Manchester: Meade's Pipe Creek Plan

History: The Army of the Potomac, under Union Gen. George G. Meade, moved to Pipe Creek on June 29, 1863 to counter any advance by Gen. Robert E. Lee's army toward Washington or Baltimore. The Federal right flank rested here at Manchester, the center at Union Mills and the left at Middleburg. Soon the landscape was dotted for miles with tents and campfires. Manchester's kind citizens brought bread, cakes, pies and milk to the exhausted and footsore soldiers. The next day, the men rested, and then marched late in the evening toward Westminster and then north to Gettysburg.

More to Explore: Take in refreshments and relaxation of your own liking at Cygnus Wine Cellars. The small family winery in historic Manchester is open for wine tastings and retail sales on weekends and features wines made from Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin and Chancellor grapes. Cheers!

Photo Credits:

1. "Photograph of Gen. George G. Meade."
2. "Photograph of Gen. John Sedgwick." Sedgwick's VI Corps, Meade's largest unit, occupied the position around Manchester with 15,000 men on June 30, after marching northeast from New Windsor through Westminster.
3. "Straggler." Stragglers were a reality on long and arduous marches, especially when General Sedgwick's VI Corps marched 34 miles to Gettysburg on July 1st, through the night and throughout the scorching heat the following day. Photos courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.