Battle of Falling Waters 1863

By George Franks · Originally published July 2023 · pp. 33

Battle of Falling Waters 1863 — lead photograph from the original article

By George Franks During the morning and early afternoon of July 14, 1863, the four brigades of Confederate General Henry “Harry” Heth’s Division, Hill’s Corps, battled Federal cavalry under Generals John Buford and Judson Kilpatrick. Two miles from the river crossing, Heth ordered Generals James Johnston Pettigrew’s North Carolina Brigade, Joseph Davis Mississippi Brigade, and Col. John Brockenbrough’s four regiments of Virginia Infantry. The decimated remnants of Gen. James Archer’s Tennessee and Alabama Brigade was led by Lt. Col. S.G. Shepherd. Heth had orders to hold back all Federal forces from his rear guard position on the road to the Falling Waters Potomac River crossing. Artillery, followed by General James Longstreet’s Corps and General A.P. Hill’s Corps had not yet completed crossing into

Virginia (now West Virginia) by way of the newly rebuilt pontoon bridge. The battle began with a bold but disastrous charge ordered by Kilpatrick and carried out by Companies B and F, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, part of General George A. Custer’s “Michigan Wolverines.” During this initial fighting, Pettigrew was mortally wounded, Confederate soldiers and battle flags were captured, and a Federal Medal of Honor was won. By early afternoon, under orders from Hill, Heth’s Division withdrew to the river and crossed, destroying the bridge as the last North Carolina soldiers reached the Virginia shoreline. Federal cavalry supported by light artillery remained in Maryland until crossing at Berlin days later. President Abraham Lincoln was reported to be deeply depressed as he had hoped General George Meade would destroy Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army before it crossed back into Virginia. The Battle of Falling Waters 1863 Foundation, Inc. a Maryland-based 501(c)3 is committed to saving, preserving, and interpreting the site of the final battle of the Gettysburg Campaign in Maryland. See the events section for a one-day commemoration held on the site on July 8.

General Heth. (Library of Congress)

Gallant charge by two companies of the 6th Michigan on Tuesday morning on the rebel rearguard, near Falling Waters…” Edwin Forbes, artist, 1863. (Library of Congress)