Bristoe Station 10-14-1863
This might not be on par with the May 1863 capture of Richmond, but here an upstate New York newspaper prints the rumor that there has been another command change in the Army of the Potomac. On the other hand, it was true that the Union and Confederate armies in Northern Virginia were once again approaching the Manassas battlegrounds as part of the Bristoe Campaign.
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1863:
Startling news from Virginia.
The news from Virginia is of the most startling character. The Army of the Potomac has been driven back to Manassas Plains and the Old Bull Run battle ground, 50 miles from the front recently occupied on the Rapidan. Lee’s whole force has again crossed the Rappahannock and from last accounts was preparing to give Meade battle. Skirmishing has been going on largely since Saturday last, in which it seems Meade has been badly worsted. – The authorities, as usual, suppress all intelligence, when disaster has befallen our arms. We have also the startling announcement that Meade has been removed from command and Gen Sickles appointed in his stead.
And, in this case, the Seneca County paper got its rumors directly from Gotham and The New-York Times of October 15, 1863:
“fatal” command? (Meade and staff at Culpeper, September 1863)
BATTLE IMMINENT IN VIRGINIA.; Meade’s Army on Manassas Plains and Lee Across the Rappahannock. Our Army Stripping for the Fight. Rumor that the Battle Opened Yesterday at B[u]ll Run. OUR TRAINS ALL AT CENTREVILLE. The Cavalry Operations of Saturday and Monday. LATER. THE FIGHTING SATURDAY AND MONDAY.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The surplus baggage of the Army of the Potomac has been removed to the rear, and that army is stripping for fight. MEADE’s position yesterday morning was on the north bank of the Rappahannock, his right flank resting on the eastern slope of the Bull Run mountain. Since then, however, he has fallen back to the neighborhood of Manassas plains. Let’s whole force has crossed the Rappahannock, and were yesterday pressing our rear. A battle this morning was considered imminent. Our trains last night were all at Centreville.
General Sickles with his staff
Eleven A.M. — Rumors are rife that a general engagement began at daylight this morning on the old Bull Run battle-ground.
The command of the Army of the Potomac, of course, is fatal. Gen. MEADE in his turn has been compelled to give place to some other man. His removal from command seems to have been determined on. His successor is said to be Maj.-Gen. DAN. E. SICKLES.
The next day The Times updated its information about Sickles as part of a story from Washington on October 15th:
… Maj.-Gen. DANIEL E. SICKLES, with his staff, left here for the front at 2 o’clock this afternoon. In case of a general engagement he will take command of his own corps. …
You can read about the actual events during the October 14, 1863 Battle of Bristoe Station at Civil War Daily Gazette.
Daniel Edgar Sickles was a politician and a political general, who gained notoriety in 1859 for killing his wife’s lover, the son of Francis Scott Key. He was acquitted based on his defense of temporary insanity. On July 2, 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg Sickles disobeyed orders by advancing his III Corps ahead of the main Federal defensive line. This created the salient in the Peach Orchard. During the July 2nd fighting Sickles right leg was hit by a cannonball and had to be amputated. He did not return to combat command during the war.
Sickles gets ahead July 2nd
dead horses near where Sickles’ leg was amputated at Gettysburg
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Hal Jespersen’s map of July 2nd at Gettysburg is licensed by Creative Commons
The general returned (c1886) to spot where he lost his leg
