23 June
Pennefather's army engages a Union force west of Ann Arbor. His veteran regulars brush aside the defenders, who fall back up the rail line to avoid destruction.
Pennefather's advance is slow - he is waiting for the other shoe to drop, sure there must be more Union troops in the area than the ~10,000 he has just engaged.
The Vanderbilt slips into the Western Approaches. In the tradition of John Paul Jones, her captain aims to raid the British coast and cause terror and disruption - though this is made more problematic by a number of factors that did not avail in the Revolutionary War, not least of which being the proliferation of guard ships and blockships on the British coast. An old copy of the Times informs Vanderbilt that Pembroke/Milford Haven, for example, is defended by multiple batteries and the 60-gun screw blockship HMS Blenheim.
As attempting to sail up the Bristol Channel to raid would leave the Vanderbilt vulnerable to being cut off from Milford Haven, she instead shapes her course for Fishguard. (The Vanderbilt would have had much more choice were she willing to attack batteries, but as a ship built for speed rather than firepower or durability her captain is unwilling to take her in close.)
Lee continues moving his troops across the river, setting up in a classic pattern with two main wings. His left wing will provide the initial offensive, pushing up to Hagerstown and then towards Greencastle, while his right wing marches parallel to aim for Waynesboro.
In addition, a division under Jubal Early begins a flank march to come at Chambersburg from the west - a long journey, and one which could be easily stopped with a comparatively small force in their way.
McClellan wonders about the flanking movement, and commits a division of his own to guard the passes to the west of Chambersburg. This reduces his forces somewhat, but he is still willing to make a battle of it - provided he can get enough reinforcements. As such, as his main force marches south to establish defensive positions (along the highest terrain he can find in this relatively flat valley), he telegraphs for as many troops as possible to concentrate on him.
24 June
Eads has now finished four ironclads. The construction of the Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusets and Connecticut has been a spectacular feat of engineering, made possible by Eads' use of rigid standardization (and the startlingly high priority his efforts have had, as well as a labour force in excess of 10,000 doing every possible task in parallel - these ships have been expensive) and the four are ready to fight - if a little green.
Pennsylvania has the largest guns, with her battery consisting of a pair of 15" Rodman guns and six 8" Dahlgrens (four guns each side). Her sisters the New York and Massachusets rely on 8" Parrott rifles for their main punch, each carrying six in addition to their Dahlgrens (the reduced weight of the 8" Parrott compared to the very heavy 15" Rodman allows for them to have chase guns, through ports which are simply blocked on the Pennsylvania) and the Connecticut is equipped with sleeved 11" Dahlgrens (though, like the Pennsylvania, can only manage a broadside).
With their inclined armour consisting of two 3" layers of hammered wrought iron, Eads is justly proud - even if the actual quality of the forging is questionable.
Their official completion results in a resurgence of the argument about their role - whether they should be used to open the Chesapeake, open the Potomac or destroy Gosport.
