Following the bloodshed at Gettysburg, heavy rainfall made roads and pikes impassable for the armies in the area. In addition to this, the Potomac rose five feet higher than usual further hindering troop movements. Yet on July 9th, there was a glimmer of hope for Union General Meade who was greeted by a clear sky lacking signs of rain. Relieved by the reprieve from Mother Nature, General Meade began making plans for his next Battle against the Confederates.
The 85,000 Union troops present were to be reinforced by an additional 10,000 en route to the army’s current position, which would tip the scales firmly in their favor. With the bolstered army, Meade hatched his plan to move them into three columns, declaring, “I think the decisive battle of the war will be fought in a few days.”
As the sun climbed into the sky on July 12th, dark clouds gathered on the horizon. Divisions from the II, V, and VI Corps headed to the wheat fields held by the rebels and waited for the signal to move in. A Pennsylvania chaplain rode to their position and stopped them in their tracks, frustrated by the prospect of battle on the Sabbath. During his protest, he declared, “The Almighty will not permit you to desecrate his sacred day…. Look at the heavens; see the threatening storm approaching!” With thunder rumbling and lightning streaking the sky, Meade put off the attack for another day.
Following the seemingly divine spectacle, Meade convened with a council of war to deliberate the decision to launch an attack on Lee’s forces. The war was weighing on all of the men, and the general’s chief subordinates voiced opposition to attacking without further information about Confederate General Lee’s position.
Taking the advice given by the council, the Union postponed the advance once more to spend the next day examining the Confederates’ positions. On the morning of July 14th, Meade was ready to advance, but Lee’s forces had seized the opportunity of the union’s delay to cross the Potomac. During their escape, their soldiers cut the rebuilt pontoon bridge preventing further pursuit by the Union. In the wake of the setback, Meade looked toward Army General Halleck for instruction.
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