Battle of Williamsport

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Battle of Williamsport
Part of American Civil War
The pursuit of Gen. Lee's rebel army Forbes, Edwin, artist, July 10, 1863.
Date July 6-July 16, 1863 Location Washington County, Maryland Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders
George G. Meade	Robert E. Lee
Strength
Divisions	Divisions
Casualties and losses
1,730 total (US and CS)	1,730 total (US and CS)

v • d • e Gettysburg Campaign Brandy Station – 2nd Winchester – Aldie – Middleburg – Upperville – Sporting Hill – Hanover – Gettysburg – Carlisle – Hunterstown – Fairfield – Williamsport – Boonsboro – Manassas Gap

The Battle of Williamsport, also known as the Battle of Hagerstown or Falling Waters, took place from July 6–16, 1863, in Washington County, Maryland, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War.

During the night of July 4–July 5, Gen. Robert E. Lee's battered army began its retreat from Gettysburg, moving southwest on the Fairfield Road toward Hagerstown and Williamsport, screened by Stuart’s cavalry. The Union infantry followed cautiously the next day, converging on Middletown, Maryland. On July 7, John D. Imboden stopped John Buford’s Union cavalry from occupying Williamsport and destroying Confederate trains. Judson Kilpatrick’s cavalry division drove two Confederate cavalry brigades through Hagerstown before being forced to retire by the arrival of the rest of J.E.B. Stuart’s command. Lee’s infantry reached the rain-swollen Potomac River but could not cross, the pontoon bridge having been destroyed by a cavalry raid. On July 11, Lee entrenched a line, protecting the river crossings at Williamsport and waited for Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac to advance. July 12, Meade reached the vicinity and probed the Confederate line. July 13, skirmishing was heavy along the lines as Meade positioned his forces for an attack. In the meantime, the river fell enough to allow the construction of a new bridge, and Lee’s army began crossing the river after dark on the 13th. On the morning of the 14th, Kilpatrick’s and Buford’s cavalry divisions attacked the rearguard division of Henry Heth still on the north bank, taking more than 500 prisoners. Confederate Brig. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew was mortally wounded in the fight. On July 16, David McM. Gregg’s cavalry approached Shepherdstown where Fitzhugh Lee’s and John R. Chambliss’ brigades, supported by M.J. Ferguson’s, held the Potomac River fords against the Union infantry. Fitzhugh Lee and Chambliss attacked Gregg, who held out against several attacks and sorties, fighting sporadically until nightfall when he withdrew.

[edit] Source

• CWSACdfgesfg Battle Summaries, National Park Service

v • d • e Gettysburg Gettysburg campaign Campaign Overview • Brandy Station • Second Winchester • Aldie • Middleburg • Upperville • Sporting Hill • Hanover • Carlisle • Gettysburg • Hunterstown • Fairfield • Williamsport • Boonsboro • Manassas Gap Actions at Gettysburg First Day • Second Day • Third Day cavalry battles • Big Round Top • Cemetery Hill • Culp's Hill • Devil's Den • Little Round Top • Peach Orchard • Pickett's Charge • Wheatfield Notable Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee • E. Porter Alexander • Richard H. Anderson • Jubal A. Early • Richard S. Ewell • Henry Heth • A.P. Hill • John B. Hood • Allegheny Johnson • James Longstreet • Lafayette McLaws • W. Dorsey Pender • J. Johnston Pettigrew • George E. Pickett • Robert E. Rodes • J.E.B. Stuart • Isaac R. Trimble Notable Union leaders George G. Meade • John Buford • Joshua L. Chamberlain • George A. Custer • Abner Doubleday • George S. Greene • Winfield S. Hancock • Joseph Hooker • Oliver O. Howard • Henry J. Hunt • Alfred Pleasonton • John F. Reynolds • John Sedgwick • Daniel E. Sickles • Henry W. Slocum • George Sykes • Gouverneur K. Warren Other topics American Civil War • Confederate Order of Battle • Union Order of Battle • Department of the Monongahela • Department of the Susquehanna • Gettysburg Address • Gettysburg National Cemetery • Cemetery Ridge • Seminary Ridge Army of the Potomac I Corps • II Corps • III Corps • V Corps • VI Corps • XI Corps • XII Corps • 1st Minnesota • 20th Maine Army of Northern Virginia First Corps • Second Corps • Third Corps • Cavalry Corps Gettysburg today Battlefield • Town • College • Lutheran Theological Seminary Popular media Gettysburg (film) • Gettysburg (game) • Gettysburg (music) • Cyclorama • Sid Meier's Gettysburg! • Terrible Swift Sword • The Killer Angels Gettysburg Textbooks from Wikibooks • Gettysburg news stories from Wikinews • Gettysburg Images and media from Commons