

AEMY OPERATIONS. 



133 



and supply trains ; but Gen. Sherman being re- 

 enforced by the eleventh corps, and a part of 

 the fourth, commenced his march for Knoxville. 

 Five miles above London at Davis's Ford, the 

 eleventh corps crossed the Little Tennessee, 

 and at Morgantown seven miles further up, the 

 fourth and his own corps crossed. The eleventh 

 moved on the next day to Louisville, a distance 

 of thirty-one miles. The other troops moved 

 to Marysville. All were on the south side of 

 the Ilolston. On the night of December 3d, 

 the cavalry of Gen. Sherman reached Knox- 

 ville. This movement turned the flank of Gen. 

 Longstreet, and he raised the siege and re- 

 treated toward Kutledge on that night. On 

 the next day, the fourth arrived at Knoxville, 

 and in conjunction with Gen. Burnside's forces 

 immediately commenced a pursuit. Gen. Long- 

 street fell back into the border of Virginia, and 

 took a strong position. Gen. Burnside was sub- 

 sequently relieved from the command of the De- 

 partment of the Ohio at his own urgent request, 

 and Gen. Foster assigned to its command. 



It was during this siege that Gen. Averill 

 advanced from Western Virginia, and cut the 

 communications of Gen. Longstreet, as here- 

 atfer stated. 



The other military operations of the year 

 1863, were, Vith the exception of the attack 

 on Charleston, of a less conspicuous and im- 

 portant character. Some of them, however, 

 were designed to be made in cooperation with 

 the principal movements above stated. 



Upon the departure of Gen. Longstreet's 

 corps to reenforce Gen. Bragg, the remainder 

 of Gen. Lee's army near Orange Court House, 

 . in Virginia, assumed a threatening attitude 

 against Gen. Meade, and manoeuvred to turn 

 his left flank while at Culpepper Court House. 

 At this time Gen. Hooker had left with nearly 

 two corps to reenforce Gen. Rosecrans in Ten- 

 nessee. The forward movement on the part 

 of the Confederate army commenced on Thurs- 

 day, October 8th, when Gens. Anderson and 

 Heth moved their divisions from the vicinity 

 of Peyton's Ford and Rapidan Bridge, up to 

 and beyond Orange Court House. On Friday 

 morning Gen. Wilcox's brigade moved from 

 Bamett's Ford, and forming the rear of Lieut.- 

 Gen. A. P. Hill's column, the troops proceeded 

 to Madison Court House. At the same time, 

 the corps of General Ewell followed, consist- 

 ing of the divisions of Gens. Rhodes, Johnson, 

 and Early. Meanwhile a show of force was 

 still kept up in front of Gen. Meade on the 

 Rapidan, by burning heavy camp fires, and 

 maintaining the regular picket force in front. 

 In the afternoon Gen. Stuart's cavalry began 

 to advance, keeping on the right of the infan- 

 try, and rested at night near Madison Court 

 House. On Saturday, the 10th, the infantry 

 crossed the Robinson river near Criglersville, 

 and soon after a skirmish took place between 

 Gen. Stuart and a body of New York infantry, 

 in which many of the latter .were made pris- 

 oners. 



Gen. Meade was now aware of the*>bject of 

 the enemy, and by Saturday night his whole 

 force had left Culpepper and was falling back. 

 His march was along the line of the railroad 

 running from Alexandria. The enemy were 

 encountered at times, and occasionally skir- 

 mishing ensued, but a general engagement was 

 avoided. 



On the llth the main body of Gen. Lee's 

 army reached Culpepper, and were compelled 

 to halt during the day to furnish provision to 

 the troops. On his advance Gen. Lee had left 

 Gen. Fitz Lee with his division of cavalry and 

 a detachment of infantry to hold his lines south 

 of the Rapidan. This force was attacked by 

 Gen. Buford on Saturday, and a sharp skirmish 

 ensued;, but the enemy being reenforced by 

 Gen. Stuart's troops, Gen. Buford fell back 

 across the Rappahannock. 



On the 12th Gen. Lee advanced in two col- 

 umns, with the design of reaching the Orange 

 and Alexandria railroad north of the river, 

 and intercepting the retreat of Gen. Meade. A 

 cavalry skirmish occurred at Jeffersonton, but 

 the Rappahannock at "Warrenton Springs was 

 reached that afternoon, when the passage was 

 disputed by Federal cavalry and artillery. 

 Upon the advance of a Confederate force 

 these troops fell back. 



On Tuesday morning, the 13th, the march 

 was resumed, and the two columns reunited 

 at Warrenton in the afternoon, and halted. 

 On the next morning the advance of Gen. Lee 

 was continued, a portion of his army moving 

 by way of New Baltimore toward Bristoe's 

 Station, and the rest, accompanied by the 

 main body of the cavalry, proceeding to the 

 same point by Auburn and Greenwich. Near 

 the former place a skirmish took place be- 

 tween Gen. Swell's advance and a body of 

 Gen. Meade's troops. The retreat of Gen. 

 Meade was conducted by direct parallel roads, 

 while the enemy in their advance were com- 

 pelled to march by difficult and circuitous 

 routes. They were thus unable to intercept 

 the retreat. The rear guard of Gen. Meade 

 consisted of the second corps, under Gen. 

 Warren. It had reached Bristoe's Station, and 

 about noon on the 14th it was suddenly at- 

 tacked by Gen. Hill, who, with two brigades 

 of the enemy, had arrived in advance. Gen. 

 Warren immediately arranged his corps for 

 action, and a sharp struggle ensued, which 

 lasted for some hours, when the enemy were 

 repulsed w.ith a loss of five guns and a large 

 number killed, wounded, and four hundred 

 and fifty made prisoners. The Federal loss 

 was fifty-one killed, and three hundred and 

 fifty-nine wounded. After remaining in pos- 

 session of the field during the night, the sec- 

 ond corps fell back across Broad Run. Gen. 

 Meade then fortified his position beyond Bull 

 Run, extending his line toward the Little 

 River turnpike. The enemy now ceased to 

 advance further. Gen. Meade held a strong 

 position, and if it could Iiave been turned by 



