Meade's conduct.

As he had failed to bring Lee to bay at Culpeper, the only
opportunity to do so must be sought south of the Rapidan. Meade
was not averse to battle.

On November 26, 1863, Meade's army was put in motion with a view
to a general concentration south of the Rapidan, at Robertson's
Tavern on the turnpike road, by evening of that day. Lee's army
of about 50,000 men was mainly massed and in winter quarters in
front of Orange Court-House, with an intrenched line in its front
across the plank road and turnpike, extending to the river.

Meade's design was, by a rapid movement, to carry this line before
Lee had time to concentrate behind it.

The Fifth Corps (Sykes) was directed to cross the Rapidan at
Culpeper Mine Ford, and thence move by the plank road to Parker's
Store and the junction of the road to Robertson's Tavern; the First
Corps (Newton), with two divisions, to follow the Fifth. The Second
Corps (Warren) was to force a crossing at Germanna Ford, thence
march directly to Robertson's Tavern, and there await the arrival
of other corps.

The Third Corps (General William H. French), followed closely by
the Sixth (Sedgwick), was directed to cross at Jacob's Ford (Mill),
and continue the march, bearing to the left, to Robertson's Tavern.
Jacob's Ford, with its steep banks, proved so difficult to pass
that some delay occurred, and the artillery had to be sent around
by Germanna Ford, and did not rejoin the corps until the morning
of the 27th. Jacob's Ford was the highest up the river, and
consequently brought French, on passing it, in close proximity to
the enemy. Lee, by the evening of the 26th, had thrown forward
cavalry and some infantry of Hill's corps to the vicinity of
Robertson's Tavern, though not in sufficient force to prevent Warren
taking his designated position. Nor was Sykes seriously interfered
with. The cavalry crossed at Ely's and other fords. French, with
the aid of pontoons, safely passed the river, but he did not advance
on the 26th more than three miles beyond the crossing, time having
been lost in hunting blind country roads, waiting for artillery to
arrive, and reconnoitering. A force of the enemy showed itself on
intersecting roads to his right, where were a number of such roads
leading from Sisson, Witchell, Tobaccostick and Morton's Fords,
and one which led from Raccoon Ford--still higher up the river--to
an intersection at Jones' house, with the most direct road to t