Pursuit to the Potomac | Crossroads of War

Pursuit to the Potomac

March 8, 2012 By crossroads

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Confederate cavalry drive captured horses through the streets of Emmitsburg, Maryland after the Battle of Gettysburg. A fire (presumably accidental) had raged through Emmitsburg on June 15, destroying much of the town. (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harpers Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

A heavy gun is wheeled forward after the Battle of Gettysburg as Union troops pursue the retreating Confederates (July 10, 1863, Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

A lengthy column of Union soldiers marches through the rain near Emmitsburg, Maryland after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 7, 1863, Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

Union soldiers march past Emmitsburg in pursuit of the Confederate army (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Library of Congress)

New York militiamen file through Thornton's Pass, in the "South Mountains," on their way back north (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harper's Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

"Camp of the Seventh Regiment near Frederick, Maryland, 1863," painted by Sanford R. Gifford in 1864, and showing the 7th Regiment of the New York State Militia encamped between Frederick and Jefferson. Gifford was a member of the 7th Regiment. (Courtesy of the New York State Military Museum)

John Avery, Jr., a soldier with the 7th Regiment, New York State Militia, titled this sketch "Seventh Regt., N.Y. State Militia in Camp at Frederick, MD., July 1863," which resembles much the same scene as the previous painting by Sanford Gifford. Avery sent his sketch to Frank Leslie, publisher of Frank Leslies Illustrated News, telling Leslie he could use the sketch if he so desired. (July 1863, John Avery, Jr., artist; courtesy of the Becker Collection, Boston, MA)

Yet another image of the camp of the 7th Regiment, New York State Militia outside Frederick appeared in the New-York Illustrated News in August 1863. The artist is only identified as "E.B.S." (E. B. S., artist; The New-York Illustrated News, August 1, 1863; courtesy of Princeton University Library)

In this hand-colored image, soldiers from the 7th Regiment, New York State Militia pose at Monocacy Junction, near Frederick, Maryland (U.S. Army Military History Institute)

Two days after Gettysburg, Union cavalry captured near Mercersburg, PA, over 700 Confederates and 200 wagons that were retreating from the battle (James H. Stevenson, Boots and Saddles." A History of the First Volunteer Cavalry of the War, Known as the First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry [Harrisburg, PA: Patriot Publishing Co., 1879], 209)

Calvary engagement in Boonsboro on July 8, 1863, between Confederate General J.E.B. Stuarts cavalry and that of Union Generals H. Judson Kilpatrick and John Buford (C.E.H. Bonwill, artist; Paul F. Mottelay and T. Campbell-Copeland, eds., The Soldier in our Civil War: A Pictorial History of the Conflict, 1861-1865, vol. 2 [New York: Stanley Bradley Publishing Company, 1893], 126-127; appeared originally in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 8, 1863)

At the Battle of Boonsboro on July 8, 1863, the cavalry of both sides fought dismounted at times (C.E.H. Bonwill, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 8, 1863; courtesy of Princeton University Library)

With the Union Army in pursuit of the Confederates after Gettysburg, a group of Union engineers construct a bridge across Antietam Creek near Funkstown in Washington County (July 11, 1863, Charles E.H. Bonwill, artist; courtesy of the Becker Collection, Boston, MA)

The previous image as it appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (Mr. Bonwill, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 8, 1863; courtesy of Princeton University Library)

Union soldiers cross over Antietam Creek near Funkstown in pursuit of Confederate General Robert E. Lees southbound troops (Edwin Forbes, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 1, 1863; courtesy of Princeton University Library)

As the Confederates retreated toward the Potomac, they damaged the Conococheague Aqueduct in Williamsport, part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C.E.H. Bonwill, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 1, 1863; courtesy of Princeton University Library)

A Union signal officer, in the attic of a farm house, watching the Confederate army near Williamsport (July 12, 1863, Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

The artist, Edwin Forbes, titled this painting "Last Stand of the Army of Virginia, Commanded by General Lee." The painting shows Confederate forces dug into position near Williamsport, Maryland. (Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

Part of the retreating Confederate force crossed the Potomac River a few miles north of Williamsport (C.E.H. Bonwill, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 1, 1863, courtesy of Princeton University Library)

A ferry near Williamsport was used to carry wagons and supplies across the Potomac (C.E.H. Bonwill, artist; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 1, 1863, courtesy of Princeton University Library)

Confederates crossing over the Potomac near Williamsport (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harpers Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

Confederates crossing over the Potomac near Williamsport (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harpers Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

Original sketch of the previous image (July-August 1863, Alfred R. Waud, artist; Library of Congress)

The site near Williamsport where part of General Robert E. Lees forces crossed the Potomac (July 5, 1863, Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

A pontoon bridge at Falling Waters, West Virginia used by Confederate forces in their retreat (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harpers Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

On the Maryland side of the Potomac opposite Falling Waters, the 6th Michigan Cavalry charged the remaining Confederates on July 14, 1863 (Alfred R. Waud, artist; Harpers Weekly, August 15, 1863; NPS History Collection)

The 6th Michigan Cavalry charges over Confederate earthworks and scatters the Confederate defenders on July 14, 1863 (Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper, August 8, 1863; NPS History Collection)

The original sketch of the charge made by the 6th Michigan Cavalry (July 14, 1863, Edwin Forbes, artist; Library of Congress)

This project has been generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Park Service, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Frederick Community College, and others. See Credits page for full list.

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