Thursday, February 18, 2021
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Morton's Ford, Feb. 6, 1864: Benjamin Butler's Fault
Morton's Ford (Library of Congress) |
Butler |
John Sedgwick, temporarily commanding the Army of the Potomac in place of an ailing Meade, was hostile to the plan but, after a testy exchange with Butler, reluctantly agreed to help “as far as I can by vigorous demonstrations, and take advantage of such chances as may occur.”
On Feb 6, Sedgwick conducted an advance along the Rapidan River, where his men became embroiled in some bloody fighting. At Morton’s Ford, a Second Corps division crossed the river and clashed with Richard Ewell’s corps, costing the Federals 262 casualties. In a bitter note drafted after the engagement, Sedgwick did not hide his unhappiness with Butler’s scheme. “One result of the co-operation with General Butler,” he jabbed, “has been to prove that it has spoilt the best chance we had for a successful attack on the Rapidan.”
You can read more about this in The Fight For The Old North State.
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