Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 3.

[98] thousand strong, made a sudden dash

June 25, 1868.

upon White House,¹ drove the Confederates from the post, and pushed on to a point within ten miles of Richmond, alarming Wise, the citizens, and the Confederate authorities to such a degree, that orders were issued for the closing of all places of business, and causing the Mayor to call upon the inhabitants to “Remember New Orleans,” and to array themselves in defense of their homes. Turning northward, Spear galloped to Hanover Court-House and beyond, destroying the railway and capturing General W. H. F. Lee, wounded at Beverly Ford. Then sweeping through King William County, he returned to White House, then held by Keyes; who, on the 1st of July, moved five or six thousand troops toward the Chickahominy, under General Gettys, with fifteen hundred cavalry in advance, with orders to push on north of Richmond, destroy the railway bridge over the South Anna, and so cut Lee's communications with the Confederate capital. This, and much more that was expected, was not accomplished, and Keyes fell back, to the great relief of the Confederates in and around Richmond.

When Lee escaped into the Shenandoah Valley, Meade determined to follow him along the route pursued by McClellan in his race with the same foe the year before, keeping close to the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, and using its gaps as circumstances might dictate. Only his cavalry advance, under General Gregg, enntered the Shenandoah Valley. That leader crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry on the day when Lee passed over above, and, pushing on to Shepherdstown, he there encountered, fought and beat Confederate cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee, each party being dismounted, on account of the ground being rough and wooded, and each losing about one one hundred men.

David McM. Gregg.

On the 17th and 18th of July, Meade's army crossed the Potomac, chiefly at and near Berlin, and moved rapidly southward by way of Lovettsville, Union, Upperville, and Warrenton, seizing the gaps of the Blue Ridge on its way. Its route was that which it had followed northward under Hooker a few weeks before. It reached Warrenton on the 25th of July, after a detention at Manassas Gap, where Meade had been led to expect an engagement of the two armies in large force. At that time Meade had the start of Lee in the race toward Richmond, the latter having halted at Bunker's Hill and endeavored to recall or distract his antagonist by a feint of recrossing the Potomac. He failed, and pushed his columns rapidly up the Shenandoah Valley, to meet the dangers which threatened his front and flank. He knew that a more vigilant and active commander than McClellan was his competitor in the race for the