington over control of the Harpers Ferry garrison, which he wanted to add to his army. Finally, in exasperation, Hooker submitted his resignation. To the surprise of many, Lincoln accepted.

There was some talk of choosing Sedgwick or Slocum, who were senior to Meade, or Reynolds, who was of equal seniority, and it was rumored that offers had been made and refused. When a staff officer from Washington awakened a shocked Meade in his tent outside Frederick, Maryland (see monument) after midnight on June 28 it was not an offer, but an order. Meade had performed well as commander of the Fifth Corps. He now took over the Army of the Potomac in the middle of an invasion of the North, with the Capital and major cities under threat. And although he did not know it, just three days until the greatest battle of the Civil War.

June 29

Stuart rode into Westminister, Maryland in the afternoon. He overwhelmed two companies of the 1st Delaware Cavalry Regiment, chasing the survivors down the Baltimore Road.

Skirmish at Sporting Hill

Jenkin’s Confederate Cavalry Brigade skirmished with two New York Militia regiments at Spring Hill, about two miles west of Harrisburg. After a short fight and an exchange of artillery fire the militia drove off Jenkin’s cavalry. Jenkins rejoined Ewell’s infantry, who were withdrawing to Cashtown as ordered. It was the farthest north engagement of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War.

June 30

Meade moved his headquarters to Taneytown, Maryland. He ordered a general movement toward Gettysburg while also issuing the Pipe Creek Circular, which specified possible defensive positions for the army, as a potential fall back position.

Pettigrew’s Confederate Infantry Brigade foraged from Cashtown almost to Gettysburg and observed Union cavalry south of town but no infantry. They then returned to Cashtown.

That evening Reynolds camped at Moritz’s Tavern, just South of the Pennsylvania line on Emmitsburg Road. He had with him the three divisions of his First Corps. Howard’s Eleventh Corps was south of Emmitsburg, and Sickles’ Third Corps was south of Howard. Reynolds had good intelligence from Buford’s cavalry that Lee was probably at Cashtown with much of his army. 

Battle of Hanover

Kilpatrick’s Union Cavalry Division passed through Hanover in the morning. Stuart entered the town behind him and scattered the tail of the Union column. Kilpatrick regrouped his division and drove Stuart out of the town. Stuart pulled back and bypassed Hanover, protecting his wagons and prisoners but moving further away from Lee’s army. His exhausted men then made a 20 mile night march to Dover, arriving on the morning of July 1.

July 1

Stuart’s Cavalry eached Dover in the morning after an all night march, moving away from Gettysburg and Lee’s army. He left Hampton’s Brigade at Dillsburg with the captured wagon train and moved the rest of his exhausted men on toward Carlisle.

Battle of Gettysburg: Day One

Four Confederate divisions met two Union Corps in a chance encounter. The fortunes of war brought the Confederates in on the Union flank but it also gave the Union high ground to fall back to. Both sides lost heavily, but it was a clear Confederate victory. The Union line eventually collapsed but it reformed south of Gettysburg on good defensive terrain. The Union survivors dug in and waited for the rest of the army to arrive. The Confederates also wait for the rest of their army while they plan their next move.

For more detail see: Timeline of the Battle of Gettysburg – July 1

Battle of Carlisle

In the early evening Stuart arrived at Carlisle with two brigades of cavalry, still searching for Ewell. Stuart briefly engaged Union militia under the command of Major General William F. Smith and set fire to the Carlisle Barracks, a lumber yard and the gasworks.  Learning that Lee was fighting at Gettysburg, Stuart disengaged and began his march there at about 1 a.m.

July 2

Battle of Gettysburg: Day Two

Lee launched a full scale attack late in the afternoon on the Union left flank. Three Confederate divisions wrecked the Union Third Corps and pushed the Union line back by almost a mile. But George Meade always found reinforcements to rebuild his defensive line, and by the end of the day Lee’s forces were stopped and pulled back. At dusk Confederate assaults were launched on Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Hill. Neither succeeded. The final Confederate reinforcements, Pickett’s Division, would arrive on Friday morning.

For more detail see: Timeline of the Battle of Gettysburg – July 2

July 3

Battle of Gettysburg: Day Three

Fighting around Culp’s Hill lasted all morning before the Confederates pulled back.

At 1 p.m. a massive artillery duel prepared the way for a Confederate infantry attack. Three Confederate divisions assaulted the middle of the Union line in what became knon as Pickett’s Charge. They briefly broke the Union line, but the attackers were killed, captured or retreated.

Stuart’s cavalry tried to ride around the right flank of the Union army and into its rear but were stopped and turned back by Union cavalry.

Union cavalry also attempted to strike the Confederate right flank and rear in two places. Both attacks failed.

For more detail see: Timeline of the Battle of Gettysburg – July 3

July 4

Heavy rains and thunderstorms moved into the area.

Lee’s army dug in on Seminary Ridge and prepared for a Union counterattack. But Meade refused to attack Lee’s formidable defensive line. Lee was deep behind Union lines with little chance of reinforcement or supply and unable to forage. Meade had troops arriving from neighboring states and had secure supply lines. Time was on his side. He had no desire, as he wrote his wife, to “play their old game of shooting us from behind breastworks.”

Lee knew that he had to return to Virginia. He would have to cross the Potomac, which he planned to do at the ford at Williamsport and the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters. First he needed to send ahead the slow moving wagons that carried the supplies he had gathered from the rich Pennsylvania countryside as well as his many wounded. During the day Lee sent off two wagon trains.

The first was mostly wagons carrying supplies. This train moved over the passes via Fairfield and Hagerstown, the shortest route over South Mountain. It would leave during the day and the main part of the army would follow the same route somewhat later.

The second was a 17 mile long train of ambulances. It would be guarded by Brigadier General John Imboden’s brigade of mounted infantry reinforced by five batteries of artillery. Fitz Lee’s and Hampton’s cavalry brigades would protect their flanks and rear. This column would leave at 5.30 p.m. and take the Cashtown Road over the mountains, turn south at Greenwood to avoid Chambersburg and contine all night to reach Greencastle in the morning, then continue on to Williamsport.

Both columns had to deal with a torrential downpour that turned the roads into muddy swamps.

Meade sends out his Cavalry

In the morning Meade odered his cavalry to strike at Lee’s rear and his line of commuications to “harrass and annoy him as much as possible in hie retreat.”

• Buford with Gamble and Devin’s Brigades rode from Westminster to Frederick where they would join with Merritt’s Brigade.
• McIntosh’s 1st Brigade, 2nd Division was at Emmitsburg.
• J. Irvin Gregg’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division rode to Hunterstown then headed west to Cashtown.
• Kilpatrick was ordered with Farnsworth’s Brigade (now under Nathan Richmond) and Custer’s Brigade to Emmitsburg, where he would add Huey’s Brigade.

Lee’s Army begins their retreat to Virginia

That night the main body of the Army of Northern Virginia began its march back to Virginia via Fairfield Road, Monterrey Pass, Hagerstown and Williamsport. Pickett’s badly battered Division led the way, escorting Union prisoners captured during the battle. Supply wagons from the Second Corps followed. Then came Hill’s Third Corps, which was accompanied by General Lee, followed by Longstreet’s First Corps, with Ewell’s Second Corps bringing up the rear of the long column. Stuart with Chambliss and Jenkins’ cavalry brigades moved towards Emmitsburg to provide flank protection for the main army.

Action with Lee’s Bridge Guard at Falling Waters

But it was Union troops that reached Lee’s pontoon bridge first. A detachment of 300 men from the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and the 6th Michigan Cavalry were sent out by William French from Harpers Ferry and commanded by Major Shadrack Foley surprised and dispersed a much larger force guarding Lee’s pontoon bridge swinging on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. They destroyed the pontoons and trains. This would trap Lee’s army on the north bank of the rain-flooded Potomac for several days until the river subsided and the ford became usable again or a new bridge was built. They also captured an ammunition train, which they dumped into the Potomac.

Union reinforcements gather

• Meade ordered William French to move the former Harpers Ferry garrison from Frederick and occupy the passes over South Mountain as well as Maryland Heights overlooking Harpers Ferry.
• A.J. Smith left Carlisle at 6 a.m. and marched his militia 17 miles to Pine Grove Furnace, arriving at 6 p.m.
• Colonel Lewis Pierce marched his 2,000 men, half veteran cavalry and half emergency militia, toward the Cumberland Valley from Bloody Run, near Everett.

Meade’s Council of War

In late afternoon Meade held another council with his senior generals. They reported around 56,000 men ready for duty. After a discussion on strategy they decided that the Army of the Potomac should stay at Gettysburg as long as Lee did, and if he retreated to directly pursue only with cavalry. Warren was to take a division from the Sixth Corps, or the whole corps if necessary, and probe Lee’s lines. They would start at daylight.

Battle of Monterey Pass

Late that night Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Division attacked the wagon train of Ewell’s Second Corps as it was moving over Monterey Pass. in a confused action on a pitch black, rainy night, Kilpatrick’s men claimed the capture of 1,500 Confederate prisoners, most of them men wounded at Gettysburg, and captured or burned hundreds of wagons. Confederate infantry finally came up and drove them off.

July 5

Imboden’s seventeen mile train of wagons jolted their cargo of badly wounded men in the pouring rain over the mountain pass west from Cashtown. It was horror enough for everyone involved. But it got worse as the wagons were attacked in Greencastle by citizens with axes chopping at the wheels of the wagons. They were driven off by the escort.

Ambush at Cunningham’s Cross Roads

In the afternoon about 200 men from the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry and the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry under the command of Captain Abram Jones attacked Imboden’s wagons at Cunningham’s Cross Roads. In a sudden ambush Jones captured 134 wagons, 600 horses and mules, two guns, and 645 prisoners including Colonel Collett Leventhorp of the 11th North Carolina and Colonel John Connally of the 55th North Carolina.

Jones’ Cavalry Brigade reached Williamsport. He took charge of the small cable ferry, which was the only way actoss the swollen, rushing river, and posted riflemen around taller buildings in town. The ferry could carry only two wagons and about 40 men each trip. The head of Imboden’s column arrived at Williamsport and wagons began to fill the streets of the town.

Stuart’s cavalry passed through Emmitsburg, capturing 60 to 70 men, then continued on to Hagerstown, the last of them leaving the town about noon. 

Battle of Smithfield

Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Division arrived in Smithfield, about seven miles east of Hagerstown at the foot of South Mountain, in the early afternoon. The head of Stuart’s column, the brigades of Chambliss and Ferguson, soon appeared coming down off the mountain. After an hour long artillery duel Kilpatrick withdrew towards Boonsboro. He arived around Midnight and met up with Buford to discuss plans.

Meade begins his pursuit

Meade’s army awoke on July 5 to find that Lee had escaped in the night. 

Sedgwick had his Sixth Corps up before dawn for Warren’s reconnaisance. It turned into a pursuit when it was found that Lee’s infantry had left overnight. The Sixth Corps had been the strongest in the army even before Gettysburg, had lost less than 300 men in the battle, and was commanded by the most experienced corps commander still with the army. It was assigned to follow Lee’s army via Fairfield Road and Monterrey Pass. Sedgwick caught up and skirmised with Early’s rearguard of Gordon’s Brigade near Fairfield. Afterwards he followed at a respectful distance, since Lee could turn and bring his whole army to bear on Sedgwick’s corps, now isolated from the rest of the army.

The main body of the army was sent south on two routes, Taneytown to Frederick, and Emmitsburg to Middletown. Meade chose these routes as although a longer distance, they were paved, would be faster to cover in the heavy rains, and would put the army on the good quality National Road to cross South Mountain.

Rufus Ingalls, the Chief Quartermaster of the army, notified Washington that the army would be creating a major supply base at Frederick. The city was on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and a main turnpike from Washington. 

Buford’s Cavalry Division, rejoined by Merritt’s Brigade, was ordered to Frederick. They made it to within five miles of the town in the drenching rain and slept on the sodden ground.

By the end of the day:

• The First and Third Corps were in Gettysburg, ready to move to support of the Sixth if it was attacked.
• The Second Corps had reached Two Taverns.
• The Fifth Corps was at Marsh Creek along the Emmitsburg Road
• The Eleventh Corps at Rock Creek on the Taneytown Road
• The Twelfth Corps had reached Littlestown

On the reports of Sedgwick’s skirmish at Fairfield Meade ordered the army to pause in their movements. He wanted to find out if Lee was intending to concentrate at Fairfield and fight, or if he was retreating. Meade ordered Sedgwick to make a strong thrust forward with his Sixth Corps in the morning to determine Lee’s situation. 

July 6

At Williamsport

Imboden’s column reached the Potomac at Williamsport only to find the bridge destroyed and the ford impassable, although the tiny ferry continued to operate. He formed up his wagons for defence and armed the teamsters.

Two of Jubal Early’s regiments who had been left at Winchester to guard supplies (the 13th and 58th Virginia) arrived opposite Williamsport with an ammunition train and were slowly ferried across the Potomc. They would make a strong addition to Imboden’s irregular cavalry and armed wounded and teamsters.

Lee’s Army begins to leave Monterey Pass

The leading troops of the Lee’s army began to descend from the mountain and head for Waynesboro, about 12 miles from Hagerstown. After moving through Waynesboro they turned south into Maryland and at around Midnight reached Leitersburg.

Sedgwick’s pursuit of Lee

A little after midday Meade had his answer. Lee was retreating and not settling in to a strong defensive position. Meade could continue his flanking movement through Frederick.

New orders were issued:

• Sedgwick was to detach Neil’s Brigade and a battery of rifled artillery. They would be reinforced with McIntosh’s Cavalry Brigade and would shadow Lee’s retreating column.
• The rest of the Sixth Corps was to move from Fairfield to Emmittsburg.
• The rest of the army was to meet at Middletown in the morning of the 7th.

Lee responded to Sedgwick’s pursuit by telling Ewell “if these people keep coming on, turn them back and thrash them.” But Sedgwick only continued to follow to the top of Monterey Pass, then allowed Ewell to continue without hinderance.

Pierce’s attack at Greencastle

Colonel Lewis Pierce’s cavalry reached the Cumberland Valley from Bloody Run and struck at Imboden’s column. They captured 90 wagons, a gun and 645 prisoners, half of whom were wounded casualties from Gettysburg. The wagons belonged to Stuart, wagons he had captured on his ride around the Union army and which had dragged him down for most of the campaign and delayed his arrival at the battle. Stuart was enraged and demanded a court of inquiry.

Battle of Hagerstown

Kilpatrick’s cavalry division was at Boonsborough, where he had turned his captured wagons and prisoners from Monterey Pass over to French. He then moved his division towards Hagetstown. When he arrived about noon he found the Confederate cavalry brigades of Chambliss and Robertson holding the town. Kilpatrick attacked, and after a great, swirling cavalry battle in the main squre and streets of the town and a 30 minute artillery duel he drove the Confederates out.

But Iverson’s Infantry Brigade arrived and quickly deployed. They pushed Kilpatrick’s men back through town. Then Stuart arrived with most of his cavalry division followed by the two brigades of Hood’s Division, the first of the main body of the Army of Northern Virginia coming off their march across South Mountain. Kilpatrick decided he could not hold the town and withdrew.

Battle of Williamsport (The Teamster’s Fight)

Buford’s cavalry division had left Frederick at 4:00 a.m. and rode for Williamsport. At around 4 p.m. he drove in Confederate pickets and pushed to within a half mile of the long wagon train. For the next five hours, Buford unsuccessfully probed Imboden’s line with carbine and artillery fire. Buford drove off a Confederate counterattack before he heard Kilatrick’s guns at Hagerstown, a few miles to the northeast. He sent to Kilpatrick to ask him to link up.

Kilpatrick moved Custer’s Brigade to cooperate with Buford’s attack, leaving Nathaniel Richmond’s Brigade (formerly Farnsworth’s) to hold the rear at Hagerstown. But pressure from Stuart, helped by Confederate infantry, forced Richmond to withdraw and threatened both Kilpatrick and Buford.  Both withdrew to Jones’s Crossroads as night fell.

July 7

After a short rest Lee’s army resumed its march and continued through the night. By daylight leading units were coming into Hagerstown.

Buford and Kilpatrick maintained their forward position, keeping Lee’s army from threatening the Maryland passes over South Mountain being used by Meade.

In a torrential downpour the infantry of the Army of the Potomac concentrated at Middletown, about 20 miles east of Williamsport, and then moved west. Howard’s Eleventh Corps marched 30 to 34 miles from Emmittsburg to Middletown. Slocum’s Twelfth Corps covered 29 miles from Littlestown, Pennsylvania to Walkersville, Maryland. The army streched all the way back to Two Taverns, where the Second Corps brought up the rear behind the Artillery Reserve. Meade moved his headquarters to the United States Hotel in Frederick, having slept his first full night’s sleep since he took command of the army.

Supply was an issue for Meade. Two of the most serious needs were for boots and fresh horses. Many of the men were barefoot and the First and Sixth Corps had to leave their artillery behind because their battery horses were completely worn out. He made the decision to spend a day at Middletown to rest the worn out men and try to provide them with food. Several of the corps had covered anywhere from 30 to 35 miles during the day – a difficult march under normal conditions but an epic feat of endurance in the pouring rain with no rations.

The first Union infantry to reach Middletown, Carl Schurz’s Division of the 11th Corps, made it at 11 p.m. They marched through the town and camped on the western side. The rest of the army bedded down for the night on the east side of South Mountain.

To the west Brigadier General Benjamin Kelly reached Hancock with 5,000 men. He was not under Meade’s command and had far too few men to challenge Lee’s army, but would prevent Confederate detachments and foraging parties from crossing the Potomac there.

At Harpers Ferry

Union Major General William French sent a brigade to occupy Maryland Heights and destroyed the bridge across the Potomac to deny it to Lee as a possible retreat route. Later in the day he was transferred from command of the Harpers Ferry District to take over command of the Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

The head of Neil’s infantry and McIntosh’s cavalry brigades reached the top of Monterey Pass by Midnight in a pouring rain. 

First Battle of Funkstown

The 6th United States Cavalry and the 7th Virginia Cavalry ran into each other while both were scouting along the Williamsport Road. The Virginians got the upper hand and drove the Regulars back two miles. The orgerly retreat dissolved into a route until the 6th reached Buford’s camp. The Confederates then fired a volley and withdrew.

The 1st United States Cavalry and 6th Pennsylcvania Cavalry took off in pursuit. The Virginian’s horses were by now winded and tired, and the fresh Federals took a number of prisoners. But the 11th Virginia Cavalry joined the fight and the Frderals withdrew.

Lee’s army approaches Wilimsport

Lee’s engineers began the process of searching the countryside for the best defensive positions for the army to dig in for what promised to be a great final battle. 

Longstreet’s and A.P. Hill’s men were in Hagerstown, and Ewell’s men arrived there by midday, going into camp along Greencastle Road.

July 8

Just before dawn the rain stopped and a warm sun came out. Many men were able to dry their sodden clothes, blankets and other gear.  But it was just a short repreieve, and soon the rain clouds closed in again.

The Battle of Boonsboro

Both armies were still on the march and in a vulerable situation. The Army of Northern Virginia needed time to deploy from a column of march to a defensive line. They also needed time – three days, as it turned out – for defensive positions to be surveyed and created arond Williamsport and Falling Waters.

The Army of the Potomac  needed time to make its way over South Mountain on the National Road. It would be very vulnerable as it came down the mountain pass in a narrow column, offering the opportunity for the Confederates to attack each descending unit while it was still in marching order and unsupported.

Both sides relied on their cavalry to screen the armies. Stuart formed up Fitz Lee’s, Jones’, Chambliss’, and Laurence Baker’s (formerly Hampton’s) Brigades in Funkstown and made their way east on the National Road, driving for Boonsboro to control the exit from the mountain pass. Furguson’s (formerly Jenkins’) Brigade joined from the Williamsport Road.

They met Buford’s and Kilpatrick’s Divisions, drawn up in an arc behind Beaver Creek. Most of the men on both sides fought dismounted as the ground was too waterlogged to fight or even move on horseback.

The battle started out with an artillery duel and went back and forth all day. Units would run out of ammunition and be forced to fall back, then would resupply and return to advance somewhere else on the lines. As evening fell the Union Eleventh and Sixth Corps reached the battlefield, and Stuart could see that he had to fall back. He withdrew to his starting point for the day in Funkstown, and Buford followed in pursuit for three miles before returning to Boonsboro. 

Other developments

Neil’s infantry and McIntosh’s cavalry brigades reached Waynesboro before Noon. Lee’s rearguard had left at around 10 a.m. and burned the bridge over Antietam Creek behind them. McIntosh’s cavalry engaged Ewell’s rearguard pickets at Zeigler’s Mills.

Meade appointed Major General Alexander Humphreys to replace the wounded Daniel Butterfield as Chief of Staff of the Army of the Potomac. Butterfield had been a holdover from Hooker who was not well disposed to Meade. 

Lee, Longstreet, Ewell, and Hill spent the day on horseback with the engineers deciding on the placement of defences. 

July 9

Lee and his corps commanders finished their review of the defensive line in the morning and Lee made his decision. The line would follow Salisbury Ridge from Conococheague Creek in the north to Dam No. 4 in the south, anchoring both flanks. The engineers began their work. Lee’s headquarters would be along the National Road about two miles from Hagerstown.

Union infantry concentrated in a line at the foot of South Mountain from Rohrersville north to Boonsboro, where the Sixth Corps was on the National Road.

July 10

Second Battle of Funkstown

Buford’s Union Cavalry Division attacked Stuart’s Cavalry, which was holding the road open for Lee’s retreating army. Buford gained little ground until Union Infantry arrived – Grant’s Vermont Brigade of the Sixth Corps. But some of Longstreet’s Confederate Infantry also arrived, leading to the first clash of infantry since Gettysburg. 

Semmes’ Georgia Brigade, now commanded by Colonel Goode Bryan since Semmes’ mortal wounding on July 2, moved forward to cut off the Vermonters. But the New Englanders, most of whom were in skirmish formtion, held off three assaults by the Geogians and finally pushed them back. It was unheard of for a skirmish line to hold against an assault that outnumbered it, but the Vermonters did, going through as much as 80 rounds apiece during the day.

As the afternoon and evening went on the two Union cavalry divisions and the Sixth Corps pushed the Confederates back about a mile to the west side of Antietam Creek. The rest of Lee’s infantry continued to move down from Hagerstown. Two additional Union corps, the First and Eleventh, were concentrating with the 6th Corps between Boonsboro and Funkstown.

Major General Halleck cautioned Meade to “postpone a general battle till you can concentrate all your forces and get up your reserves and reinfotcements. Bring up and hurl upon the enemy all your forces, good and bad.” 

July 11

Army of Northern Virginia 

Lee’s army took up positions and began to entrench its six mile defensive line following a range of hills on the west bank of Marsh Run. Longstreet’s Corps was on the right (southern) flank on the Potomac near Downsville, Hill’s Corps was in the center, and Ewell’s Corps was on the left about 2 miles southwest of Hagerstown. The hills sloped gently down to the marshy creek bottom and then back up to the parallel ridge on the east side.  Any attack would have to cross one to two miles of open ground, a situation very similar to the killing fields of Pickett’s Charge. A Union cavalryman commented that they were “built as if they meant to stand a month’s siege.”

Most of Stuart’s cavalry was in front of the infantry as an active picket screen, but Lee ordered him to move part of it to the Confederate left flank.

Engineers continued to work on replacing the bridge over the Potomac, tearing down buildings to scavenge lumber. They built 29 pontoons, sealing them in tar heated in kettles confiscated from residents. Some men from the Stonewall Brigade were assigned to assist. 

The small ferry continued to operate, carrying Pickett’s Division cross to Virginia. A trip took seven minutes, but didn’t carry much. Pickett’s men set up pickets along the roads south of the river to protecct the trickle of wagons and amulances carrying wounded men.

Army of the Potomac

Meade’s army also put up strong breastworks. There was a stong possibility that Lee would attack, and the soldiers wanted to be ready. Additional surgeons and volunteer nurses arrived for the anticipated battle.

Sedgwick was ordered to send one of his Sixth Corps divisions to occupy Funkstown and the high ground beyond. The advance was unopposed; the town was unoccupied.

Heavy skirmishing broke out when the Second Corps advanced about a mile from Tilghmantown and ran into the Confederae picket line. Skirmishing broke out elsewhere along the line as Meade ordered that the Confederate defensive lines to be probed and their pickets driven in.

Neil’s Infantry Brigade and McIntosh’s Cavalry Brigade with Willim F. Smith’s militia joined the Sixth Corps. They had been ordered to stop at Waynesboto after trailing Lee over South Mountain, and had been sitting idle for several days.

July 12

Second Battle of Hagerstown

At around 8 a.m. Kilpatrick’s cavalry moved into Hagerstown. There were soon supported by Ames’ infantry brigade from the 11th Corps. The town was full of Confederate sharpshooters with telescopic rifles, but much of their picket line was captured by Company A of the 1st Ohio Cavalry supported by Ames’ infantry.

With the way into Hagerstown opened Kilpatrick ordered Custer’s Wolverine Brigade to charge the town. They cleared it and started towards the flank of Lee’s defensive line but were turned back by strong infantry behind a stone wall and a small stream. Custer’s men were followed by Howard’s Eleventh Corps infantry, which occupied the Hagerstown.

Lee’s message to Jefferson Davis

“… The army is in good condition, and occupies a strong position covering the Potomac from Williamsport to Falling Waters. The enemy seems to be collecting his forces in the Valley of the Antietam, his main body stretching from Boonsboro to Sharpsburg. But for the power he possesses of accumulating troops, I should be willing to await his attack, except that in our restricted limits the means of obtaining subsistence is becoming precarious. The river has now fallen to four feet, and a bridge which is being constructed I hope will be passable by tomorrow morning. Should the river continue to subside, our communications with the south bank will be open by tomorrow…”

Council of War

Meade called his senior commanders together again in the evening. He was being pushed hard by Washington to attack, and wanted to do so the next day. But his corps commanders were split. Most were opposed, and Meade reluctantly posponed his attack for a day.

July 13

It was dark and rainy, with frequent downpours.

Confederate pioneers finished their work on the bridge. They crossed the Potomac at dawn.

There was heavy skirmishing along the lines as Meade carried out reconnaissance and planned for an attack on the following day. He found out that Lee’s bridge was nearly ready, but despite searching all day was unable to find a weak spot in the defenses.

Howard, commanding the 11th Corps on the northern flank of the army, asked Meade for perission to attack. He felt he could outflank the Confederate line and force them out of their position. But Meade told him to wait until morning, when the whole army would attack. Meade ordered a reconnaissance in force by one division each from four of his corps for the morning.

Stuart withdrew his cavalry from skirmish duties in front of the army and concentrated them on the northern flank. Jones’ cavalry brigade crossed the Potomac and picketed the road to Winchester.

Lee withdraws

During the night Lee’s infantry began to withdraw, beginning with Longstreet’s and Ewell’s corps. As they pulled out of the fortifications Stuart’s cavalry took their place to cover the withdrawal. The cavalry would then follow the infantry at dawn.

Ewell’s Second Corps forded the river at Williamsport, while the First Corps and Third Corps and the artillery used the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters. Federal prisoners were brough across on the two ferries at Williamsport, covered by Cofederate artilery on the Virginia side of the river. Stuart’s Cavalry Division was to be the last to cross.

The downpour made the roads a quagmire, and several wagons and caissons were lost into the Potomac. Thousands of shoes were sucked off their owners feet and lost. The ford was over waist deep on an average man, fast flowing, and about 250 yards wide. Many men soaked their cartridge boxes and ruined their ammunition. After crossing the men proceeded down the Martinsburg road a considerable distance.

July 14

The crossing continues

Early’s Brigade cleared the ford at about 5 a.m., the last of the Second Corps to cross. Stuart then brought his cavalry over.

Fitz Lee’s cavalry division crossed the pontoon bridge too early, holding up the crossing of Heth’s and Pender’s infantry divisions still on the northern bank and leaving them without a cavalry screen.

Battle of Falling Waters

During the night Union skirmishers discovered the Confederate defences had been abandoned.

Buford’s and Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Divisions moved forward on both flanks. In the north at 3:00 a.m. Custer ordered the 5th Michigan Cavalry to quietly mount up and follow the retreating Confederates to Williamsport. They would be followed by the rest of Kilpatrick’s division and were supported by the 2nd United States Sharpshooters.

On the southern flank Buford moved his division up and planned an enveloping movement to cut off the remaining Confederates on the north bank.

The pontoon bridge was at the end of a mile long peninsula inside a bend of the Potomac. Pender’s Division was in the process of crossing, and Heth’s was waiting. Pettigrew’s Brigade was posted as a rear guard. They did not know that Stuart’s cavary had already crossed to Virginia, and believed a cavalry screen was beween them and any Union pursuit. Many of the exhausted men were sleeping, arms stacked, as they waited their turn to cross the narrow, crowded bridge.

Kilpatrick was frantic to catch up to the Confederates before they could escape. The ride down the road from Williamsport was in knee deep mud. Horses struggled, men strggled and all formation was lost. When they reached Pettigrew’s brigade the Confederates did not realize at first they were Yankees, thinking they were Confederate cavalry. That quickly changed when Kilpatrick launched an attck by two companies of the 6th Michigan Cavalry, about a hundred men, under the command of Major Peter A Weber.

The attack by the Wolverines cut through the surprised Confederates, slashing with their sabers. But they quicly recovered, grabbed weapons, and fought back. In one case one of the men from Archer’s brigade knocked a Yankee off his horse with a fence rail. It was over very quickly. Major Weber was one of 30 men killed in the attack, at least another 40 were wounded. But on the Confederate side Brigadier General James Pettigrew was mortally wounded, shot in the stomach. He was one of the most promising young division commanders in the army, the last general officer who died in the Gettysburg Campaign.

As the first wild attack was snuffed out the rest of Custer’s Brigade arrived and launched a dismounted attack that drove the Confederate line back toward the bridge.

At the same time Buford began working his way around the Confederate flank, with Gamble’s Brigade in the lead. They dismounted and advanced, taking prisoners as they pushed the retreating Confederates back toward the bridge.

At his time, while the rest of the Confederate forces were falling back toward the safety of the bridge, Colonel John M. Brockenbrough ordered his brigade of Virginians to attack the Union cavalry. Brockenbrough himself did not lead or even join in the attack, retreating across the bridge. Instead he sent his aide, Captain Wayland F. Dunaway, to take charge.

The small brigade plowed into the 8th Illinois Cavalry, starting a close quarters fight that ended when the Virginians began to run out of ammunition and more Federal cavalry joined the fight. Almost surrounded, Dunaway tried to fall back but found he could neither fight nor retreat. He lost 500 men captured and mortally wounded along with the flags of the 40th, 47th, and 55th Virginia Infantry. 

Confederate survivors who could make it to the bridge crossed under intense rifle and carbine fire. They were covered by artillery fire from the Virginia shore provided by Captain William P. Carter’s King William (Virginia) Artillery and observed by Lee and Stuart. Lieutenant Colonel James M. Crowell’s 28th North Carolina was thought to be the last infantry to cross, followed by a squadron of cavalry who reported that there was no one behnd them. Crowell cut the bridge cables on the Maryland side, and the bridge swung away from the northern shore.

But there was one more Confederate detachment: two dozen skirmishers of the 13th North Carolina under the command of Lieutenant Nathaniel Smith. They had been left behind and were captured.

Ewell’s Corps led the army south on the Valley Turnpike. Hill’s Corps was next in line, with Longstreet bringing up the rear.

The infantry of the Army of the Potomac advanced and occupied the abandoned Confederate fortifications north of the Potomac.

Union General Gouverneur Warren telegraphed the War Department, “The Maryland Campaign is ended. Have sent to me all the maps you can spare of the Shenandoah Valley and the routes east of the mountains to Gordonsville.” Many historians also consider this to be the end of the campaign.

July 15

Lee ‘s army withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley.

Meade ordered his First, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Corps, Artillery Reserve, and Buford’s and Kilpatrick’s cavalry divisions to Berlin (now known as Brunswick) to cross the Potomac at the pontoon bridges there. The Second, Third and Twelfth Corps with Gregg’s cavalry division were ordered to cross at Sandy Hook.

July 16

July 17-18

July 23

Battle of Manassas Gap (Wapping Heights)

French’s Third Corps advanced west at dawn into Manassas Gap. He slowly pushed back Walker’s Brigade of Anderson’s Division in an attempt to cut off retreating Confederates at Front Royal. The advance stalled when Rodes’ Confederate Division and artillery came up as reinforcements in the late afternoon. French’s attack was abandoned at dusk, and the Confederates continued to retreat South into the Luray Valley.

July 24

General French occupied Front Royal, but the retreating Confederates had escaped far to the south.

General Lee returned to Culpeper Court House, the starting point of the campaign. The Gettysburg Campaign was over.