This Week in the Civil War - 675
On Monday, October 12, 1863 Abraham Lincoln wired General George Meade, asking “What news this morning?” Rumors had reached Washington, D.C. about the Army of Northern Virginia’s movements, and the president was very concerned.
Lee’s still formidable army, reorganized and resupplied after Gettysburg, was indeed moving west and north of Meade’s Army of the Potomac in the general direction of Manassas and Washington, D.C. Skirmishing occurred at Gaines’ Road Crossing, Brandy Station, Hartwood Church, and near Warrenton Springs, Virginia literally in the rear of George Meade’s Union forces.
Once again in the Civil War Lee effectively moved his forces before the Union War Department could accurately ascertain either his location or his intentions. And once again, the Northern electorate immediately panicked, given Robert E. Lee’s military reputation.