The Civil War/General Meade's Campaign in Virginia
GENERAL MEADE'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA
JULY 1863 TO DEC. 1863–KNOWN AS MEADE'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA
On the 14th of July General Lee and the Confederate army which had been defeated at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania crossed the Potomac River just below Harper's Ferry and camped near Winchester, Virginia, but learning General Meade had crossed the Potomac farther down on the 17th and 18th and was on the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountain broke his camp and made a rapid retreat up the Valley of the Shenandoah. He hoped to be ahead of the Union forces and slip through one of the mountain passes and reach the Valley of the Rappahannock and make it to Culpepper, Virginia to be between Meade's Federal troops and Richmond. He reached Culpepper the same day Meade reached Manassas Gap. Each army commander expected the other to make disposition for a fight the next day. Neither knew for sure the other's strength and Washington forbid Meade to make battle as Lee's strength had grown since he reached Virginia soil; he had 56,000 present for duty, Meade had 75,000, but the figures were unknown to the commanders.
General Meade pulled back towards Centreville, Virginia and Lee moved up to Bristoe, Virginia with their calvary engaged in battle, but the two armies avoided a battle unless they could fight on their own terms. Lee hoped if he had to fight that he could get to Bull Run Mountain and fight the same battle as the 2nd battle of Bull Run. Meade took up a strong position at Centreville, and waited to see if Lee would attack. Lee learned that Meade had withdrawn back ot Fairfax Station halfway between Centreville and Washington and decided to not make battle.
General Lee on the 18th of August commanded his retreat toward the Rappahannock knowing Meade would follow. General Stuart's cavalry was to bring up the rear and he had one fight at Catlett's Station with Meade's cavalry. Neither of the two armies engaged in all out battle.
General Lee got his Confederate Army behind the Rappahannock and took up intrenchments that he had formerly used the year before and waited for the Union forces to follow.
On the 7th of November Meade put his army in motion. He sent several divisions across Kelly's Ford under General Sedgwick to strike at Lee's forces, both sides suffered high loses, but an all out battle never developed. Lee withdrew across the Rapidan river into a better position to do battle, but Meade did not follow as it became too hazardous until the railroad line could be repaired so his line of supplies could catch up.
General Meade's troops lay idle for the next three weeks then on the 29th of November he sent two corps; General Sedgwick's and General Warren's, across the Rapidan on pontoon bridges as the water was too high to ford. They fell upon General Ewell's troops and a furious fight took place, but General Hill came to the rescue of General Ewell and they stopped the Federal advance.
Winter was comming on and any sudden storm would prevent General Meade's troops from getting supplies so he withdrew his army to its former positions.
So ended the campaign of 1863 in Virginia as both armies retired to winter quarters to await the opening of spring.
The 42nd was with General Lee on these movements back and forth across northern Virginia under the command of General Ewell and was hit hard at Mine Run on the 29th of November.