[787] his possession, before the bad weather he can reach Bowling Green, and perhaps the North Anna River, thus making a long step on the road to Richmond. This plan involves a change of base: the army would leave the Orange and Alexandria Railroad for the Aquia Creek line. Halleck forbids Meade to execute it, urging, as it appears, the necessity of protecting the railway which has just been rebuilt from Manassas Junction to Bealeton—a puerile motive if it did not conceal others, for in that manner the army, instead of using the railroads, would have been simply their guardian.
Meade, having no longer the choice of operations, resolves to attack the Confederates directly. After having had their positions reconnoitred by his cavalry, on the 6th of November he orders his army to move forward on the following day. Lee occupies the right bank of the Rappahannock: he has placed Hill on the left and Ewell on the right of the railroad; the cavalry covers the two wings; the artillery has been withdrawn, but the infantry has been placed as near the river as possible while securing good encampments for it. This precaution seems necessary, for Lee hopes to spend the winter in these encampments. However, in order to be able, if required, to resume the offensive, he has resolved to keep a hold on the left bank of the Rappahannock by the side of the large bridge burnt by Meade—a central point near which his two corps join. The rebuilding of the bridge being too difficult, he throws over a ponton a hundred yards higher up. On the two banks hills not commanded by any great heights cover the crossing and offer excellent positions. On the right batteries with eight guns command the approaches to the bridge. On the left the former Federal works have been surrounded by earthworks mounted with four pieces of artillery: this point is entrusted to Ewell's care. The divisions of Johnson and Early occupy it alternately, the one not on guard remaining at Culpeper and at Brandy Station. Rodes' division is encamped behind Kelly's Ford; only outposts watch the remainder of the river's course.
Rappahannock Bridge and Kelly's Ford are, in fact, the only practicable crossings. On these two points Meade is moving his army. Early on the 7th, Sedgwick leaves Warrenton
