Chapter 29 - The Pipe Creek Line
As early as June 30, 1863, before George Meade's army had engaged in combat with the Confederate forces, the commander had planned to establish a reception position along Pipe Creek just south of the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. This line had been selected by Meade's engineers and ran along a slope called Parr's Ridge from Middleburg to Manchester. The Army of the Potomac reached Union Mills, which was the center of the line, on the evening of July 5th after a forced march. The rearguard, formed by John Buford's Division, had been harassed all day by rebel cavalry brigades under Hampton and Chambliss, but had not been seriously attacked. The original plan had been to keep Corps II in reserve at Uniontown, but due to the reduced manpower of the Federal infantry this was logistically impossible without exposing part of the position. Meade also had to adapt the arrangement of the other units to the changed circumstances. From Middelburg in the southwest to Manchester in the northeast, the I, III, XI, II, XII, VI and V Corps took up positions one after the other.
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Union line at Pipe Creek
The position was nothing less than formidable, with an impressive difference in height. Nevertheless, before nightfall on July 5, the Confederate horsemen began to look for weak points. Northern reinforcements had made use of the railroads and embarked on trains at Harpers Ferry and Columbia Pennsylvania. Detours, but quite comfortable compared to walking in bad weather, brought nearly 20,000 men to Westminster on July 7 and 8, respectively. However, at daybreak on July 6, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia broke camp and followed Meade south. By the evening of the same day, the bulk of the infantry reached Littlestown and Lee sought assessments from his cavalry leaders on the state of enemy positions.
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Union positions and approach routes