Lee Catches Meade

At approximately 2 pm, the lead elements of Lee's army reached the hills in front of you as part of Lt. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill's Corps, and they saw an opportunity to intercept and destroy a significant portion of the Union army. The Union Fifth Corps had crossed Broad Run off to the right, apparently withdrawing to Manassas Junction. After nearly a week of chasing the Army of the Potomac, Hill saw this as the last chance to strike a decisive blow. With Union troops resting and unsuspecting of the Confederate approach, Hill ordered his three divisions, nearly 22,000 soldiers, forward and summoned Lee to Bristoe with the rest of the Confederate army. He opened the action by placing artillery on the hill ahead and beginning a furious cannonade on the surprised Union troops, who quickly began to scatter and withdraw northward toward Manassas Junction. Hill then sent forward three brigades from Gen. Henry Heth's Division under Gen. William Kirkland, John Cooke, and Henry Walker against the retreating Union force.

Linton Hall, Virginia · United States