Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station: The Army of the Potomac’s First Post-Gettysburg Offensive, From Kelly’s Ford to the Rapidan, October 21 to November 20, 1863

by Jeffrey Wm Hunt

Contrary to popular belief, the Eastern Theater during the late summer and fall of 1863 was anything but inconsequential. Generals George Meade and Robert E. Lee continued where they had left off, boldly maneuvering the chess pieces of war to gain a decisive strategic and tactical advantage. Cavalry actions and pitched battles made it clear to anyone paying attention that the war in Virginia was a long way from having been decided at Gettysburg. This period of the war was the first and only time Meade exercised control of the Army of the Potomac on his own terms, but historians and students alike have all but ignored it. Jeffrey Wm Hunt brilliantly rectifies this oversight in Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station: The Army of the Potomac's First Post-Gettysburg Offensive, from Kelly's Ford to the Rapidan, October 21 to November 20, 1863.

It was a fascinating time in north-central Virginia. After recovering from the carnage of Gettysburg, the Richmond War Department sent James Longstreet and two divisions from Lee's army to reinforce Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee, where they helped win the Battle of Chickamauga. Washington followed suit soon thereafter by sending two of Meade's corps (the XI and XII) to reinforce William Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland. Despite his weakened state, Lee took advantage of the opportunity and launched a daring offensive that drove Meade back on Washington but ended in a bloody defeat at Bristoe Station on October 14.

What happened next is the subject of Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station, a fast-paced and dynamic account of Lee's bold strategy to hold the Rappahannock River line as the Army of the Potomac retraced its steps south. Pressured by Washington to fight but denied strategic flexibility, Meade launched a risky offensive to carry Lee's Rappahannock defenses and bring on a decisive battle. The dramatic fighting included a stunning Federal triumph at Rappahannock Station--which destroyed two entire Confederate brigades--that gave Meade the upper hand and the initiative in his deadly duel with Lee, who retreated south to a new position behind the Rapidan River. It seemed as though Lee's vaunted Army of Northern Virginia had lost its magic after its defeat in Pennsylvania.

Hunt's third installment in his award-winning Meade and Lee series is grounded upon official reports, regimental histories, letters, newspapers, and other archival sources. Together, they provide a day-by-day, and sometimes minute-by-minute, account of the Union army's first post-Gettysburg offensive action and Lee's efforts to repel it. In addition to politics, strategy, and tactics, Hunt's pen ably examines the intricate command relationships, Lee's questionable decision-making, and the courageous spirit of the fighting men. Complete with original maps and outstanding photographs, Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station is a significant contribution to Civil War literature.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Civil War Eastern Theater, Military Fiction, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2021

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wonder what would have happened if Meade had been more audacious? This book explores that topic, as well as other related subject matter surrounding the post-Gettysburg maneuvers of the Army of the Potomac. I found this book to be well balanced; neither pro-North nor pro-South but written with a true historian's sense of balance. Overall, a very good book.

[Mark Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume in his Meade and Lee series. Battle micro history at its best, asking with excellent analysis and insightful depiction of the key players. His concluding assessment of Meade generalship as “deliberate” is spot on.

[Charles Inglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a casual reader of Civil War histories there is a gap in my knowledge of events. George Meade beats Lee at Gettysburg, then allows Lee to successfully retreat back to Virginia. And then U.S. Grant takes over. In reality a number of significant actions took place in the second half of 1863, including the battle of Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford. In this battle Meade forced a crossing of the Rappahannock River and destroyed a Southern bridgehead on the north side, forcing Lee to withdraw behind the Rapidan River. The author presents a more detailed accounting than many popular histories, which might make the reading a bit tedious for readers looking for more of an overview, but the details are worth it for the insights they give: the reliance on railroad communication constraining Meade, and Lee's, options; George Meade as a methodical, careful professional under pressure from Lincoln and Halleck; the problems of controlling a battle occurring in two locations miles apart when messages travelled by a man on a horse; the chance occurrence of a strong south wind that muted the sounds of battle and mislead Lee; the initiative of junior leaders and a rare night attack. A valuable book for those seeking a better understanding of how the war was fought.

[Keith Chaple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy contribution of knowledge about the time between oft written about battles of Gettysburg and the Wilderness. This is the third volume describing the events in the gap. The writing is clear, detailed, and with sufficient maps to place the actions in perspective. Looking forward to any other volumes penned by Jeffery Wm. Hunt.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised when Hunt decided to split the last volume of his Meade vs Lee trilogy into a quadrilogy. Rappahannock Station is usually presented as the first step in the Mine Run campaign so why not simply include it in that book?

While this will probably be the shortest of the four volumes, Hunt has managed to make this one worth standing alone with an extensive examination of the planning and decision making of Meade, Lee, and their subordinates, plus a detailed reconstruction of the events at Rappahannock Station. Also covered are the somewhat overlooked events at Kelly's Ford on the same day as part of the same Union offensive. The events of that day could have resulted in a great Battle of Culpepper a day or two later, but did not and the reasons why are rather interesting.

Hunt continues do remarkable work in Civil War military history - what Gordon Rhea did for the Overland Campaign, but for events far less well-known because their body count was far lower. If you enjoyed Hunt's two previous works on the post-Williamsport operations and the Bristoe Campaign you will enjoy this one. I very much forward to the final volume on Mine Run.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Gettysburg, Meade pursued Lee into Virginia, in well known territory to both Union and Confederate forces. Lee began a sweeping movement and pushed Meade back toward near where Meade's pursuit had begun. But, after A. P. Hill's inglorious mishap at Bristoe Station, Lee moved back south and Meade pursued, This is where the Battle of Rappahannock Station occurred. Meade with a good sense of tactics and some luck, damaged the Confederate flank. Lee ended up retreating. The main takeaway. Despite some flawed generalship, Meade had inflicted a mild defeat on Lee. Geed for Yankee morale! Next up? Mine Run.

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The post-Gettysburg duel between Generals Meade and Lee continues in "Meade and Lee at Rappahannock Station." As a tactical and strategic overview of an oft-overlooked time in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War, Jeffrey Hunt's book is an impressive achievement. For once, General Meade appears to outsmart and outrun the Confederates, crossing the Rappahannock River and forcing the Army of Northern Virginia to retreat behind the Rapidan. Hunt is hard on Meade, though, for not pushing his corps further south and bringing on a battle that could end the war in the East.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful study of the duel between Meade and Lee after Gettysburg and before President Lincoln designated Grant as General of the Armies. This is part of a series by Jeffrey William Hunt covering the campaigns in which Meade and Lee faced off in 1863.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was somewhat interesting at the start, but by the middle of it. I lost interest.