The invasion was a tentative one, and was at tended with many disheartening eirenmstanees. Th1111:11.111Is of stragglers left the ranks between 'Manassas and the Polonme, the greater part weakened by want of rest. food, and shoes, and worn out by continued marches and daily battles, while many yielded to other motives. General McClellan had meanwhile been sent against La.. On September 15, 1Sti2, Harper's Perry was cap tured by the Confederates under Jackson prepar atory to the invasion of Pennsylvania.
followed 1.44°,4 movements. keeping the body of his army between Lee and \Vashingion. good fortune, coining into possession of Lee's order of mareh, he forced the latter to turn. The battle of .knt ietam (q.v.). September lilth•lith. was the result. the advantage being with the Federals. \Vitt' a greatly superior force, site eeeded in compelling I.(•e to abandon his plan of invading Pennsylvania. but the latter's superior generalship displayed throughout the whole en gagement and the sithsequent movements pre vented the former from obtaining any further ad vantages as Lee retreated southward. Lee and his army had fought with splendid skill and bravery, hut the campaign as a political move was a fail ure. The Federal Government now decided to renew the attempt on Richmond, this time via Fredericksburg. On November 7th Burnside re ceived the command of the Army of the Potomac. Both armies were rapidly drawn southward, and on _November 20th Lee was gathering his entire army behind the works of Frederi•ksburg. while Burnside's covered the hills on the north faeing them. ("bi December 13th a determined assault was direeted by Burnside squarely against the fortified hills of Fredericksburg. It was repelled with terrible loss to the Federal army, (See FitEnmucKsitunn.) After this battle the army of General Lee was not again molested until the campaign of 1S(13 opened. Gen. -Joseph Hooker had been appointed to supersede General Burn side, and with a powerful army, about double that of Lee, now deelared his intention of forcing the Confederate army from Frederieksburg, the end of April he led the hulk of his army across the Rappahannock. and took up a position near Chaneellorsville. The genius of Lee was never more conspicuous than in the battle while', followed ( Alay 2,1-4th). resulting in the •omplete defeat of Rooker. (See BAT MP. OF.) lint while the battle of Chaneellorsville and been brilliantly won, Lee had lost his great est support. 'Stonewall' Jackson. .tfter some indecisive fighting the Federal army on Alas- Oth withdrew' across the Rappahannock.
Lee now organized his army for the invasion of Pennsylvania, and on .11ine 3d emnineneed the advance with S0,000 men. The entire Con federate army was transferred to North Vir ginia, and on .Tune 27th it Was COOlVa trato•t1 near Cliamberslourg. Pa. Gen. George G. Meade suet-ceded Hooker in the command of the Federal artily, which was now' concentrated to wa•d Iletlyslairg. General Stuart. on whom Lee depended for his informatimi as to Federal movements. had unskillfully got on the other side of Meade and eindil render no service. chi .July 1st the battle of Gettysburg began by an un expected collision between the Federal eavalry and the head of General Bill's column moving from Chambersburg toward Gettysburg. It re sulted in the repulse of the Federal advance and its retirement to the strong position of Cemetery" 'Ridge, smith of Gettysburg. I duly 2d, it 4 e.m., after a tremendous cannonade, the Con federates delivered an impetuous .attack on the right si(In of Meade's position. It met with only partial success. On the afternoon of the 3d Lee ordered a eannonade which lasted for two hours, and under cover of which his attacking columns of 15.000 men formed. The attack was all that. human bravery multi make it ; lad the columns melted before the tire that waited tor them: and though their van reached and eovered the key of the struggle. their main force and the position quickly retaken. General Lee's equanimity was conspicuous in this defeat in the manner of his meeting the disorganized remnant of that returning column, infusing them with his own serene confidence and taking upon himself the responsibility for the fatal charge. Meade's army was seemingly too much shattered for hint to venture the offensive the next day, although Lee stood ready for him. The Confederate general. now short of ammuni tion and fearing communications. began to IA rent. (See ( 4.:TTYSIO.TRO, OF.) _Meade followed to the Potomac. but did not at tack. and Lee got his army across with masterly skill. The Federal commander crossed into Vir ginia shortly afterwards, but no events of im portance took piney in that State (hiring the re mainder of the year. Lee. feeling that a crisis was at hand. suggested that he be relieved by a younger man, but President Davis promptly answered that sueh a step was impossible. The autumn of IS03 saw only manceuvring on the part of Lee and 111eade, but the latter was forced to withdraw just when he was intending to attack, and Lee went into winter quarters behind the Rapidan.