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the temper of the troops was excellent for a desperate resistance.
Meade's report indicates easy acquiescence in our retreat from Gettysburg.
While the 6th corps followed us to the vicinity of Fairfield on the 5th, picking up stragglers, the rest of the army remained on the battle-field for two days, ‘employed in succoring the wounded and burying the dead.’
A third day was lost ‘halting a day at Middletown to procure necessary supplies and to bring up the trains.’
Under ordinary circumstances Lee might now have been across the Potomac, but there were further rains on the 7th and 8th, and Lee's escape was exceedingly narrow.
On the 13th, both his bridge and the ford near Williamsport were passable, and orders were issued to make the crossing during that night.
The river had fallen to a stage barely permitting infantry to ford, but about dark it again began to rise.
Ewell's corps was ordered to cross by the ford.
Longstreet, followed by Hill, was to cross by the pontoon bridge.
Caissons were ordered to start from the lines at 5 P. M., the infantry and artillery at dark.
Meade might have attacked on the 12th but contented himself with reconnoissance.
As a result of the reconnoissance of the 12th, he assembled his corps commanders and proposed a demonstration in force on the 13th by the whole army, to be converted into an attack if any opening was found.
The opinion of a majority of his leading officers was so adverse to the proposition that Meade allowed himself to be persuaded, thus giving Lee the last (lay needed.
Later in the day he repented and issued orders for a general advance on the 14th.
It was made just a day too late.
Lee had left only two guns stalled in the mud, and a few hundred stragglers broken down by the night march, short in distance, but rarely equalled for its discomfort and fatigue.
Another rain-storm had set in before dusk, and it kept up nearly all night.
It was the dark period of the moon and the blackness of the night was phenomenal.
The route to the bridge was over small farm roads, rough, narrow, and hilly.
Already from the incessant rains they were in bad condition, and now,
1907.
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