After the Gettysburg Campaign, Union Gen. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac faced Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia across the Rapidan River. In October 1863, Lee tried to outflank Meade's army and cut the Union supply line on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, prompting Meade to withdraw east to protect Washington, D.C., with Lee pursuing. Near Bristoe Station, Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill mistakenly attacked what he believed was the Federal rear, but II Corps crossed Kettle Run and struck Hill's right flank, causing heavy casualties. As fighting shifted along the railroad corridor, some II Corps units moved west to Kettle Run to protect the Union left flank. Confederate Gen. Richard S. Ewell then ordered Gen. Jubal A. Early's division to attack across Kettle Run and outflank II Corps, and Early directed Gen. John B. Gordon to form a battle line and wait. Gordon instead charged across Kettle Run against Federal cavalry, leaving Early without a third of his manpower and with no enemy left to attack after II Corps had marched on. Because of Hill's and Gordon's ill-considered attacks, Meade's army escaped by nightfall, and Lee lost his chance to strike a heavy blow near Kettle Run.
