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prize of victory.
His heavy columns pressed on near the mountain passes, and
Buford, who, with his cavalry, had pushed well up into Manassas Gap, thought he discovered the presence of a greater part of
Lee's army there and at
Front Royal, and reported accordingly.
Meade, believing it to be
Lee's intention to press through the
Gap, ordered a large part of his army to march upon it, at the same time directing
French, with the Third (
Sickles's) Corps, then guarding Ashby's Gap, to hasten forward to the support of
Buford, who was calling for re-enforcements.
This was done with so much rapidity, that the corps reached
Piedmont before dark.
Birney's division, temporarily under the command of
General Hobart Ward, was sent immediately forward to
Buford's aid, followed by the remainder of the corps, and on the following day
there was a warm engagement at Wapping's Heights, where the Third and Fourth Maine--
Kearney's veterans — and the
Excelsior (New York) Brigade, led by
General Spinola, gained renown by successful charges under the direction of
General Prince, which drove the
Confederates.
The latter consisted of one of
Ewell's brigades, which had been holding the
Gap while a portion of
Lee's army was passing by; and when, the next morning, the
National troops pressed on to
Front Royal,
Lee's columns had all passed, and there was no foe to assail.
Meade was disappointed.
His detention at the
Gap had given
Lee a great advantage, who now swept rapidly around the right flank of the Army of the Potomac, through
Chester Gap, and took position on the south side of the
Rappahannock.
Meade advanced slowly to that stream, when
Lee retired to Culpepper Court-House.
Then the opposing armies rested for some time.
Troops were now drawn from each army and sent to other fields of service.
Bragg was then severely pressed by
Rosecrans, in
Tennessee, and
Lee was ordered to detach
Longstreet's corps
to his assistance.
This reduction of his army compelled
Lee to take a strictly defensive position.
This fact was revealed by reconnoissances of
Meade's cavalry, when the latter moved his whole army across the
Rappahannock,
pressed
Lee back,
pushed two corps forward to the
Rapid Anna, and occupied Culpepper Court-House, and the region between the two rivers just named.
The Confederates had destroyed the bridges over all the streams behind them, but temporary ones were so quickly constructed, that
Meade's advance was not checked.
Lee took a strong position on the south side of the
Rapid Anna — too strong for a prudent commander like
Meade to attempt to carry by direct assault; so he planned a flank movement, and was about to attempt its execution, when his army was suddenly reduced in numbers by the withdrawal of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps (
Howard's and
Slocum's) for
