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Prologue to Battle:
In the aftermath of Sharpsburg, the Army of the Potomac withdrew to the North. Scouting reports indicated that the loss of several key leaders, such as Hooker to a wound, might have been the cause. That, or as some seemed to think, the Yankees “must think there are a million of us”. Either way, the losses to their Cavalry arm and the Army in general at Chantilly showed, as Stuart’s troopers did not have much in the way of competition for their scouting.
Seizing the opportunity, and with a number of Rainbow officers agreeing either to an aggressive course of action or specifically to making a move to cut Baltimore from Washington, the Army of Northern Virginia gets on the march early in the afternoon of the 20th with Rainbow Brigade in the Van. Stuart’s Division skirmishes with all comers towards Hagerstown, cutting telegraph lines and railroad tracks in an effort to deny intelligence or supply to the enemy. Captain Dashwood and Major Pruitt work their troopers hard scouting ahead of the Army and ensuring that foraging parties get to any substantial stores of food or fodder, Lee having left behind the bulk of his train in favor of maneuver.
In the ranks, the mood is heady, and the men are impetuous. They are also exhausted, after fighting three major battles and several minor ones in the last month. Nevertheless, straggling is low, a combination of pride in embarassing Billy Yank repeatedly and the knowledge that they are not in Virginia and stragglers can not so easily return to friendly lines. Abandoning the majority of the supply train also means that the wounded have all been sent back across the Potomac, and foraging parties politely yet firmly pillage the countryside. Jackson, Lee, and Longstreet all strictly enforce a policy of not unnecessarily taking or destroying private property, but privately all will admit a desire to visit upon the Yankee the insults that have been visited upon Confederate farmers and tradespeople over the past year, in an effort to further cement the futility of this war upon the national psyche.
And so the Army marches, to Middleton, then east through Fredricktown towards New Market on the 23rd. Fitzhugh Lee’s Cavalry ride southeast towards Rockville to gather intelligence on any moves made by the VIII Corps garrisoning Washington and the other major cities. On the 24th, riders from Hampton’s Brigade bring word that the Army of the Potomac is force marching in pursuit. After mulling over the uncharacteristic action, Lee concludes that Lincoln has replaced McClellan, and from his days in the US Army he believes that Maj. Gen. Sumner is the only one who could so quickly turn that force about and drive them singlemindedly.
On the 25th, riders from F. Lee’s Brigade bring word that troops appear ready to march from Washington, and with the way that the limited Federal cavalry there are active, Fitzhugh Lee expects them to march within the next day or two. As the Army reaches Lisbon on the 26th, Major Pruitt encounters a small party of Marylanders in Union Blue at a creek. From the one bank, Pruitt yells across telling them that Maryland is being liberated. From the other, the riders tell him that has yet to be decided. The Maryland cavalrymen then ride East towards Ellicots Mills and Baltimore. Pruitt’s Cavalry are unable to catch up with the small party, but scout the river and find the bridges still intact, and some visible defenses.
That night, the officers meet in the farmhouse Lee is using as his headquarters. “Gentlemen, it appears that we are once again on the horns of a dilemma. If we continue East, we will find ourselves trapped against the river and Washington, and Sumner’s battered Army of the Potomac reinforced by the VIII Corps. If we turn South, we might brush aside the VIII Corps reinforcements and return to Virginia, but Lincoln would call our campaign a raid, and the Yankee would not find removed any of his capacity or will to wage war against us.”
Jackson speaks up: “I am of a mind Sir, that we should divide our army. I can take my Corps south, defeat the VIII Corps separately, and then turn on the Army of the Potomac.” Lee looks at Longstreet, who opines “We passed a goodly ridge near Poplar Springs, with steep bluffs on the North looking down on the creek. It would be a good place to make a stand, especially in anticipation of a maneuver to flank from the South.” Stuart merely states that he anticipates we will be caught up by the Federal force between the 27th and 30th even if we continue to move East, and his scouts report no serious activity to the North that would indicate major troop movements.
Lee considers his subordinates advice. “Gentlemen, I believe your ideas have merit. From Sharpsburg we know that while the Yankees are more numerous, their morale is low, they are at least as exhausted as our own men, and their supply can be in no way superior to our own. But more importantly, we captured or destroyed a number of guns at Sharpsburg. Despite our dearth of industry, our boys have bought in blood a fleeting supremacy in our artillery arm. It is a bold plan, to divide so in the face of destruction, but I believe we have opportunity now to soundly defeat the Federal Army while it is disorganized and at a dearth of arms. He must attack, and I am certain that Lincoln is mustering reinforcements both South and East in an effort to crush us in a fist. We must use all our advantages, and seek the favor of Providence, but our boys have never failed to deliver when required, and I would not doubt their courage or skill.”
Poring over the map, Lee makes his decision. “General Longstreet, you will dispose your Corps as you see fit in the area of Poplar Springs. General Jackson, take your Corps South and throw back the VIII Corps, I suspect they will be bringing a substantial artillery train to replace losses in the Army of the Potomac. General Stuart, you will of course take your Division with General Jackson, and plan to guard his outboard flank.”
General Longstreet points out the potential of threats to the East and North, most especially if the garrison of Baltimore has been given similar orders as the garrison of Washington. Lee relents, and orders General Hampton to remain to guard Longstreet’s right. As to Baltimore, after looking at the map, Lee concludes that there are four places a column could easily cross the Patapsco, too many to be protected sufficiently lest the Army be weakened into uselessness. Instead, he decides on a bold course of action.
“Colonel Fawcett. You will take your Rainbow Brigade East and threaten Baltimore. You must seize and hold Ellicott’s Mills, as that is the most direct route into the rear of the Army. But more importantly, you must impress upon the Federal commander a significant threat to his charge. To keep him from simply sending a column by a different bridge or ferry, you need to force him to stand before the city and protect it. Force him to muster his full strength near the city, where he cannot intervene in the fighting here.”
Thinking for a moment, Lee also says “This war has killed its share of great leaders, and your brigade has not been an exception. General Sennef killed, Captains and Majors killed and wounded, and Colonel Bates riding in a wagon as I heard, suffering the ill effects of a concussed head. Consider yourself to be Brevetted to Brigadier, Mr. Fawcett, for the duration of the campaign.” Turning to Stuart, Lee says “Also, General Fawcett may draw from Hampton’s Brigade what additional guns or regiments he might require to complete his task”, but he quickly adds, “Harry, remember that anything you take from General Hampton may not be available at Poplar Springs when the Army of the Potomac arrives. We must carefully husband our forces if we are to finally bleed this blue army white and end this awful war.”
With that, the meeting breaks up, and General Fawcett goes back to Rainbow to bring them the news and the orders. Arriving back at his own headquarters, he looks at the map Major Pruitt’s scouts were able to make of the area of Ellicot’s Mills, and the all-important Patapsco River, which will either contain the Yankees from attacking Longtreet’s rear…..or will contain Rainbow to be annihilated.
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